B. A little boy, aged four years, was seized with Whooping-cough, which developed as a croupy cough. The mother, guided by the barking cough and sawing respiration, prescribed Spongia. This I allowed to act for twenty-four hours; but no relief followed. The cough, though still croupy, was accompanied with frequent and well-marked whooping, leaving no doubt as to its nature. With each paroxysm the child held his hands on the stomach. Drosera 200 was prescribed. I have often helped a croupy, evening cough with this remedy, and the other symptoms seemed to justify its selection. Relief was prompt; but the case was not cured. A week later the little fellow suffered from repeated night paroxysms, each of which culminated in profuse nose-bleed. The blood was dark and stringy. Crocus Sativus 500 was given, a dose every two hours. This remedy also suited other symptoms of the child. Violent exhausting dry cough, relieved by laying the hand on the pit of the stomach. Large quantities of mucus expectorated (see Allen, Vol, 2). The cure was speedy. This drug is not included in Boenninghausen’s list, but is doubtless deserving of a place there.
C. A little girl, aged two years, came under my car to be treated for a Croup. Despite Aconite and Spongia, administered three or four days before I assumed charge, the fever increased and the cough became more and more harsh and metallic. The fauces were intensely red; and during cough the child tore at the throat, as if striving to remove something offending and painful.
The pulse was 160 and respiration 40 t0 50. The child’s face wore an anxious look, but instead of the restlessness, of Aconite, there was drowsiness. The fever, the cough and drowsiness, pointed emphatically to Iodine, which was given in hourly dose in the third potency.
Three days passed without apparent change, expect that the breathing became, deeper, and the finger, placed on the box of the larynx, could detect a decided strumming sensation. This, I presumed, was caused by partly loosened membrane, though I was unable to employ the laryngoscope to confirm the diagnosis. On the fifth day, I was informed that the vibratory sound had been much more marked during the night. The cough was more moist, and after a violent choking spell, the child swallowed something, and since then the breathing was more natural.
Still fever and cough continued; the tongue became dry and red; the lips parched, and the drowsiness constant. The persistency of the fever led to the use of Sulphur 500, a dose every three hours. This was followed by remittency of fever and a more moist cough. But now th whole scene changed. Aroused from sleep with paroxysms of cough, the child would give forth long- drawn whoops. I learned that before the Croup, she had been exposed to Whooping-cough.
What was to be done? Sulphur was helping the fever, and so it ought not to be changed. Within a week the cough almost disappeared. Ten days later no trace of disease remained, during which period the child received the conventional Sac. Lac.
