NON-SCROFULOUS INFLAMMATION OF GLANDS OF THE ARMPIT. MISCELLANEOUS CASES.
I WILL now relate several cases of abscess in the armpit : the first, consequent on an injury to the finger; the others arising from constitutional causes. The three latter were connected with an eczematous condition of the skin of the armpit, the skin apparently often forming the starting point of the gland irritation. In each cases a cure was effected by constitutional remedies, and without operative interference.
CASE XVII.-INFLAMED GLAND IN AXILLA FROM INJURED FINGER. SUPPURATION AVERTED.
Alfred T., 20, consulted me at the Homoeopathic Hospital on Dec. 13, 1882, complaining of a swelling in the armpit, which he had had for a week. Two days before, he ran a nail into his hand; and about the same time he had a cold. There is a painful, tender lump in the armpit, about the size of a pigeon’s egg. Appetite bad. Great restlessness. Hepar s. 6, one drop every two hours. Aconite 3, one pilule at bed time if restless.
Dec. 20.-All pain and tenderness gone. Swelling diminished. hand also better. Repeat.
All danger of suppuration was now past, and the patient did not think it necessary to return.
CASE XVIII.-INFLAMED GLANDS IN BOTH AXILLAE.
Miss T., 22, consulted me Oct. 24, 1892. She had been away in Scotland, which was her home, and had returned on Sept. 1ST. p73 She then had a swelling under the left arm. This was lanced by a medical man about the end of the month, and discharged a good deal. Now the lump had returned and was painful and tender. She felt tired; had a sinking feeling from 10-11 A.M.; suffered from constipation with haemorrhage at times; had cold feet, inclined to be damp; was drowsy and heavy in the day-time. Worse in damp weather; better in cold frosty weather. She received Hepar 6 four times a day, and the abscess soon opened spontaneously and rapidly healed. Afterwards boils appeared on the left arm.
Under Sulph. 30, and afterwards Acid nitricum 30, she got quite well, and I did not see her again till the following February.
Feb. 3.-Has had a cold for a week with influenza pains about her During the same time had suffered from pains under her right arm, where I found two abscesses,-one the size of a bean, the other no larger than a pea. She had taken Sulph. on her own account. I now gave her Hepar 6.
March 22.-Right arm got quite well; but five days ago had a little pimple in left armpit, which broke. There is now a swollen gland, but the pain is not in the gland, but in the site of the little pimple.
There is not much itching in connexion with this; there was when the left axillary glands were inflamed before. I gave her Rhus 30, and she has had no trouble with her arm since.
CASE XIX.-INFLAMED GLANDS IN BOTH AXILLAE FROM BLOOD-POISONING. SUPPURATION AVERTED. CONSTITUTIONAL CURE.
Miss P., 30 nurse, was nursing a case for me when she consulted me about herself, though previously she had been under allopathic treatment. This was on November 29, 1892. For two years she had had a succession of abscesses under the armpits- first under one, then under the other. They began whilst she was nursing a syphilitic case in hospital; but had been worse since she had had an attack of scarlet fever in the summer before I saw her.
A sister of hers in hospital work also suffered from abscesses in the axilla. She suffered from headaches. Her hair falls out. She is worse at night. I gave her Silica 30.
As she was away nursing cases for long periods the attendance was very irregular. I did not see her till nearly four months afterwards.
March.-8, 1893.-Has had five more abscesses, but got over them quickly. Hair does not fall out so much as it did. This was the first opportunity I had of examining the axillae. Both were marked with scars; the skin was red and eczematous; the glands and lymphatic ducts were distinct enough to be felt.
The pain was worse on exertion and at night. p73 Rx Luesin 200, four globules every ten days.
March 22.-Is more comfortable than she has been for months, in spite of rough work necessitated by nursing isolation cases. The glands have nearly all disappeared; there is now no pain, but very great irritation in left armpit. Repeat.
This irritation has frequently been the precursor of an abscess, and proved to be so in the present case.
April 3.-An abscess the size of a small damson appeared in the axilla, and was so painful she had to poultice it for five nights to get rest.
The pain has now gone; the lump remains, “but has ceased to press on something deep down in the armpit, as they all seem to do.” The irritation under the arm is still troublesome. A small painful gland appeared in right groin. It was only painful two days, and was felt on walking. It has now gone.
Rx Elaps. 200, four powders. Each to be dissolved in a third of a tumbler of water; a teaspoonful four times a day.
April 24. – The patient wrote to me that for a day or two after beginning the medicine she felt sick. The sickness came on after the second dose. Such a thing never occurred to her before. The irritation under the arm was quickly relieved, and she felt really quite well.
May 13. – Patient called to see me. The armpits were irritable at times, and there had been one attempt at enlargement of axillary glands, and also of the gland in the groin.
Rx. Juglans Regia 12, a tablet three times a day.
May 18. – Two or three days ago a rash appeared on the back, very irritable. IT extended all up the middle of the back, from the sacrum to the mid-dorsal region, spreading out below and tapering above. There are minute vesicles. Aggravation by washing. The armpits are much better; very little irritation there.
Rx Rhus. t. 12 every two hours.
May 24. – Back very much better. Armpits quite right. She is giddy when she takes a bath.
Repeat Rhus. Rx Coccul. ind. 3, one pilule when required for the giddiness.
Aug. 28. – Cocculus relieved her of the giddiness. The armpits are quite well, except for a small circular eczematous patch, irritable in hot weather. Has a little glandular lump in left breast about the size of a large pea. She has been nursing a heavy case lately, and has had bad milk to drink. Has had violent headaches from vertex down over forehead and occiput.
Rx. Elaps. 200 one dose. Gloninum 30, one pilule every hour if required.
Nov. 27.- Writes to ask if she need “go on with any more medicine, as I am now so very well and strong. I can never say how grateful I am to you for having cured me.”
I saw her again on March 22, 1894, when the arms were quite well, and the lump (which had terrified her greatly ) had disappeared from the breast.
CASE XX.- INFLAMED GLANDS IN AXILLAE ON SITE OF FORMER ABSCESSES. SUPPURATION AVERTED.
Mrs. N., 35, consulted me in January 1893. At the age of 20, in Germany, had an abscess under one arm, which lasted six weeks. After the birth of eldest boy (aged 12) had blood-poisoning, and an abscess formed behind the left ear.
In the autumn of 1892, had an abscess under the arm, which was opened, and continued for two months discharging and causing the patient a great amount of pain. The whole of the arm was red inflamed. At the same time she suffered from inflammation of the bladder, which had left an irritability behind. For this and general debility I treated the patient at first.
March 11. – On this date I gave her Sarsaparilla 1m. four times a day. After this there was a sharp aggravation of the symptoms, followed by great improvement. Among the symptoms experienced was a sharp pain in an abscess scar in the left armpit. No more medicine was given.
March 17. – Has had no more sensations under the left arm, but under the right has had pain for a few days. Now there is a little red spot visible in the skin. This is how the abscesses have begun before, and the patient is in great fear of a renewal of her old troubles. i told her I did not think the abscesses would come to anything, and if they did, I should not think of operating on them. On examining the armpit I found a little red patch of skin, and in the centre of it a gland which was tender.
Rx. Hepar 30 every two hours.
Mar. 20. _ on the night of the 18th there was throbbing in the armpit; on 19th there was soreness and inability to raise the arm. Today there is less soreness. There is a good deal of irritation.
(The first attack of abscess began with itching in the armpit. In the right armpit there were five glands, which, however, did not suppurate. In the left there were seven, which merged into one large abscess.) Repeat.
Rx Calendula lotion.
March 23. – Calendula allayed the itching, but the glands are about the same.
Rx Rhus. 30, gtt. i. every two hours.
March 25._ Arm better. Less pain or irritation. Has a very bad p73 streaming cold in the head, and diarrhoea.
Rx Cepa. 30 every hour. Veratrum alb. 30, if required.
March 29.- There was great improvement in the arm, as well as in the other symptoms, but to-day the left axilla has begun to show signs of activity.
Rx Luesin 200, one dose.
April 7.-Very much better; both arms better, but there is still a little irritation under them.
