Pretty full instructions as to dose and the frequency of its repetition have been given wherever in the preceding pages a medicine has been prescribed. The ordinary preparations, as sold in the drug-stores, and medicines known as homoeopathic have been prescribed, and with regard to the latter, especially, it is important that the exact strength or potency indicated below be used in every case. Where the medicine is ordered in globules those should be of No. 20 size. These are best taken in water, and the proportion usually advised is twelve to the glass half full of pure soft water. Of this solution, a teaspoonful every hour or a tablespoonful once every four or five hours is the usual dose. For a young child, six instead of twelve globules should be dissolved in the water.
In case the medicine is a powder, a solution should be made in the same way, using for a glass half full of water as much of the powder as will lie piled upon a dime–half this quantity for a child. Liquid medicines should be mixed with water in the same way, using six drops to the half glass, or three drops for a child. Special directions, regarding dose, are given when required. In order to drop liquids accurately, it is only necessary to place the middle of the lower surface of the cork against the lip of the vial, so that the liquid may rest against the cork when the vial is tipped–it will run down the cork and drop from its lower edge.
If for any reasons the globules or powders must be taken dry, give of the powders, at one dose, as much as will lie upon an old fashioned three-cent silver piece, and of the globules give two if the dose prescribed be a teaspoonful, and four if it be a tablespoonful. It is better always when practicable to take the dose in water, or to swallow a mouthful or more of water after a dose taken dry.
The medicines should be kept by themselves in a chest or cabinet, in a cool, dry, and clean place; every vial should have its own cork, which should be marked, and always remain in its proper vial. The water with which the doses are mixed should be as pure and soft as possible, and the mixtures should be made fresh daily, throwing away whatever is left over from the preceding day. Keep the glass containing medicine well covered, and use a perfectly clean silver spoon in giving the doses. Never allow the spoon to remain in the medicine, and remember that a tablespoonful is equal to four teaspoonfuls.
Balsam of Peru is a thick, reddish-brown fluid, sticky, and of pleasant odor, which may be had of any druggist. Its external use only is advised in domestic practice, and that as a remedy for itching of the privates of women, or of the back passage. It should be applied with caution, as it may cause an unpleasant irritation of the parts.
Borax is a crystalline powder, sold by all druggists, and useful as a local application in solution, or even in the dry powder, for itching of the privates.
Bryonia alba should be used in globules of the first decimal potency. It is useful for complaints occurring during menstruation, especially for nose-bleed instead of, or with scanty, dark, bad-smelling menses. Headache in the back of the head, worse by every motion, but better by lying quietly, and coming on with the menses, is also cured by it. Patients requiring this medicine are apt to have much thirst, to perspire easily, and especially to be better by keeping still, and worse from every motion.
Calcarea carbonica in globules of the sixth potency with be indicated more by the general condition of the patient than by any special symptoms of disease. Those who lack firmness of flesh or solidity of bone, who are flabby, fair- complexioned, inclined to be fat, and who perspire about the head and have cold, damp-feeling feet, want this medicine when the menses are suppressed, and also when they flow with great profusion, come on too early, and last too long. The latter condition is more likely to affect persons of this type. The medicine also helps such persons when they have a leucorrhoea, especially if the discharge be milky and cause itching and burning.
China must be purchased in globules, made from the mother tincture. It is chiefly required to enable the system to recover from great loss of fluids, as from flooding or excessive menstruation. Dizziness, ringing in the ears, sparks before the eyes, faintness, and other symptoms induced by such losses will be relieved by its use.
Cocculus in globules of the third potency is of use in some forms of difficult menstruation where there is colic with great nervousness, quick jerking motions, darting pains, shuddering and the like. The menses are apt to come too early, and the patient feels week.
Gelsemium should be bought in mother tincture, and that sold by homoeopathic pharmacies is to be preferred. It is indicated when the head seems full of blood, heavy, dizzy, with blurred vision, drooping eye-lids, and, perhaps, double vision. If, with these conditions, we have difficult menstruation, especially if a membrane be discharged, and the urine be very abundant, this medicine will do good. But the dose must be five drops taken in hot water once in three hours.
Ipecacuanha in globules of the third potency will be of great service in profuse flowing of the menses, or of blood from the womb, especially where the blood is bright red in color, and there is pain about the navel, and constant sickness at the stomach which is not relieved by vomiting. All complaints for which this medicine is useful are accompanied by this constant nausea.
Lachesis in globules of the ninth potency is a very useful remedy for women at the “change of life,” and is given especially for the flushes of heat of that period. The patient presents certain marked characteristics when Lachesis is wanted, among which are aggravation after sleep, and the location of pains by preference on the left side of the body, or their commencing on the left side if they afterward pass over to the right.
Nitrate of Silver is mentioned as one means of arresting a troublesome itching of the privates. For this purpose, it should be purchased of any druggist in solution, ten grains to the ounce of water. This medicine is for external, local use only, and care must be taken to keep the bottle in the dark.
Phosphoric Acid in globules of the third decimal potency will be found a useful remedy for a weak condition of the male organs resulting in frequent and debilitating seminal emissions or “wet-dreams”. The patient will seem very much weakened by these emissions, and is likely to be very indifferent to all that goes on about him when this medicine is wanted.
Pulsatilla in globules of the third potency is a very important remedy for sexual disorders in women. In suppressed, delayed or scanty periods, in painful menstruation or diarrhoea with menses, and in “whites” in general, especially with a thick, milky, burning discharge, it is one of the first medicines to consult. It is especially valuable when the trouble is caused by getting the feet wet and the complaints are worse in a close, warm room. The patient wants to get out, and is better in the open air, complains of chilliness and has symptoms which change their character or location in the body frequently. The patient is apt to be sleepless, especially in the early part of the night, although dull and drowsy both morning and evening.
Sabina in globules made from the mother tincture is one of the best medicines to use for flooding, especially in case of miscarriage, or of threatened miscarriage. There is pain through the lower part of the abdomen from the front to the back bone, and the blood is partly fluid and partly in clots as it escapes from the vagina.
Sandal-wood Oil is perhaps the best single medicine known for the clap, especially in men. The crude oil as sold at the drug-stores should be used, but care must be taken to buy a pure article. The taste and smell on the breath are both avoided by having capsules filled with the proper dose, which is ten drops, or the oil may be dropped on a lump of sugar. Repeat the dose four times daily.
Sanguinaria in globules of the third potency will be needed at the “change of life”, for flushes of heat with rush of blood to the head, dizziness, nausea, ringing in the ears, and rheumatic pains, especially in the shoulders.
Silicea in globules of the twelfth potency is one of those important, deep- acting constitutional remedies like Calcarea carb., but its menstrual symptoms are usually those of suppression and delay. The patient complains of backache, pains in the bones, neuralgia, perspiring and bad-smelling feet, and has a tendency to boils and felons. There is also a sense of weakness and desire to lie down much of the time.
Sulphur in globules of the twelfth potency is another deep-acting, constitutional remedy, and one of its most important indications is an itching sensation anywhere anywhere on the skin, hence its value in itching of the privates. It may be used also for profuse but short-lasting menses, with constipation, itching of the parts, flushes of heat, and burning sensation in the soles of the feet.
Member New York State and County Homoeopathic Medical Societies ;
Formerly Staff-Physician to the College and Wilson Mission
Dispensaries ; Fellow of the N. Y. Academy of Anthropology ; Member American Historical Association,