4. REPRODUCTION



XXV. Heartburn and Waterbrash.

SYMPTOMS. A burning sensation up the throat, and sometimes spasm of the stomach, generally attended by frequent eructations of an acid or tasteless watery fluid, when it is termed waterbrash or pyrosis.

TREATMENT. Nux Vomica will generally be found efficient in removing these symptoms, and should be administered three or four times daily for several days, or until better.

Pulsatilla is to be preferred for patients of a mild, timid disposition, with tendency to diarrhoea; dislike of food, especially of fat; eructations, tasting of food; perverted taste; inclination to vomit

Bryonia may afterwards used, and after that Sulphur, if the former remedies only afford partial relief.

Carbo.Veg. Sensation of suffocation; acid eructations, with flatulence, and rumbling in the abdomen.

Sulphuric Acid. Chronic Acidity.

Lycopodium, Arsenicum, Caps., or CalcareaCarb., may be required.

ACCESSORY MEANS. Rich and indigestible food, especially pastry, stews, etc., are to be avoided, the patient also refraining from too full meals. Too. much cold water should not be drunk during a meal; a glass of water half an hour before or an hour after a meal is beneficial.

XXVI. Colic.

Spasm, or colic, from flatulent distension of the bowels through cold or improper diet, is apt to occur during pregnancy; it usually affects the large intestines.

TREATMENT. Colocynth, if the colic prevents the patient form resting in one place, and moving about soothes the pains. This remedy is suited to severe as well as mild forms of the disease, especially when accompanied by diarrhoea. Sometimes it may be desirable to precede this or any other remedy by a few doses of Aconitum.

Chamomilla. In nervous and irritable patients, disposed to bilious derangements from fits of passion, etc.

Nux Vomica will be more appropriate if indigestion with constipation exist.

Ignatia, Belladonna, Hyoscyamus Threatened spasms in hysterical patients.

China. Bilious Colic.

ADMINISTRATION. Two drops of the tincture, or four pilules dissolved in a tablespoonful of water, every half-hour or hour, during a paroxysm of colic; afterwards, every fourth hour for several times.

ACCESSORY MEANS During the violent pains of colic, hot applications are useful, but a warm bath is objectionable for colic during pregnancy A pint of tepid water boldly injected up the bowel by means of an enema-syringe, and repeated if necessary, is almost invariably and immediately successful. Persons subject to colic are recommended to wear a piece of flannel around the abdomen in cold or changeable weather, and to keep the feet warm and dry.

XXVII Constipation.

Constipation is common in pregnancy, especially among ladies who live in towns and lead a sedentary life.. Although constipation is far less injurious than relaxation, it should be removed as far as possible by the means pointed out below.

CAUSES Pressure of the enlarged womb upon the bowels; or torpor, induced by the preponderating current of nervous and vascular energy towards the womb.

TREATMENT. Nux Vomica. Indigestion; a sensation as if the lower bowel were closed; frequent and ineffectual urging to stool. Nux V. is further indicated in persons of a hasty and vehement disposition, and in those who take too little out-of- door exercise.

Bryonia. Constipation in warm weather, without inclination to stool, and accompanied with determination of blood to the head, and irascibility of temper.

Hydrastis. Simple constipation from torpidity of the bowels.

Sulphur. Chronic cases; it may be given either alone or in alternation with Nux V.; the latter at night, and the former in the morning.

Opi., Lycopodium, Alumina, Platina., may also be considered..

See also the section on Piles.

ACCESSORY MEANS. Daily out-of-door exercise; a tumbler of fresh spring water taken either on going to bed or on rising in the morning; the sparing use of animal food, and free use of vegetable, ripe or preserved fruits, brown, oatmeal porridge, etc. LAdies will rarely suffer from Constipation who eat brown bread, fruit, and vegetables, take regular exercise, and accustom themselves to baths or sponging. In cases where the bowels remain for many days unmoved, and there is consequent uneasiness, an enema of tepid water should be employed. The medicines should still be continued, for although the bowels are moved by this mechanical assistance, their inactivity still remains to be cured

For more detailed treatment the reader is referred to the author’s other manuals.

XXVIII. Diarrhoea

Diarrhoea is not so frequent in pregnancy as Constipation, but is far more prejudicial. If it be severe and continue long it is apt to induce abortion.

CAUSES. Nervous irritation; cold, to which pregnant ladies are very liable; insufficient dress; disease of the mucous membrane of the bowels. Diarrhoea sometimes follows conception so colossal, as to furnish the patient with the first intimation of her condition; it may also return regularly every month, as though it were vicarious of the menses.

TREATMENT. Pulsatilla, Slimy, greenish, and watery stools, preceded, by colicky pains, clammy mouth, bitter taste, and absence of thirst; especially if the patient has chills, and the Diarrhoea occurs mostly at night.

Chamomilla. Yellow or green stools; bilious vomiting, with sharp pains in the stomach or bowels; flatulence; bitter taste and thirst.

Dulcamara. Diarrhoea from cold or wet, especially if the motions are greenish, mucous, and preceded by colic.

Phosphori Acidum or Phosphorus. One of these remedies may be requires when there are-physical or nervous debility, easily induced perspirations, night sweats, wasting, and frequent desire to pass water, which is often profuse.

Sulphur. Chronic Diarrhoea in scrofulous patients, or Calc- Carb. may be required.

Mercurius, China, Camph., Etc., May be required in some cases.

ACCESSORY MEANS. In cases of protracted Diarrhoea, the surface should be kept warm with flannel a flannel roller folded loosely round the abdomen often gives great relief. Food should bee light, taken cool or cold, and only in small quantities at a time. Fluid food is most suitable, especially milk and lime water, or milk-and-soda-water, or better still, Whey Koumiss No.3 (Aylesbury). Restricting a patient to this diet for a short time is often alone sufficient to cure all sorts time is often alone sufficient to cure all sorts of Diarrhoea not dependent on a permanent chronic cause. A fluid diet like the above is advantageous in Diarrhoea, because while highly nutritive it does not require a perfect condition of the intestinal mucous membrane to digest and absorb it. Night-air, late hours, stimulants, and excesses of every kind should be avoided.

XXIX. Urinary Difficulties.

The bladder is often affected in pregnancy; there may be either frequent urgent desire, amounting to incontinence of urine, or inability to pass water-retention of urine.

In the first conditions the patient has a constant and painful desire to urinate, which if not gratified, results in an involuntary discharge. A cough will greatly increase the inconvenience, as each paroxysm will be likely to allow the urine to escape. In many cases this condition is very distressing; he constant discharge excoriated the parts so that the patient can only move about with pain, whilst and offensive urinous odour is exhaled from the person.

Retention-inability to pass water-requires prompt treatment, or the pressure of the distended bladder may occasion serious inconvenience.

TREATMENT. Pulsatilla. Incontinence, with spasmodic pain in the neck of the bladder, and watery urine, in feeble, sensitive patients. A dose every four hours.

Nux Vomica. Spasmodic retention, with painful urging, especially in females accustomed to alcoholic drinks.

Belladonna. Incontinence, from, relaxation of the neck of the bladder; copious and frequent emissions of pale watery, or yellow and turbid, urine.

Cantharis. Irresistible desire, with scalding, cutting, and tearing pains.

Ferrum Mur. Incontinence of urine during day time, or on coughing.

Camphor. Sudden and urgent retention, with burning and great pain: a dose every few minutes till relieved.

Cina. Frequent desire, and passage of turbid urine, which may occur involuntarily in bed, from the irritation of worms.

Cocculus. Scanty emission, pains in the urethra; or phosphoric Acid.

ACCESSORY MEANS IN URINARY DIFFICULTIES. Retention. Homoeopathic treatment will generally suffice to restore the functions of the bladder without the use of instruments. But if the retention arise from delay in satisfying the call of nature, a single introduction of the catheter may be advisable. This becomes necessary in retention from displacement of the neck of the womb. The sudden application of a towel, after immersion in cold water, to the lower part of the abdomen, often causes contraction of the bladder and consequent discharge of the urine. Fomentations and injections of water often afford relief. The diet should be sparing, and demulcent, barley- water, gum-water, linseed tea, or simple cold water, should be preferred to other beverages. Acids, and too much salt, must be avoided, and the attendant should be acquainted with the actual state of the patient.

Edward Harris Ruddock
Ruddock, E. H. (Edward Harris), 1822-1875. M.D.
LICENTIATE OF THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS; MEMBER OF THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS; LICENTIATE IN MIDWIFERY, LONDON AND EDINBURGH, ETC. PHYSICIAN TO THE READING AND BERKSHIRE HOMOEOPATHIC DISPENSARY.

Author of "The Stepping Stone to Homeopathy and Health,"
"Manual of Homoeopathic Treatment". Editor of "The Homoeopathic World."