Aloes. Haemorrhoids attended with bilious derangement or torpor of the liver, Diarrhoea, or profuse bleeding. It may be administered in alternation with Sulph., or may precede that remedy.
Aconitum. Often useful at the commencement, especially if there are heat, fulness, and throbbing in the anus and small of the back.
Collinsonia and Hamamelis are also valuable. (See likewise the Section on Constipation.)
ACCESSORY MEANS. In external piles, great comfort will be found by applying cotton wool, saturated with Hamamelis lotion, to the part; it requires no bandage to keep it in its place, and can be renewed as often as required. In internal piles, half-a- pint to a pint of water injected up the bowel in the morning has often a most salutary effect; it constricts the blood-vessels and softens the faces before the accustomed evacuation. If the tumours are too painful to permit of injections, the parts should be washed or fomented with warm water; and the patient should sit over the steam of hot water. After the inflammatory symptoms have subsided, cold water ablutions, with occasional injections, are useful.
DIET. This should be moderate, unstimulating and easy of digestion. Bread made from unbolted wheat is sometimes unsuitable, as the spicula of the bran, if undigested, irritate the rectum and produce an aggravation of the disease. Coffee, stimulating beverages, pepper, spices, and too much animal food should be eschewed.
XXXVI. Swelling of the Extremities (Oedema).
In advanced pregnancy women often suffer from puffy swellings of the lower extremities, and of the thighs, or even of the external parts of the sexual organs.
TREATMENT. Arsenicum. Oedema with much prostration’ feeble, irregular pulse; coldness of the extremities.
Ferrum. When the dropsy is associated with an anemic or chlorotic condition.
Apis Mellifica. Rapid and extreme swelling, with urinary difficulties.
China. Dropsy, occasioned by loss of blood, Diarrhoea, or Dysentery.
Sulphur. If the patient has been subject to affections of the skin, which have disappeared during the pregnancy, this will be be most suitable remedy.
ACCESSORY MEANS. The recumbent posture lessens the inconvenience: accordingly, the swelling is usually much diminished after a night’s rest. Standing is more prejudicial than walking. The patient should rise the legs when seated.
XXXVII. Palpitation of the Heart.
Weakly, nervous ladies, often suffer from attacks of palpitation. By some it is experienced immediately after conception, by others at the period of quickening, and by others, again, towards the end of pregnancy.
CAUSES. Increased sensibility and irritability of the nervous system, consequent on pregnancy; in the later months, plethora may act as a predisposing cause; thee movements of the foetus, indigestion, and mental emotions, etc., as exciting causes.
TREATMENT. Moschus. Palpitation with a tendency to faint. Camphor is also valuable during an attack.
Aconitum and Belladonna, alternately, when thee patient is plethoric.
Natrum mur. Palpitation after a meal, or on lying down at night.
Pulsatilla or Nux vomica when arising from indigestion.
Cimic., Sepia, Ignatia, Chamomilla, Coffea, Cact., etc., are remedies sometimes required.
Administration. A dose every two or three hours till relieved.
ACCESSORY MEans. Derangements of the digestive organs, anxiety, and excitement, should be guarded against.
XXXVIII. Fainting, and Hysterical Fits
These are not frequent accompaniments of pregnancy, expect at the period of quickening in delicate females. The fits are in no wise serious, unless associated with organic disease of the heart. If they occur towards the end of pregnancy they may render convalescence after parturition more tedious than it would otherwise be. They are also unpleasant occurrences at the time of labour.
SYMPTOMS. The fits differ from those of Epilepsy, as there is no choking noise in the throat, and no biting of the tongue. There is a sensation of languor, with disposition to yawn; things appear to turn round; the sight becomes defective, thee face pale, and there is a buzzing or ringing in the ears; the patient sighs, and becomes partially insensible.
CAUSES. Overpowering of the sensitive nervous system, as by fright, anger, prolonged sleeplessness, Neuralgia, etc. Fainting after labour may arise from haemorrhage, and requires immediate treatment.
TREATMENT. Moschus may be administered during a fit, either in the usual manner, or by olfaction.
Camphor may be substituted for Mosch., and given also by olfaction, or two drops on small piece of sugar.
Iodium. For the constitutional debility, of which the tendency to faint is a symptom.
China. Fainting consequent upon profuse losses.
Chamomilla, Ignatia, puls., cimic., etc., are suited to the hysterical fits.
Administration. During a fit, a dose every ten or fifteen minutes; afterwards, every four hours.
ACCESSORY MEANS. The exciting cause should as far as possible be removed, and thee diet and general habits be well regulated. During a hysteric fit, cold water may be dashed on the face. For a simple fainting-fit, the patient should recline with the head and shoulders slightly raised, abundance of air should be admitted to thee room, and quit maintained. If thee extremities are cold warmth should be applied.
XXXIX. Cramps.
Pregnant females are very liable to Cramps or irregular pains in thee calves of the legs, the feet, loins, and abdomen. The efforts made to support the increasing weight of the abdomen, and to maintain the equilibrium of the body, probably account for the aching of the back and loins.
Chamomilla, Camph., or Verbascum, is usually sufficient to cure the Cramps and uneasy sensations in the limbs. Camph. is often of the greatest value and may be used locally also.
Bryonia, Nux V., Sp., if indigestion, sick-headache, etc., are present.
Rhus Tox., K-Carb., or Arnica, Aching in the back and from fatigue, etc.
XL. Abortion-Miscarriage.
When miscarriage or abortion has once occurred, a predisposition to a recurrence of it, at a corresponding period in subsequent pregnancies, is established. When the foetus is expelled during the early months it is called Abortion; when during the later months, PRemature Birth. We here include both conditions.
The treatment should, if possible, be confided to homoeopathic practitioner. Abortion must be regarded as very serious evil; it not only deprives thee mother of the product of her pregnancy, but often imperils life and health.
SYMPTOMS. (1) A feeling of indisposition to exertion, depression, weakness and uneasiness at the bottom of the back and at the lower part of the abdomen, and other symptoms resembling those which often precede menstruation. (2) Slight and increasing discharge of blood, and cutting pains in the loins and abdomen. (3) pains, at first slight and irregular, now become severe, and recur at regular intervals, with bearing down, watery discharge, and expulsion of the foetus.
CAUSES. Exciting causes are, over reaching, falls, blows, false steps, lifting heavy weights, long walks, horseback- exercise, dancing, tight stays; indigestible food, purgative drugs; violent mental emotions. Predisposing causes are, feebleness of constitution; too slight and attachment of the embryo to womb during the early part of pregnancy; profuse menstruation; a relaxed condition of the neck of the womb from long-continued Leucorrhoea; acute diseases, particularly those of the uterus and abdominal viscera; want of sufficient healthy exercise to maintain unimpaired the vigour of the entire system; late hours, etc.
TREATMENT. Homoeopathy possesses such effective remedies for averting Miscarriage, or, where it is inevitable, of preventing its injurious effects upon the constitution, that none need despair of a favourable result. The following are few of the remedies to be used, according to the indications present, when medical aid cannot be immediately secured.
Secale. Severe forcing-pains with discharge of dark coagulated blood at each pain. Especially suitable to Premature labour.
Sabina. Abortion, with a sense of heat and soreness in the womb, and discharge of blood.
Aconitum. In full-blooded patients, with strong, quick pulse. This remedy may be alternated with another.
Chamomilla. Extreme sensitiveness to the pains, with nervousness and irritability.
Ipecac., Platina, Belladonna, or Croc., may be required: see their indications under Profuse Menstruation, page 50.
Arnica should be given in alternation with another remedy, when a fall, blow, or overexertion, has induced the symptoms. If administered in frequently-repeated doses, on the first approach of malaise, it will often remove the threatened Miscarriage altogether.
Administration. A dose every twenty, thirty, or sixty minutes, according to the origins of the symptoms; as these abate, at longer intervals.
ACCESSORY MEANS. Immediately after a patient has had the least “show,” she should lie down in a cool, well-ventilated room, on a sofa or hair mattress, and maintain that posture till all symptoms of Miscarriage have disappeared. Merely resting the legs and feet is insufficient. In cases, however, in which Miscarriage is only apprehended at a future time, it is not necessary thus to restrict the patient; gentle, moderate open-air exercise is necessary, an entire rest weakens the constitution and augments any existing predisposition. Sexual intercourse must be avoided; also coffee and all kinds of drink that occasion flushings, excitement, etc., and the circumstances tending to produce Abortion or Miscarriage, as enumerated under “Causes.”
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."