INDICATIONS FOR TREATMENT.
Aconitum.- Epistaxis from excitement or passion.
Arnica.- From a blow or other injury.
Belladonna.- When preceded by a throbbing head-ache, redness of the face, and brightness of the eyes.
China.- When weakness results from loss of blood.
Hamamelis.- Blood oozing slowly, drop-by-drop; not bright red.
Millefolium.- Red blood flowing without apparent cause.
Phosphorus.- Bleeding from the nose when there are bruise-like marks (ecchymosis) on the body.
ACCESSORIES.- The application of cold water, ice, or a cold iron to the forehead, neck, or back; holding the arms above the head for a few minutes, or pressing the arms extended fingers horizontally across the cheek-bone, just above the bleeding nostril. These means will rarely prove insufficient; but should they do so, a piece of lint may be rolled into the shape of the nostril, saturated with Hamamelis and twisted rather tightly into the bleeding nostril or nostrils, first removing any clots of blood there may be present.
This treatment is recommended not only on account of the styptic qualities of the remedy, but also for the mechanical support of the tightly-fitting plug. The child should be placed in a recumbent posture, in a cool room.
CHAPTER V
DISEASE OF THE RESPIRATORY SYSTEM
48. Croup. (Catarrhal or Inflammatory Croup).
DEFINITION.- Inflammation of the mucous lining of the larynx and trachea, with swelling from effusion into their sub-mucous areolar tissue, and secretion of tenacious mucus.
The essential mature of Croup is a catarrhal inflammation affecting the above organs, without the formation of any false membrane; when the membranous exudation does take place the disease is Diphtheria.
CAUSES.-
1. Predisposing.- The comparative smallness of the larynx and trachea in infancy and early childhood. After the third year the calibre of the trachea enlarges rapidly, and the liability to Croup correspondingly diminishes. There is also a clear predisposition to it in some patients and families. The existence of “tonsils and adenoids”.
2. Exciting.- Exposure to cold, sudden changes of temperature, wet feet, poor and scanty food, especially the adoption of improper diet on weaning, keeping a child in a room the floor of which has been newly washed, dark, damp, low-lying localities. The disease is most frequent in winter and spring.
SYMPTOMS.- The early symptoms resemble those which initiate an attack of Measles; indeed, Laryngeal Catarrh may actually usher in Measles – fever, hoarseness, and a dry barking cough of that distinctive character which necessarily occurs when the rima glottidis (opening between the vocal cords) is contracted. Indeed, this cough is the characteristic symptom, and probably exists two or three days before it is sufficiently marked to excite maternal alarm. But to educated ears the cough is characteristic almost from the commencement; and if the child be requested to take a deep breath the harsh sound completes the diagnosis.
The accession of the alarming symptoms generally occurs suddenly, and often in the night, the mother dating the attack from the commencement of the danger. The symptoms are very severe, but aggravated in frequent paroxysms; there is great difficulty of breathing from the congestion and swelling of the lining membrane of the larynx, and the diminution of the chink at its outlet, so that the child throws its head back to put the parts on the stretch; respiration is “crowing”, and every breath becomes increasingly difficult, and the turgescence of the face and neck shows that an insufficient supply of air enters the lungs notwithstanding the severity of the respiratory efforts; the cough is loud and brazen, the voice is hoarse, or absent, the pulse quick, and the skin hot and dry.
In fatal cases, the lips and face become increasingly purple, the pulse small and thready, the lungs congested, and the patient dies from suffocation. In some cases death is preceded by Convulsions.
DIAGNOSIS.- The conditions from which “Croup” (Catarrhal or Acute Laryngitis) may need to be distinguished are Diphtheria, Laryngismus Stridulus, and Congenital Laryngeal Stridor. It is distinguished from Diphtheria (sometimes with great difficulty, the signs of obstruction being the same, whether the obstructing agent be merely inflammatory swelling of the mucous membrane or an actual membrane) be the facts that (a) a disease setting in acutely, abruptly, and dramatically is more likely to be Croup; setting in insidiously, Diphtheria, (b) while the temperature may well be higher in Croup, the constitutional disturbance is greater in Diphtheria (c) there is less cough and more loss of voice in Diphtheria than in Croup– “Diphtheria is the more silent disease” (Hutchison). Croup is distinguished from Laryngismus Stridulus by the facts that in the latter there is no preliminary fever, catarrh or illness, the whole attack is over in a few seconds, and there is a history or evidence of Rickets. Congenital Laryngeal Stridor, in which the infant always makes a curious crowing or purring sound in breathing, is readily distinguished from Croup by the facts that the “crowing” is practically continuous, that the conditions is congenital, and that is disappears spontaneously by the end of the first year.
DANGER.- This arises from the narrowing of the aperture for breathing consequent on the congestion and effusion present. The same amount of effusion into the submucous areolar tissue elsewhere would be of no grave consequence. This danger is diminished just in proportion as the cough becomes looser, and the secretion of the air-passages becomes thinner and more easily removed.
TREATMENT.- As in all inflammatory diseases, Aconite is here the leading remedy. It should be given every fifteen or twenty minutes for three of four times, and then every half-hour or hour, until some marked impression is made upon the fever symptoms. Spongia may then be submitted for it, or the two medicines may be given alternately at intervals of an hour or two, as long as may be necessary.
INDICATIONS FOR THE ABOVE AND OTHER REMEDIES.
Aconitum.- Always in the early stage, and when there are ]any febrile symptoms, with short, dry cough, and hurried and laborious breathing.
Antim tart.- When there is much oppression on the chest, copious phlegm, impeded respiration, and inclination to vomit.
Hepar S.- After the subsidence of the fever, when there is loose metallic cough, with rattling in the chest, and difficult expectoration.
Iodium.- For scrofulous children especially. Hoarse, hollow, ringing whistling cough, with pain the chest, and laboured breathing.
Spongia.- For symptoms resembling those of Iodium
Sulphur.- During convalescence.
ACCESSORY MEASURES.- During the treatment, everything likely to excite or irritate the patient should be avoided. He may have a partial or complete warm bath; his throat should be fomented by means of sponges or cloths squeezed out of hot water, and a compress or flannel applied to the part when not fomenting; the feet and general surface of the body kept warm, and the air of the apartment raised to about 65o Fahr., and this temperature uniformly maintained by day and night. The air should also be moist as well as warm. Steam may be inhaled, either alone or mixed with the remedy that is being administered. A few drops of the strong tincture of the remedy required may be dropped into a small tin kettle, kept boiling over the fire or over the flame of a spirit-lamp, and fixing a tin or paper tube to the spout, convey the vapour close for the patient to inhale. In very bad cases a sort of tent should be formed over the patient’s bed, and the steam conducted under it by a tube.
49. Cold in the Head, Sniffles (Coryza)
An inflammatory affection of the mucous lining of the nose, attended with abnormal secretion, which is occasionally so profuse as to interfere with breathing and sucking. In infants the disease is usually termed sniffles.
CAUSES.- Exposure to draughts and cold, sudden changes of temperature, wet feet, inherited Syphilis (in infants).
SYMPTOMS.- Cold in the head usually comes on with slight shivering, pain or a feeling of weight in the head, redness or itching of the eyes, obstruction of one or both nostrils, with an increase of the natural secretion of the parts, the discharge being a thin acrid fluid. If now neglected, these symptoms may be soon followed by sore throat, mucous discharge, hoarseness, sneezing, dry cough, chilliness, general weakness, more or less fever, quick pulse, and loss of appetite.
TREATMENT.- In the very early stage Camphor should be administered. To infants it may be given by inhalation. A drop or two of the tincture should be put into a teaspoon and held near to the nostrils for a minute or longer, and repeated every twenty minutes for three or hour times. To older children it may be given on sugar. Should this medicine fail to check the progress of the disease, some other will have to be had recourse to.
INDICATIONS FOR THE ABOVE AND OTHER REMEDIES.
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."