DISEASES OF INFANTS AND CHILDREN, AND THEIR HOMOEOPATHIC TREATMENT



Without doubt, in a few cases the communication of some other disorder has accompanied Vaccination, through the carelessness or ignorance of the vaccinator. But it is also unquestionable that in a great many cases it has only been the occasion, not the cause, of another disorder. Anything which sets up a temporary febrile condition may develop a latent disease; and as Vaccination is usually among the first disturbers of the system, it has borne the discredit of causing what it only stimulated. The occurrence of troublesome consequences only show that the vaccine should be administered by a careful and skilful practitioner under aseptic conditions.

Vaccination is advisable during the first three months of infancy, before dentition disturbs the system. In the event of parents having a “conscientious objection” to vaccination, a certificate of exemption may be obtained from a magistrate, or it the child suffers from any disease which renders Vaccination undesirable, a medical certificate may be obtained to that effect. Three precautions should be observed : (1) the lymph should never be taken from another child, as was done in a past generation, but should be freshly obtained from some reliable source, such as the Lister Institute in London. (2) A clean lancet or needle should be employed (3) The lymph should be dabbed on two or three places on one arm or leg, and the places should be scarified through the lymph until the blood is just seen.

SYMPTOMS.- When the operation is successful a slight rosy elevation may be seen and felt on the second day, and a small red pimple is formed on the third day, while the temperature rises slightly. On the fifty day a vesicle forms, which reaches its maximum size on the eighth day, being then distended with limpid fluid and distinctly “umbilicated.” By the tenth day the fluid is purulent. By the fourteenth day the pustule has become a brownish scab, which about the twenty-first day falls off, leaving a circular, depressed, permanent scar.

The constitutional disturbance is usually not great. From the third to the ninth day a little fever and restlessness may show themselves, and sometimes swelling in the armpit. Medical treatment is seldom necessary. Should there be much inflammatory redness and swelling, a few doses of Aconite or Belladonna will relieve the patient. The latter remedy is curative of erysipelatous complications. Care should be taken to protect the arms from friction, that the sores may not be irritated, and the scabs not torn off. Occasionally a poultice is necessary if inflammation or suppuration is excessive. About the eighth day, as the disorder declines, a dose of Sulphur, morning and night, for a few days, may prevent possible unpleasant sequels.

RE-VACCINATION.- Although it is impossible to tell how long the protective virtue of vaccine lasts, it may be well if Vaccination were repeated at puberty. In like manner adults may secure immunity, if Smallpox become epidemic, by being vaccinated again. Carefully recorded observations and statistics show that well- vaccinated persons are almost wholly secure against infection.

21. Chicken-pox.

This is an eruption almost peculiar to infants and young children, and bears some resemblance to Small-pox, for which it may be mistaken. It spreads by contagion.

SYMPTOMS.- On the second day of a slight fever the eruption appears. The pimples rapidly become pustular, and in three or four days from their appearance dry up, forming scabs, which fall off in six or seven days without leaving permanent scars. The eruption comes out irregularly, and in successive crops, so that while some of the pustules are disappearing, others may be forming.

It differs from Smallpox in the slighter fever which attends it; in the earlier appearance of the eruption; in the absence of an inflammatory ring around the spots in the first stage; in the vesicular character of the eruption, the spots of which becomes filed with a watery fluid about the second or third day, which is converted into yellow matter; and in the rapid course of the compliant.

TREATMENT.- In many cases little medicine will be needed; but in the early stage, Aconite every three hours will modify any fever that may be present. Afterwards Rhus should be given every three or four hours until convalescence sets in.

INDICATIONS FOR THESE AND OTHER REMEDIES.

Aconitum.- Hot skin, thirst, and other febrile symptoms.

Antim tart.- Convulsions.

Apis.- Excessive itching of the skin, or puffy swelling of the eyelids.

Belladonna.- For severe headache and any disturbance of the brain.

Mercurius Sol.6- If suppuration takes place in any of the pimples.

Rhus Tox.- This is the best remedy for the disease, and unless any of the other remedies are strongly indicated, should be given as soon as possible.

ACCESSORIES.- Attention to diet as in Simple fever, especially if the digestive organs are impaired. Milk diet is best. Exposure to cold should be avoided, especially in cold weather, but the room should be kept well ventilated. The child should be prevented from scratching the skin when the scales are formed.

22. Simple Fever (Febricula).

This is not now believed to be a distinct disease. In some cases it may be Influenza, but Influenza is not common in children. Probably many cases called Febricula or “chill” are rheumatic, representing a quite brief invasion of the microbe of Rheumatism (see “Rheumatism of Children.” Section 27). In many cases there is a slight soreness of the throat, suggestive of a tonsillar infection. In some children Constipation causes a slight fever, cut short when the bowels act freely. In quite a number of children it is due to bacilluria or an infection of the bladder with bacillus cold (see “Bacilluria,” Section 87). There is also a class of febricula of obscure alimentary origin, sometimes called “food-fever” or “bilious attacks”; these often recur more or less periodically (see “Chronic Vomiting,: Section 65, and “Appendicitis,” Section 68).

TREATMENT.- If the symptoms, as is often the case, are sudden feeling of chilliness followed by, or perhaps alternating with, flushes of heat, dry skin, full quick pulse, coated tongue, thirst, highly-coloured and scanty urine, headache, pain in loins, slight sore throat, loss of appetite – the symptoms of what is often called a :chill”, a Camphor pilule every twenty minutes for three times may be all that is necessary; but if that stage has passed, Aconite should be given at once, and repeated every hour, two hours, or three hours, according to the violence of the symptoms.

Aconitum.- Chills, followed by great heat and dryness of skin; dry mouth, lips, and tongue; thirst; full, hard, and frequent pulse; hurried breathing, and scanty urine.

Arsenicum- In some protracted cases, where there is great prostration with feeble pulse.

Belladonna.- When there is intense headache, flushing of the face, congestion of the eyes, and great dread off light and noise.

Bryonia.- Severe muscular pains; painful cough; oppressed breathing.

Camphor.- Severe chills, with lassitude.

ACCESSORIES.- Quiet, repose in bed. Light bed-coverings. The warm bath (see Section 7), the hot foot bath, or the wet-pack. Water should be the principle beverage, in small repeated draughts; it encourages perspiration, promotes the beneficial action of the bath or pack, and lessens thirst. As the fever declines, milk diet should precede more substantial food.

23. Enteric Fever – Typhoid Fever.

DEFINITION.- Formerly always known as Typhoid fever, now more accurately called Enteric fever, it is a general infection, with local manifestations in the “solitary glands” and Peyer’s patches of the intestine.

CAUTIONS.- The real cause is the Bacillus typhosus of Eberth, which is conveyed to a very small extent by contagion or transmission through the air, but chiefly by contaminated water and food, especially milk, sometimes oysters. The recent great improvements in sanitation have had their reward in a great diminution of Enteric fever. But a factor in the spread of the disease, always doubtless existing but not formerly recognized, has recently been brought to light – the typhoid “carrier.” Persons not actually suffering from Enteric, though they may have had it, may still “carry” the germs and thus be a source of infection – the milk, e.g., may thus get infected at dairies.

Predisposing causes are (a) youth. It is a disease especially of the second and third decades of life. “It is not very infrequent in childhood, but infants are rarely attached” (Osler). (b) Season of year. It is a disease of autumn, especially after a long period of hot dry weather.

SYMPTOMS.- Enteric fever is usually insidious in its invasion, the early symptoms being those of indigestion, languor, poor appetite, constipation, pain in the head, occasionally nose- bleeding, sleeplessness, dull wandering mind, and often delirium at night. The patient complains of much weakness, thirst, and has a dry, red-coated, or cracked tongue.

The early pulse is not so fast as would be expected from the fever, but later it becomes quick and feeble, the skin is hot, and a bright circumscribed flush appears on the cheek. Enlargement of the abdomen and Diarrhoea take place, with tenderness on the right side, below the level of the navel (the right iliac region), and a gurgling feeling is produced there on pressure; there is also increased dulness over the spleen from its enlargement. The diarrhoeic discharge are of light ochre colour, copious, liquid (the “pea- soup” stool, and in advanced stages of the disease often contain altered blood. Often, however, there is constipation and not diarrhoea.

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."