When obstructed respiration occasions hyper-carbonization of the blood, the gradual inhalation of oxygen gas thus making up in quality what is lacking in quantity, may prolong or even save life.
IN CHRONIC CATARRH OF OLD PEOPLE, with mucous rattling without discharge, specially on lying down, with dyspnoea on motion and when lying, AMMON MUR is beneficial.
N.B. It is similar to the SENEGA cough only that in the latter the phlegm is tougher, less easily thrown off.
In cough, the concomitant or accompanying symptoms are sometimes of much importance.
Thus, if hesitating between Nux. Vom. and BELLAD. for dry cough, the co-existence of congestive headache, with red face would determine fore BELLAD. Between Senega and SCILLA, a violent palpitation would determine for SENEGA. Between Scilla and Sanguinaria, profuse urination would determine for Scilla. Between Puls and Merc dysenteric symptom would point to Merc. Between Hepar and Stannum, a croupy sound of voice call for the latter, and so on indefinitely.
FOR NIGHT-SWEAT IN PHTHISIS. Oleum Jecoris (cod-liver oil) even in potencies almost invariably reduces the pulse in the hectic fever of consumptives, provided the disease is not far advanced. Large doses of the oil frequently cure night sweats when smaller doses fail.
N.B. Night sweats in tubercular patient, which were entirely and permanently cured by BOLETUS LUR in 5 gr. doses.
IN TREATING DIARRHOEA CASES. It is a good plan to give a dose of the selected medicine after every movement of the bowels. As an adjunct some hydropathic application should be restored to: (a) Flannel clothes wrung out of hot water laid across the bowels or warm sitz-bath give much relief where there is much pain. In the intervals between the attacks of pain, if the bowels feel not to the touch, a small handkerchief may be so folded as to cover the whole surface of the abdomen and then wrung out quite tight in cold water and laid across the bowels and a thick dry cloth placed over (rather larger then the damp one) and keep in place by a binder round the body. The damp cloth can be wrung out again in cold water, whenever it becomes hot and dry.
DIARRHOEA OF PODOPH. Profuse, sudden, offensive stools, with morning aggravation, combined in severe cases with the Bellad, like head symptoms. The evacuation are often preceded by colic ( in which the child clenches its hands and straightens itself out. Though it is worse in the morning on waking and in the forenoon, yet sometimes it goes on all the day and is usually better at night.
N. B. Compare it with:
BELLAD. Drowsiness, constant moaning, rolling the head from side to side, the heat of the head, all point in a marked manner to PODO. But the aggravation in the afternoon and after midnight (not in the forenoon as with Podo) there is more cerebral excitement as evidenced by the violent starting or jumping of the parts of the whole body.
ARSENIC. The characteristic thirst or restlessness quite distinguish it from Podo. Its aggravation is always at night and its motions, though frequent, are scanty.
CHAMO. The mental condition which is its important indication is very different from that of Podo; it is not indicated in diarrhoea of long continuance (Ipecac); useful specially in teething troubles.
IPECAC. The stool is grassy green and looks as if fermented; constant nausea often accompanied by the vomiting of large quantities of mucus. It is often indicated at the period of weaning when food disagrees.
MERC. SOL. The stools are slimy, mucous, bloody greenish with tenesmus as in Podo, but they are generally frequent and scanty with very little smell (differing much from Podo); its aggravation., is generally at night. Specially it is suitable in dysentery cases where there is straining before, but more during and still more after the evacuation, so that the child cannot get done.
VERAT. ALB. Profuse, greenish, watery stools, with flakes; violent thirst and vomiting with great prostration, paleness and coldness giving a pale deathly appearance, often with cold sweat on the forehead.
IN TREATING DIARRHOEA OR DYSENTERY. The physician ought to be very cautious about their speedy recovery, because it must not be expected that all attacks of Diarrhoea or dysentery can be cut short, even when taken in time. Some attacks of diarrhoea depend on a specific poison taken into the system, or in low fever, and will, like that diarrhoea, run a certain course and often last for a considerable time.
If depending on some dietetic error, or resulting from a chill, or from the irritation of teething, they will pass away more quickly (except that there will be a frequent liability to return) and in may cases, slight looseness of the bowels seems to be salutary in rendering brain affection likely to occur.
N.B. ZINCUM is useful in diarrhoea with stupor, seeming to call for Opium, but that remedy failed.
DIAGNOSIS OF CHOLERA. When no albumen exists in the urine, even if the patient has diarrhoea and cholera be prevalent, he will not have cholera. In cholera, albumen always exists with urine.
N.B. Guaco is useful in cholera, being similar to Ars. and Verat.
Arsenic watery stools of offensive odour and painless wit a tendency to run into spasmodic cholera or to end in dysentery with burning pains in the anus and rectum.
IRIS VERS. Excessive watery discharge, preceded by soft and more substance in stools; intense aching cramp like pains with severe rumbling of gas; excessive nausea and vomiting all of which point to cholera like affections.
Like Ars. the pains are burning from the mouth to the anus, with vomiting of sour things, watery diarrhoea and great prostration, but the diarrhoea of Iris. is worse at night and the fetid discharge are of a more coppery smell. (Hence Ars. might therefore become the complement of Iris. just as putrefaction may follow decomposition).
VERAT. ALB. Patients feeling perfectly well during the day were roused from a sound sleep by vomiting and purging and fainting sensation with every stool, the vomiting renewed by every movement, cutting colic, as if flatulence was incarcerated and could not escape, with cold sweat on forehead; the stools mostly bilious but copious and exhausting.
(What Verat. Alb. does for grown up persons Podo. does the same thing for children).
PODOPHYLLUM. The children ail sometimes from catarrhal troubles in the respiratory organs before the alimentary canal becomes affected. All desire for food was then gone, but the thirst was so much greater; often in children the upper part of the intestinal tract being affected, vomiting sets in more frequently than diarrhoea.
In such a case after Podoph. failing try Kreosote.
BRYONIA. Many a summer complaint (diarrhoea) becomes rather more tedious than dangerous; here this is more frequently indicated than Ars. Ars. gives us sudden exhaustion and quick emaciation, as if the powers of life were generally consumed by the burning pains (on the contrary Bry has coldness prevailing and torpidity of vital reaction; but its action is slow and sure.)
DIABETES. The breath of diabetic patient has a particular odor, rather acid, similar to that of drunkards. They smell of alcohol.
Pure Glycerin, 20 to 50 grams ( 10 to 12 drams) in 2 pounds of water, with some lemon juice is a valuable adjunct in such condition.
LACT. ACID. 2 tea-spoonfuls in a goblet of water to be drunk each day. In treating a case of diabetes though exclusive meat diet is recommended by the other school authorities you should not pay much heed to that dictum; the term meat diet includes fish also, and in our tropical country specially instead of meal proper, a mixed diet of substantial fish and vegetable is all that is necessary (Such as Magur., Koi, Rui, etc.)
Further, each meal is to be taken Lactic Acid 2 to 4 dream in 6 ounces of water. Alcohol 2 dram with water 6 drams at dinner is also a good recipe.
N.B. Alcohol and Lact. Acid are designed to replace the Saccharine and starchy elements of the food. To obtain a permanent cure it is necessary to persist with the treatment for several months after sugar has ceased in the urine.
