Convulsions originated from fright– Calc-c., Hyosc., Ign., Op.; from indigestion Ipecac; from chagrins (after punishments) (i) Ign. (ii) Cham. (iii) Cina: from vexation (i) Cupr-m., (ii) Calc-c., Ign., Ip; from repelled exanthemata or when they do not appear — (i) Zinc-m. (ii) Bry., Cupr-m., Ip., Stram., Sulph.; from bad effects of vaccination–Sil.; from nursing the child when the mother was in fright –Op.; and when mother was in a fit of anger– Cham.; from suppression of discharges–Cupr-m.; of eruptions– Calc-c., Cupr-m., Sulph., Zinc.; of foot-sweat–Sil.
For convulsions when eruptions fail to break out — (i) Cupr-m., Zinc. (ii) Ant-t.; when small-pox fail to break out–Ant-t.
For convulsions with tetanic rigidity–(i) Cic., Nux-v. (ii) Bell., Cham., Cupr-m., Gels., Helleb., Hyosc., Ign., Ip., Lyco., Mag-p., Op., Stram.
For convulsions followed by deep sleep think of Op. first and Zinc-m. next; by restlessness–Cupr-m.
REMEMBER:
If you find the childs face flushed and hot at the time of convulsions remember Belladonna. But if the blush and the heat are not over the whole face of the child and are only one sided, perhaps circumscribed on one cheek while the other cheek is pale and cold your patient requires Chamomilla. When pallor prevails over the whole face instead of red you are dealing with, most likely, a Cina patient. You may come across still another type of discolouration of face; in such a case pallor and red appear in alternation but still, you have no reason to be confused, remember Ignatia (Sulph).
In our country it is a general practice to apply cold water during an attack of convulsion. This is what the mothers do and the grandmas advise. If this cold application ameliorates the condition appreciably or if you find a cold drink to avert an attack you can, with confidence, anticipate benefit from Cuprum- met.
CAUTION:
Before we close we would like to quote the following warning from Dr. J. T. Kents lectures– It is taught in the old school text-books so much that the old women and nurses know that a hot bath is good for fits and before you get there just as like as not you will have a dead baby. If the baby needs Opium or Apis in congestion of the brain the fits become worse by bathing in hot water; consequently warm bathing is not always good for fits.
