THE COMMON COLD-
Medicine frequently boasts of it great advances in the conquest of diseases, but close observation will usually show that to preventive rather than to curative medicine should be given the credit. There is, however, one extremely widespread and almost universal indisposition which medicine has thus far failed ingloriously to master, and that is the common cold or simple coryza, which even our O.S.friends admit has baffled their best directed efforts.
Many a snug fortune has been built upon the lucrative returns of the sales of patent medicines for cold in the head head, yet the victims each year sneeze on and on,and reddened noses and dripping nostrils snort defiantly in the face of science. Modern homoeopathy, pandering to popular clamor,both lay and professional, has its shot gum prescriptions, in the shape of the insinuating combination tablet, that invention of the combined devils of ignorance and sloth.
Yet homoeopaths have by far the advantage of their old school colleagues, in the possession of a materia medica, rich in remedies for common colds, if they will only take the pains to know well a few of their valuable medicines and rely upon these with confidence. Remedies for coryza will very greatly, according to geography, climate, season of the year, etc., but the following are more than likely to be demanded in the general run of cases Arsenicum album, Allium cepa, Capsicum,Camphora, Euphrasia, Gelsemium, Kali bichromicum, Kali iodatum, Mercuries, Natrum muriaticum, Pulsatilla, Sabadilla, make a list o twelve remedies, of which almost five may be said to be constitutional in nature a fact to be kept in mind when prescribing.
Thus the Arsenicum patient is likely to be of the hyper sensitive, nervous, restless and apprehensive type, particular about himself, his clothes s and his appearance,sensitive to cold in general, loving warmth,warm rooms and wraps.
His coryza begins on the right side and is marked by hot, burning, excoriating,watery discharges which rapidly cause a painful redness of the parts over which they flow, hence the upper lip and nostrils are apt to be inflamed and sore. Undue prostration for so small an illness will be manifest, and remedy is well indicated,a few doses of a high potency will work wonders in modifying the entire picture and bringing it to a speedy end.
Allium cepa resembles Arsenicum in a number f its symptoms, but is easily differentiated by certain strongly marked characteristics, An excoriating,hot, burning,watery discharge quite commonly commences in the left nostril and is often accompanied by frontal or occipital headache sneezing is frequent,and bland lachrymation is present. All these symptoms are relieved in the cold open air,which therefore the sufferer naturally craves. Herein lies the marked difference from Arsenicum.
Capsicum patients are apt to be obese, flabby, of poor resistance and slow reaction hence chilly and take cold easily, when they then have much sneezing,hot watery discharge, accompanied by burning,smarting of the pharynx. Drinking causes shivering and chilliness,especially in the back between the scapula. Peppery sensations in the throat are spoken of.
Camphora is of use as a modifier or prophylactic of coryza, in the per-catarrhal state, when chilliness and depression are compound of. The patient feels that he is taking cold. Taken at this time, a few doses at short intervals, of a potency,will be quite sufficient. If the potencies are not at hand,ten drops of spirits of camphor in four ounces of water, teaspoonful doses every fifteen or twenty minutes, well be apt to stop the oncoming catarrhal process. Once the coryza is established, Camphor will no longer be of use. It must be used early to be of any service.
Euphrasia is Allium cepa reversed, that is to say, a bland watery discharge from the nose worth an excoriating flow from the eyes. Sneezing is of course prominent,as well as copious lachrymation, particularly aggravated in the wind. Agglutination of the lids in the morning and redness and inflammation of the lids are present also.
Gelsemium spells relaxation, prostration, dullness, habitude, drowsiness the patient feels weak and sick all over, limbs tremble and seem as though too weak to carry him. Chilly sensation in the back, running up and down the spine. If temperature is present,there is no thirst. Occipital headache and vertigo. Sneezing, coryza, flushed countenance. In Gelsemium the general symptoms will determine the selection of this remedy.
American Homeopathy Doctor.
Rabe graduated from the New York Homeopathic Medical College and trained under Timothy Field Allen and William Tod Helmuth.
Rabe was President of the International Hahnemannian Association, editor in chief of the Homeopathic Recorder, and he wrote Medical Therapeutics for daily reference. Rabe was Dean and Professor of Homeopathic Therapeutics at the New York Homeopathic Medical College.