The best remedies for internal treatment are: Sulphur and Arsenicum, in two-grain doses; the former should be given in the morning, and the latter in the evening, an hour before the usual time of feeding.
ADDITIONAL DIRECTIONS.- If the disease has been caused by the food being too impoverished, or too rich, it must be regulated accordingly. In the case of sheep and dogs, it may be necessary to shear them. The scaly portion of the skin must be well cleansed by washing with tepid water and soap, and afterwards well dried by means of a cloth.
PRECAUTIONARY MEANS.- The affected animal should be separated from others, to prevent the spread of the disease. The cloths, harness, combs, brushes, and other articles used for the contaminated animal, must either be destroyed or thoroughly cleansed when the cure is complete.
Megrims – Giddiness – Fits
The affection is very much like vertigo (dizziness), and attacks horses that are fat, and full of blood.
DEFINITION.- a temporary congestion of the vessels of the brain, characterised by sudden faintness and insensibility, without convulsions, and by speedy recovery.
CAUSES.- Violent exercise of plethoric horses; too tightly reining up the head, and so impeding the return of blood from the brain; chronic derangement of the digestive organs, etc. “Driving a horse in winkers.” says Mr.Haycock, “will sometimes excite the disease; while the same animal, if driven with an open bridle, may not be attacked.”
SYMPTOMS.- Sudden stopping shaking the head, turning round, staggering, and falling down without consciousness. After a short time, especially if prompt assistance be rendered, the animal rises again and acts as if nothing had occurred. Horses subject to this complaint are generally dull and sluggish for some hours before a fit.
TREATMENT.- As soon as the animal threatens to fall, or is actually down remove its collar and harness, so as to give it a chance of breathing more freely, and of starting up. Give a dose of Belladonna as soon as possible, and repeat it for several times as quickly as the urgency of the symptoms appear to demand. Afterwards, this medicine may be administered once or twice a day for a week or ten days, finishing with two or three doses of Sulphur.
Nux Vom.- If the animal suffers from derangement of the stomach, or constipation, this medicine may be useful after the fit has passed away.
Milk Fever in Cows
This is an extremely dangerous disease, sudden in its attacks, and often running to a fatal termination in a few hours. It generally occurs about twenty-four hours after calving; and, in a few instances, earlier or a little later.
CAUSES.- Predisposing.- Stall-feeding with high food; cows that are in good condition and yield a large supply of milk are more liable to the disease than others. So also are cows that are calved at the fourth, fifth, or sixth periods, especially in the last case, when the disease is most virulent. A furious attack predisposes to another; summer heat and autumn change. Exciting.- Excessive or rich food after calving; insufficient exercise; over-driving; exposure to cold and wet.
SYMPTOMS.- The first symptoms are : Impaired appetite; restlessness; quick and full pulse; accelerated breathing; milk diminished or suppressed; the paunch and belly are greatly swollen; the udder is tense, hot, and swollen; there is loss of power in the hind lets, and consequent difficulty of standing. These symptoms soon become aggravated, she tries to support herself against the wall; she staggers and falls down, and is often unable to rise. In this case she sometimes remains quiet, with her head turned towards her side, or resting upon the ground; the eyes appear dim and glassy, and have lost the power of seeing; in other cases the animal is very restless; foams at the mouth; makes violent but fruitless efforts to rise, or succeeds only partially; the swelling of the belly increases; dung and urine are quite suppressed; and, unless she is speedily relieved, the cow dies in a few hours, or, that most, in two days after the attack.
TREATMENT.- Aconitum.- This is the first and chief remedy, especially when the symptoms of fever are predominant, with quick, bounding pulse, hurried breathing, scanty urine, and suppression of milk. A dose every half-hour. The prompt use of this remedy often brings about recovery.
Belladonna.- When four or five doses of Aconitum have been administered, land there remains a furious anxious expression of countenance, eyeballs thrust out, struggling and general restlessness, give this remedy in alternation with the former every two hours : that is, Belladonna once two hours and Aconitum next two hours. If the symptoms are more or less severe, the administration of the medicine must be regulated accordingly.
Bryonia.- Should the disease appear to affect the chest more than the head, Bryonia must be alternated with Aconitum instead of Belladonna.
Ammonium Causticum.- If, after the administration of several doses of Aconitum, the disease advances in spite of that medicine, and there is great swelling of the paunch, symptoms of intense pain, coldness of the extremities, oppressed breathing, and slow pulse, give a dose of this medicine, every twenty or thirty minute, till the swelling subsides.
Arsenicum may follow the last-named remedy, when the swelling is reduced, and a sleepy condition remains, with insensibility to pain, inability to hold up the head, and coldness of the body.
Phosphorous.- In the extremely prostrate condition with typhoid symptoms this medicine has been restorative. The indications are great weakness, paralytic lassitude, come, anguish, uneasiness, coldness, distention of the abdomen.
Nux Vomica.- When the cow has somewhat recovered, but with remaining weakness in the hind quarters, so that the animal can only rise up on her fore legs, and there is confinement of the bowels, give a dose of this remedy thrice daily.
Sulphur.- when the animal appears to have recovered, the administration of this remedy in the morning, an hour before feeding, for several days, may prevent relapses.
PREVENTIVE AND OTHER MEANS.- As this disease attacks the cow suddenly, and runs so rapid a course, the animal should be carefully watched about calving time, especially in hot weather, that no delay may take place in opposing the disease on its earliest indications. In this case, full and immediate success might be expected. Even in advanced stages, an intelligent and persevering use of the remedies will generally subdue the disease.
The cow should be placed in an ample stall, away from other cattle, where she can have a good supply of fresh air; the straw should be clean and dry, and no dung should be permitted to remain longer than necessary; the milk should be often drawn off; and if she passes no water, the catheter must be introduced to draw it off two or three times daily.
Gruel or other mixtures should not be forced upon her, but if she is able to swallow, a small horn of tepid water may be given now and then. Sponging the spine freely with cold water every three or four hours, and immediately wiping it dry with coarse cloths, is somethings of great benefit.
Ophthalmia – Inflammation of the Eye
DEFINITION.- Inflammation of the conjunctiva, the delicate membrane which lines the interior of the eyelids and covers the ball of the eye.
CAUSES.- External violence, as a blow from a stick or whip; the presence of some irritating substance, such as hay-seed or sand, beneath the eyelids; cold; sudden changes of temperature; hereditary predisposition.
SYMPTOMS.- Sensitiveness to light; watering of the eyes; gluing together of the eyelids; discharge of mucus, which dries on the eyelids and rounds the eyes; the eyelids are often hot, swollen, and tender; the white of the eyes is covered with red streaks, the pupil is clouded, and small blood vessels are congested over the cornea, on which there are sometimes small superficial ulcers.
TREATMENT.- Arnica.- This should be given when the disease has been caused by a blow. A dose may be administered every three or four hours.
Aconitum.- If Arnica fails to afford relief, of it cold be the cause of the affection, Aconite should be given.
Belladonna.- When the inflammation has been diminished by the former medicines, and in cases where the tears are very copious and scalding, the eyelids, swollen and shut, the eyes very sensitive to light, the membrane of the eye injected and red, this remedy is usually indicated.
Euphrasia.- Profuse watery discharge, both from the eyes and nostrils, and much intolerance of light.
Mercurius Cor.- Discharge of yellowish mucus, which causes the eyelids to adhere; swelling of the lids; cornea cloudy or ulcerated.
Arsenicum.- In cases of long standing, and when the tears are hot and corrosive.
Sulphur.- Is very valuable in some old standing cases, and to prevent a relapse.
ACCESSORY MEASURES.- The eye should be carefully and tenderly examined for seeds, hay, dirt, or any other intruded substance. If a portion of the cornea or conjunctiva have been removed by a blow, relief will be given by applying a drop of glycerine or salad oil to the part; but this should not supersede the application of Arnica lotion. In all cases the eye should be gently bathed with tepid water three or four times a day. Pleuro – Pneumonia – Inflammation of the Lungs – “Fatal Complaint.”
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."