NEAVE’S FARINACEOUS FOOD:
Considerable experience in its use justifies us in recommending this as the best substitute, in the majority of cases, for the mother’s milk, as well as a valuable article of diet for feeble constitutions generally. Competent chemical analyses have found the preparation to contain every constituent necessary for the perfect nourishment of the infantile body; and this has been abundantly confirmed by what we have frequently observed as the result of its early and exclusive use.
A great advantage in the adoption of this diet, is that any interference in the action of the bowels is altogether unnecessary, as, by varying the quantity of the milk mixed with the food, the most regular action is secured. It is important that cow’s milk of good quality be used, and that the food be administered at a uniform temperature, namely, that of breast milk. In cases in which farinaceous food cannot be tolerated, and when the child is under three or four months’ old, Sugar-of-milk should be substituted. 1 See examples of dietary for children at different ages, in “The Diseases of Infants and Children” 6th Edition, 1899.
43. Disordered of Teething (Dentition)
Teething is an important process in the development of a child, and in delicate children is often accompanied by various local and general symptoms of disorder, some of which are referred to under the following remedies. Other complaints, such as Constipation, Diarrhoea, Convulsions, etc., may be treated according to the instructions given in this book, under those headings.
CAUSES OF DISORDERED DENTITION:
Excessive quantities of food, or improper food; keeping the head too hot; local affections of the gums; strumous constitution, etc. The period at which the milk-teeth appear is important. Too early dentition taxes the constitution beyond its powers of endurance; too late dentition indicates a feeble or scrofulous constitution. In the latter cases, professional treatment should, if possible, be obtained. 1 For fuller particulars regarding Dentition, see the Author’s “Diseases of Infants and Children.”
TREATMENT:
Aconitum. Heat, redness, pain, swollen gums, and restlessness. Aconite is often invaluable during dentition.
Chamomilla. This may follow Aconite for dry cough; short breathing; fretfulness; flushed cheek; loose, green, or frothy stools. It is a sovereign remedy in many of the ailments of dentition.
Gelsemium. Sufferings in the head, sleeplessness, crying out, and tossing about; the feverishness is not such as to call for Aconite nor the head-symptoms for Belladonna
Coffea. Morbid excitability, sleeplessness, restlessness, and frequent changes, especially in the absence of fever.
Belladonna. Congestion to the head, with redness of the face and eyes; cerebral excitement; convulsive movements of the limbs; sleeping with the eyes partially open.
Calcarea. Slow or late dentition, especially in scrofulous children subject to looseness of the bowels, with loss of flesh and strength.
Silicea. Similar symptoms to those of Calcarea, especially when dentition is tardy, though the teeth are on the point of coming through. Like Calcarea, Silicea generally obviates the necessity for lancing the gums. It is valuable for rickety children.
Mercurius, Kreas., Ipecac., Nux Vom., Sulphur, etc., are also sometimes required.
ACCESSORY MEANS:
Bad hygienic habits affecting the mother or child should be corrected. Out-of-door air is necessary for both; also regularity in the hours of meals and sleep, and bathing or sponging the whole body in cold water daily. The child should be provided with an elastic India-rubber ring to bite at.
44. Toothache (Odontalgia)
CAUSES:
Decayed teeth, sudden changes of temperature, Indigestion, pregnancy, 1 See the “Lady’s Homoeopathic Manual.” or general ill-health. Neuralgic Toothache occurs in paroxysms, and comes and goes suddenly.
TREATMENT:
If strong Kreosote or Laudanum has been used locally, the mouth should be thoroughly cleansed before taking any of the medicines recommended in this Section.
EPITOME OF TREATMENT:
In this classification the remedies are prescribed in the order in which they are most frequently required:-
1. From Cold. Mercurius, Aconite, Dulcamara, (from wet), Chamomilla (from a draught), or Pulsatilla
2. Rheumatic Toothache. Bryonia, Mercurius, Arnica, Belladonna, or Aconite
3. From Decayed Teeth. Mercurius, Kreas.
4. Nervous Toothache. Chamomilla, Coffea, Gelsemium, or Ignatia
5. Pains extending to neighbouring parts. Mercurius, Belladonna, Pulsatilla, or Chamomilla
6. With swelling of the Face or Gums. Chamomilla, Mercurius, Belladonna, or Bryonia
7. Toothache during Pregnancy. Nux V., Belladonna, Pulsatilla, or Chamomilla
8. In Children. Chamomilla, Aconite, Calcarea, or Ignatia
LEADING INDICATIONS:-
Mercurius. Decayed teeth, with tearing pains extending over the side of the face, and to the glands and ears; pains aggravated by eating or drinking anything cold, or by cool or damp air; swelling of the face, soreness of the gums, gum-boils, profuse flow of saliva, perspiration, etc.
Aconitum. Full-habited patients, with flushed face, hot, swollen gums, thirst, restlessness.
Belladonna. Drawing, lacerating, or shooting pains, affecting several teeth, the ears, and side of the face, worse at night, in the open-air, or by contact; determination of blood to the head, swelling of the cheek, etc.
Chamomilla. Toothache from a draught, suppressed perspirations, or from mental emotions; jerking, shooting, violent pains, which affect the ear on one side of the face, are worse at night after eating, and after taking anything hot; agitation and restlessness swelling, and flushing of one cheek with paleness of the other. Especially suited to the Toothache of children.
Pulsatilla. Throbbing or digging pains, extending from the decayed tooth to the eyes, with semilateral headache; the pains are worse in a warm room, in the evening, and in bed, but are mitigated by cold air or water. Pulsatilla is most suited to mild persons, of light complexion, and to females with suppressed or scanty period.
Nux Vomica. Toothache from sedentary habits, stimulants, or coffee, with Indigestion, irregular action of the bowels, etc. The pains are worse at night, in the morning on waking, or when engaged in mental labour.
Bryonia. Rheumatic Toothache, worse in warmth, but relieved by cold applications.
Kreosote. When the teeth are decayed, but without gum-boil.
Administration. Every fifteen or twenty minutes till the pain is mitigated; afterwards, every three or four hours. After three or four doses of any remedy have been taken without benefit, another should be selected.
ACCESSORY TREATMENT:
Brush the teeth in the morning, after eating animal food, and at bedtime. They should be brushed on their inner as well as on the outer side, and up and down, and not merely from side to side; a moderately soft brush should be used. 1 As a preservative of the Teeth, Thomson and Capper’s Dentifrice Water is one of the best preparations with which we are acquainted.
It cleanses the teeth, gives firmness to the gums, and prevents or retards decay. Dr. C. R. Coffin’s American Dentifrice, prepared by Darling, of Manchester, is also an excellent preparation. It is in the form of powder. The idea that frequently brushing and cleansing the teeth is liable to lacerate the gums and separate them from the teeth, is erroneous, for it is one of the best methods of restoring them to a healthy condition when they are spongy, and inclined to bleed. Charcoal should be avoided, because it is gritty. In very cold weather, tepid water should be used.
The digestive organs should be maintained in a healthy condition by means of proper food and correct habits. Chewing or smoking tobacco, the habitual use of strong drinks drugs, ice, or extremely hot food, are likely to injure teeth naturally good.
In some cases the only remedy for Toothache is extraction, especially if the tooth be loose, much decayed, and unfit for mastication; but inmost cases the pain may be speedily relieved by homoeopathic remedies. If the caries be recent and slight, the decayed portion may sometimes be removed, the cavity filled with a suitable material, and thus a useful tooth may be preserved for years. A qualified dentist should be consulted.
Extraction should be delayed as long as possible. The first set should be preserved quite as carefully as the second, and when practicable, decayed teeth filled. Early extraction of the first set of teeth lays the seeds of future trouble with the second.
Gum-boil: When the gum-boil forms, hot fomentations, or the applications of the inner part of a roast fig to the suffering gum, will relieve pain; at the same time, Hepar Sulph. or Mercurius should be taken every two or three hours. Frequently the extraction of a decayed tooth is necessary to obviate a recurrence of the trouble. If there be an abscesses at the root of the fang, extraction may prevent disease of the jaw-bone.
PREVENTIVE MEANS:
The face, temples, ears, and neck should be well bathed with cold water every day, and afterwards rubbed with a dry towel; also the mouth kept sweet and clean by rinsing it with cold water. Incipient decay of teeth, or sponginess of the gums, should be corrected early.
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."