45. Sore Throat (Dolor faucium)
Simple soreness or swelling of the throat, uncomplicated by Ulceration, Quinsy, or Syphilis, is a very common accompaniment of Cold-in-the-head, and is generally easily curable by Aconite, when the throat is very dry and rough, and there is a hard dry cough; by Belladonna, if there be a redness of the parts, with a raw or scraped sensation; by Mercurius, if the throat feels swollen, the glands sore or enlarged, with slight deafness; or by Nux if the stomach be disordered. The throat compress (p. 86) expedites the cure, and tends to prevent a recurrence. See also the Section on Cold-in-the-head.
Clergyman’s Sore Throat: The following remedies are recommended for the sore throat and hoarseness to which clergymen, public speakers, and singers are liable; in the incipient and acute form, Aconite, Arnica, Belladonna, Phyto., Spongia, Drosera; in the chronic, Hep-S., Carbo Veg., Kali bichromicum, Causticum, Bary-C., Calcarea, Sulphur The Sulphurous Acid Spray, or the wet compress at night, are excellent auxiliaries.
For detained Treatment, consult The Vade Mecum of Modern Medicine and Surgery.
PREVENTION:
The morning bath; a uniform and equable exercise of the voice; the wet compress, after prolonged exercise of the voice; breathing through the nose, especially on passing from a warm to a cold atmosphere; and the cultivation of the moustache and beard. On the latter we subjoin a few remarks.
CULTIVATION OF THE BEARD:
The beard and moustache should be permitted to grow, as they afford an excellent protection to the delicate organs of the voice of those in whom it is subjected to undue or irregular exercise. After a public address, the tissues in the vicinity of the throat become relaxed, and on leaving the place of assembly and entering the open-air, inflammatory action commences, and if repeated, chronic affections of the throat and bronchial tubes are often induced; but the unshorn natural respiration, which our Maker intended to be one of the distinguishing features of the male sex, effectually protects these important parts.
The hair planted on the human face by the wisdom and goodness of our Creator, has its uses, and we may add, its beauties. Let the young man, therefore, never become a slave to the false and pernicious fashion which compels him to shave off the beard, as it is found contributory to the health, if not to the personal improvement, of those who wear it. See also under “Bronchitis.”
46. Quinsy (Cynanche Tonsillaris)
This consists of inflammation of the tonsils and of the subjacent mucous membrane.
SYMPTOMS:
Heat, redness, and rapid swelling of the tonsils, with hoarseness, severe throbbing pain, difficult swallowing and expectoration, and general fever. If prompt and skilful means be employed, the pain, swelling, and other inflammatory symptoms gradually subside; otherwise matter forms, indicated by shivering, throbbing, and darting pains extending to the ears.
CAUSES:
The predisposing are, scrofulous constitutions, abuse of Mercury, and previous attacks of Quinsy; the exciting are, cold, atmospheric changes, wet feet, etc.
TREATMENT:
Aconitum. Sore throat, with general feverish symptoms chills, thirst, headache, dizziness, and restlessness. Generally required at the commencement.
Baryta Carb. Is specific in simple Quinsy. It may be given alone from the commencement, or alternated with Aconite or Belladonna
Belladonna. Acute, bright-red, sore throat with heat, dryness, painful difficulty in swallowing, flushed face, and headache. A valuable remedy, either after, or in alternation with, Aconite
Mercurius. Swollen throat; copious accumulation of saliva in the mouth; swelling of the gums and of the tongue; shooting pain on swallowing; and inclination to swallow the saliva, although painful; a disagreeable taste in the mouth; foetid odour of the breath; ulcers on the sides of the mouth; pains extending from the throat to the ear.
Administration. In acute cases, a dose every one or two hours, at first; in sub-acute, every three or four hours; during convalescence, every six or twelve hours. When swallowing is extremely difficult, or impossible, two drops of the remedy on a small piece of sugar may be placed on the tongue.
ACCESSORY MEANS:
In severe cases, a hot poultice across the throat, extending nearly to each ear; in mild cases, the throat compress (p. 86), may be applied. Frequent inhalation of the steam of hot water, or a warm milk-and-water gargle, will be found soothing and useful. The patient should remain indoors, and, in bad cases, in bed.
47. Indigestion (Dyspepsia) 1 See also “Essentials of Diet.”
DIGESTION is the process which food under goes in the stomach and other organs, for the formation of chyle, a milk-like liquor, from which blood is formed for repairing the continued waste of the animal body; this process goes on in health easily, quickly, and completely. INDIGESTION is a deviation from this healthy function in one or more of the qualities just named, it may be painful, slow, or incomplete.
SYMPTOMS:
Impaired appetite; flatulence; nausea, and eructations, which often bring up bitter or acid fluids; furred tongue and offensive breath, especially in the morning; confined or relaxed bowels; heartburn; pain, weight, and inconvenience or fulness after a meal; headache; palpitation; and other symptoms.
CAUSES:
Excessive eating; too short an interval between meals; irregularities in diet; food of a heavy, indigestible, fat, sour, flatulent, or bad quality, eating too quickly; imperfect mastication; warm and relaxing drinks; spirituous liquors, tobacco, or the excessive use of tea or coffee; purgative drugs; too little out-of-door exercise; excessive bodily or mental exertion; late hours; exposure to cold and damp, etc. Business, or family cares and anxieties, are also frequent causes of Dyspepsia. “The bottle of life” is too often fought with almost overwhelming anxieties and disappointments, or with much mental and bodily wear and tear, and the digestive organs are often the first to suffer.
REMEDIES:
The use of medicines, and the observance of such rules and habits as are suggested a little further on, must ever go hand- in-hand; for the former, however carefully selected, will alone be unavailing in the end.
Nux Vomica. Distention, tenderness, and fulness of the stomach after meals; heart-burn, sour acid eructations; flatulence; hiccough; frequent vomiting of food and bile; sour or bitter taste in the mouth; confused head, as after intoxication; sleepy feeling after a meal, and incapacity for mental or physical exertion (also Lycopodium): sallow complexion; frequent but ineffectual urging to stool. Nux Vom. is particularly indicated for too studious or anxious persons, of a dark or bilious complexion, who take too little open-air exercise, eat too much, or drink alcoholic liquors. A tendency to Piles is a further indication for this remedy, as also for Sulphur, which should then follow it.
Pulsatilla. Disposition to mucous derangements; heartburn, with acid, bitter, or putrid taste; thickly-coated whitish tongue; nausea; frequent mucous evacuations, chiefly at night, with little pain; indigestion from greasy or flatulent food. Pulsatilla is generally best suited to women, or to mild, timid persons.
Bryonia. Aversion to food and craving for stimulants; waterbrash or eructations after eating; pressure and a sensation as of a weight or stone in the stomach; colicky pains; stitch like pains, extending from the pit of the stomach to the shoulder-blades; torpor of the bowels; irritability.
Lycopodium. Indigestion of weakly patients; delayed digestion; sleepiness after meals, specially after dinner; abdominal flatulence; torpid action of the bowels; gravelly urine.
Ant. Crud. Loaded mucous membrane, causing slow digestion with fermentation; nausea, or vomiting of mucus or bile; foul eructations, or tasting of the food; flatulence of a foetid odour, soon reproduced; alternate constipation and diarrhoea; hawking, and expectoration of phlegm; milky white, thickly-coated tongue; irritability of the bladder, with mucus deposit; pimples on the face, sores on the lips or nostrils, pustular eruptions, chilblains, or other concurrent skin affections.
Kali bichromicum Thickly-coated yellowish tongue; bitter taste, nausea, and sour eructations; tardy digestion.
China. Indigestion from exhausting discharges, or from residence in an anguish district, with a feeling of sinking, relieved by food, but soon returning; or simple, generally painless diarrhoea, leaving the patient exhausted.
Ipecacuanha. Simple retching and vomiting from gastric disturbance, without inflammation of the stomach or any grave affection of the mucous membrane.
Hepar Sulphur. Chronic Indigestion, when nearly all kinds of food disagree; also if Mercury has been used in excess.
Sulphur. As an intermittent remedy, when only partial relief has followed the use of other remedies; also in chronic cases. It is more particularly required in indigestion following or associated with eruptions, Piles, and Constipation.
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."