TREATMENT:
Nux Vomica. Valuable in almost every form of Piles, especially if associated with a sedentary habits, confined bowels, or the use of intoxicating drinks, strong, coffee etc. See also Sulph.
Sulphur. Chronic Piles, from abdominal plethora, especially when associated with constipation. The evacuations are often mixed with blood; there is great pain, and the tumours protrude considerably, and are pushed back with difficulty; also with itching and burning of the anus, and smarting pain in passing water. Sulph. is often alternated with Nux vomica, the latter administered at night and the former in the morning; or Sulph. may follow Nux to complete the cure.
Belladonna. Relieves throbbing and bleeding, and lessens congestion to the brain in apoplectic subject.
Arsenicum. A burning sensation as from hot needles, and general prostration.
Aconitum. Profuse discharges of blood, throbbing and inflammatory symptoms in the parts.
Additional Remedies. Hamamelis (when there is much bleeding). AEsculus (when there is little bleeding but constipation and knotty stools, and pain in the back). Pulsatilla (in bilious persons, mucous discharge). Aloes (rawness, soreness, much bleeding, loose bowels, prolapse).
A lotion of Hamamelis (ten drops to a teacupful of water, to be used after motions and two or three times a day, and applied to the parts on a piece of soft linen at night, is nearly always helpful.
DIET AND ACCESSORY MEANS:
Patients should avoid highly-seasoned dishes, coffee, peppers, spices, alcoholic beverages, and all kinds of indigestible food. Light animal food, properly cooked vegetables and ripe fruits, form the most useful diet. Sedentary habits, too much standing, and the use of cushions and feather-beds are prejudicial. The pain attending blind-piles may be relieved by ablution with cold water, or with tepid water, or tepid vinegar and water in equal proportions, if that be found more agreeable, Bleeding-piles may be relieved by drinking half a tumbler of cold water, and then lying down for an hour.
The horizontal posture should be maintained as much as possible, especially for ten or fifteen minutes after an evacuation; this gives great relief, and favours recovery. An occasional injection of about half a pint to a pint of water up the lower bowel, by means of the enema apparatus, acts most beneficially, by constricting the blood-vessel, softening the faeces, and obviating straining at stool. The wet compress is also recommended preventively, directly the first symptoms are noticed; and also curatively, with the other means pointed out.
58. Protrusion of the Bowel (Prolapsus Ani)
CAUSES:
This complaint is occasioned by long-continued Constipation or Diarrhoea, purgatives, straining at stool, the irritation of worms, laxity and delicacy of constitution, or like causes. Although not confined to children, it is most frequent in them.
TREATMENT:
Ignatia. This remedy is often specific and sufficient, and is generally the first to be used. A dose thrice daily for two or three days; afterwards morning and night.
Nux Vomica. Prolapsus with costiveness and straining at stool.
Podophyllum Bowel comes down with stool.
Mercurius. Itching, discharge of yellowish mucus, Diarrhoea, and hard swollen abdomen.
Lycopodium. Obstinate cases, and when other remedies only partially cure.
Sulphur. For similar conditions.
ACCESSORY MEANS:
When the bowel protrudes, it should be reduced by placing the child across the lap, and making pressure on the protruded part with the fingers, previously lubricated with oil, and carried beyond the contracting ring of the muscles around the anus. Bathing the parts with cold water every morning, and injections of water, are useful. The action of the bowel in the evening, just before going to bed, should be encouraged, or the child should lie down to its back for half an hour with the legs raised after motion. A soft pad of lint, kept on the anus by a bandage, will facilitate cure. The diet should be wholesome and unstimulating. A weak dilution of Calendula will relieve soreness.
59. Biliousness
What are popularly called “Bilious attacks,” and supposed to be due to derangements of the liver, are almost invariably symptoms arising from and common to, Indigestion, such as furred tongue vomiting of bile, giddiness, sick-headache, etc. One of the following remedies, according to the particular symptoms, with a restricted diet for twenty-four hours, and cold water ad libitum, will usually suffice to cure an attack; Nux Vom., Pulsatilla, Iris., Kali bichromicum, Ipecac., Bryonia, Mercurius, Veratrum, or Arsenicum The whole Section on Indigestion should be consulted.
60 Jaundice (Icterus)
SYMPTOMS:
Yellow tinge of the white-of-the eyes, and skin; the perspirations staining the linen; bitter taste; light or clay- like motions, Constipation, or, especially in children, Diarrhoea; scanty and high-coloured urine, staining the linen yellow, depositing thick sediment; slow pulse; dejection of spirits, and, often, febrile symptoms.
When there is an obstruction from a gallstone the sufferings are most acute; the pains come on in paroxysms, often with vomiting and hiccough.
CAUSES:
Interruption of the biliary functions, or obstruction to the elimination of bile, so that it again enters the circulation. The condition may be due to the impaction of a gallstone, organic disease of the liver, atmospheric changes, unrestrained fits of passion, dietetic errors, dissipation, etc.
TREATMENT:
Mercurius. This is a valuable remedy, especially after the inflammatory symptoms have been modified by Aconite A dose every three or four hours.
China. This is preferable for patients who have been drugged by allopathic doses of Mercury.
Chamomilla. Jaundice in passionate or fretful patients, especially children.
Nux Vomica. Jaundice, with costiveness, sensitiveness in the region of the liver, and connected with sedentary habits or indulgence in alcohol. This medicine following Mercurius will give relief to all cases that are not caused by organic disease or gall-stone.
Other remedies are often necessary, but domestic treatment should never be trusted to when professional can be obtained.
ACCESSORY MEANS:
Cold water, to appease thirst; extract of meat, toasted bread, scalded with hot water with a little sugar; roasted apples. Spongio-piline, or flannel, wrung out of hot water, relieves pain.
CHAPTER VII
DISEASES OF THE URINARY SYSTEM
61. Difficulty in Urinating (Strangury)
This condition often arises from causes similar to those which produces incontinence of urine, and requires nearly the same remedies. It is a symptom of many diseases, is often extremely painful, and life may even be jeopardised. The treatment should, therefore, if possible, be confided to a homoeopathic physician.
TREATMENT:
Aconitum. Inflammatory symptoms, often in alternation with some other remedy.
Camphor. Spasm at the neck of the bladder, especially if caused by Cantharides; a drop on a piece of loaf sugar every fifteen minutes for three or four times.
Cantharis. Urging, with cutting pains.
Nux Vomica. Painful ineffectual urging, from the use of wine or spirits, spasmodic stricture.
Sulphur. Cases complicated with Piles.
Arnica. Retention from a blow or fall or other mechanical injury, or from the irritation of Calculi.
ACCESSORY MEANS:
The introduction of the catheter, so often resorted to under old-school treatment, is frequently superseded by our more efficient remedies; still it may be necessary in some cases, and requires professional skill. External applications warm baths, hot or cold cloths, fomentations, and injections greatly aid the action of the medicines. Relief may often be obtained by directing the patient to step suddenly, with naked feet, on to the cold floor, or into cold water, or a sponge, saturated with cold water, may be suddenly applied over the region of the bladder. A simple and often successful method is to plunge the hands deeply into cold water, and move them about as in the act of washing. The diet must be sparing, and in sever cases restricted to demulcent drinks, such as gum-water, barley-water, and gruel.
62. Incontinence of Urine (Enuresis)
In this disease there may be partial or entire loss of power to retain the urine in the bladder, with frequent urging. The muscular fibres of the bladder are over-strained and lose their expulsive power, so that the bladder remains filled and over- flows in constant dribbling.
CAUSES:
Paralysis of the muscular fibres which surround the neck of the bladder, from injuries, tedious and protracted labours, the pressure of tumours, calculus deposits, syphilitic diseases, the irritation of worms, etc.
TREATMENT:
Cantharis. Acute inflammation of the urinary organs, with irresistible desire to urinate, and discharge of only a few drops of bloody, acrid urine.
Gelsemium. Involuntary urination from a relaxed or paralytic condition of the neck of the bladder.
Ferrum Mur. Incontinence during the day.
Mercurius. Incontinence from Cold, or Syphilis.
Nux Vomica. Urine retained with difficulty or passed involuntarily, from irritability consequent on the use of alcohol.
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."