DANGERS. (1) Exhaustion from virulence of the poison. (2) Inflammation of heart and brain. (3) Ulceration of the throat, suppuration through the ear, and consequent deafness. (4) Disease of kidneys and dropsy. (5) Rheumatic fever, consequent on exposure during convalescence. (See also After-effects). 1 For fuller particulars, see the Author’s “Infants and Children.”
Scarlatina is more prone to assume a malignant form than any other of the eruptive fevers, and sometimes prevails as an epidemic in low, ill-drained districts.
EPITOME OF TREATMENT:-
Scarlatina simplex. Belladonna alt. Aconite; Sulph. (during convalescence).
S. Anginosa. Mercurius (ulceration of the throat); Apis (excessive swelling).
S. Maligna. Ailanthus Gland, (early use, in frequent doses of 1x dil.), Baptisia, Arsenicum, Apis, Gelsemium, Murex Ac., Phosphorus, Opi., etc.; also spray of Sulphurous Acid, or of Condy’s Fluid, diluted one part of either to about ten of water.
If possible, this disease should always be under the care of a homoeopathic physician, as the mildest forms, neglected, have often led to the worst results.
LEADING INDICATIONS. Belladonna. Immediately Scarlatina is suspected, and especially when the rash begins to appear, the swallowing becoming difficult, and the throat inflamed, Belladonna should be given every first, second, or third hour, according to the severity of the symptoms, and as long as the eruption is bright-red. In the simple form of the disease. Scarlet-fever will frequently yield to its action without the aid of other medicines.
Aconitum. If the fever be severe, a few doses may precede, or be alternated with, Belladonna
Gelsemium. In simple cases when the eruption is not clear, when the symptoms are remittent, and there is much nervous restlessness.
Rhus tox. When rheumatic symptoms appear, and the patient cannot bear to be still.
Bryonia. In alternation with Belladonna, when rheumatic symptoms come on and the patient cannot bear the least motion.
Veratrum Viride is valuable when there is much head disturbance, vomiting, and very rapid pulse. It may be alternated with Belladonna
Mercurius. Inflamed, swollen, or ulcerated throat. If there is a predominance of the throat symptoms, especially malignant sore throat, Mercurius is most valuable.
Terebinthina. Disorder of kidneys; urine smoky and dark.
Arsenicum. Great prostration of strength; cold clammy sweats; frequent, weak pulse; threatened dropsy. Arsenicum is also valuable during convalescence; it expedites desquamation and tends to prevent sequelae.
Sulphur. When the disease is on the decline, to prevent secondary complaints. See also Arsenicum A dose morning and night for several days.
GENERAL MEASURES. The hints on Nursing (pp. 73-82) should, as far as possible, be strictly carried out. The surface of the body should be sponged thrice daily with the acetic acid and hot water (see also p. 100) to moderate the great heat and allay restlessness Sucking and swallowing small pieces of ice are both useful and grateful. A wet bandage to the throat, when it is affected, is a sovereign remedy, and seldom fails to relieve. It should be fastened both at the back of the neck and at the top of the head, so as to protect the glands near the angles of the jaws. Inhalation of steam from hot water is useful when the throat is sore and painful. Also the WET PACK (p. 84).
PREVENTION. During the prevalence of Scarlatina, a dose of Belladonna (1x) should be given morning and night to children who have not had the disease. Should the disease occur not with- standing this treatment, its severity will be much mitigated. Daily out-of-door exercise.
AFTER-EFFECTS (Sequelae). There are several sequelae that may follow Scarlatina, especially in unhealthy patients or districts, or when the disease has not been skilfully treated. (1) Inflammation and swelling of the glands of the neck, which in scrofulous children attain a large size, often suppurate, and burrow and under the muscles of the neck. Mercurius, Hepar. S., or Calcarea should be administered immediately any swelling is observed. (2) The inflammatory of the throat may be extended along the Eustachian tubes (small canals which extend from the throat to the ear), producing deafness by their obstruction, or by suppuration of the tympanum (drum of the ear), or some other mischief of the ear. The remedies recommended are Belladonna, Mercurius, Aurum or Pulsatilla (3) But the most frequent and dangerous sequel is Anasarca (Dropsy), which takes place about the twenty-second day from the commencement of the fever. Dropsy is more frequent after a mild than after a severe form of Scarlatina, owing probably to the disease not having expended all its force, and some of the poison remaining in the system; or it may be due to the want of caution in such cases during convalescence. Cantharis, when there is suppression of urine, and Arsenicum when there is no suppression, are the chief remedies required. When there is blood in the urine, Terebinth.
11. Enteric or Typhoid, and Typhus Fevers
SYMPTOMS:
The most characteristic are debility; chilliness or rigors; weariness and restless anxiety; ringing noises in the ears, and often deafness; black spots before the eyes; low muttering delirium; stupor; and an eruption, especially on the pit of the stomach. The latter, however, may be imperfect, or even absent. Grey-coloured watery stools are a decided symptom. 1 For more detailed symptoms and treatment, see the Author’s Text Book of the Vade Mecum.
EPITOME OF TREATMENT
First stage. Verat-Vir., Baptisia., or Bryonia
Great prostration. Arsenicum, Veratrum, or Rhus Tox.
Involvement of the lungs. Phosphorus and Bryonia
Involvement of the Brain. Belladonna, Camph., Opi., or Rhus.
Involvement of the Bowels. Arsenicum, Baptisia, Carbo Veg., Ipecac., or Mercurius
Nervous Debility following. Ferrum, Sulphur, China, Ignatia, Sulphur
LEADING INDICATIONS
Veratrum Vir. Rapid pulse, severe headache, vomiting and even delirium.
Baptisia. Early Typhoid symptoms. This remedy should be given, in low dilution and frequent doses, directly Enteric fever is suspected. It is almost specific.
Bryonia. Bitter taste, brown-coated, rough tongue, bilious derangement, nausea, confined bowels, stupefying headache, cough, stitches in the chest, and irritable disposition. When there are furred tongue, rheumatic pains, and restlessness, Bryonia may be alternated with Rhus every third hour.
Belladonna. Violent headache, redness and congestion of the face; a wild, red, and fiery appearance of the eyes; throbbing and distention of the blood-vessels of the temples; wakefulness and nocturnal delirium, and other cerebral symptoms. Hyoscyamus may sometimes be required instead of Belladonna
Mercurius. Copious debilitating perspirations; thick-coated tongue, foul mouth, throat, breath, etc.; diarrhoeic evacuations, greenish or yellowish; tenderness at the pit of the stomach.
Opium. Stupor; slow, stertorous (snoring) breathing; hard, full, slow, or oppressed pulse; low delirium.
Arsenicum. Extreme debility, prostration, rapid sinking, with very small, thready pulse; burning thirst; dark, offensive diarrhoeic discharges; cold perspirations; symptoms worse at night.
Rhus Tox. Foul discharges from the bowels; livid colour of the skin; imperfect or fading eruption; paralytic symptoms; extreme weakness and prostration; low muttering delirium; picking of the bed-clothes; offensive, putrid, or bloody diarrhoea; dry, cracked tongue; great thirst, and scanty urine.
Carbo Veg. Offensive smells from the patient; involuntary putrid evacuations; deep-red urine; pinched, sunken countenance; burning in the abdomen and pit of the stomach; cold extremities; rapid sinking, and scarcely perceptible pulse.
ADMINISTRATION: A dose every one or two hour for the severe symptoms; every three to six for mind.
ACCESSORY TREATMENT: See pp. 73-82.
WATCHING PATIENTS: Fever patients should never be left alone, but attended and watched day and night. Their urgent and incessant wants require this, and their safety demands it. Instances have occurred of patients, in the delirium which so frequently attends fever, getting out of bed, and even out of the window, during the absence of the nurse, and losing their lives from injury.
TABULAR DIFFERENCES BETWEEN ENTERIC OR TYPHOID AND TYPHUS FEVER.
TYPHOID
1. Typhoid seldom attacks persons after forty and is most common in youth, including children.
2. Is as common among the rich as the poor.
3. Arises from decomposing matter, foul drinking water as when a drain leaks into a well, etc.
4. Comes on insidiously, the premonitory stage lasting a week or more.
5. The bowels are much affected with diarrhoea, congestion, or even ulceration.
6. The eruption of the skin consists of rose-coloured spots, something like Measles, appears in successive crops, and fades under pressure.
7. Continues at least three weeks, often five or six, or even more.
8. The tendency to death is by asthenia (exhaustion).
9. Is commonly called gastric fever.
TYPHUS
1. Typhus occurs at any age, but more frequently in middle life.
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."