DISEASES AND THEIR TREATMENT



This complaint consists of inflammatory swelling of the salivary glands, especially those below the ears, frequently with pain, soreness, and difficulty in moving the jaws. A curious circumstance connected with this disease is, that as the swelling of the neck and throat subsides, there is liability to swelling and tenderness of the testicles in the male, and the mammae in the female, especially, when the swelling subsides suddenly, as on exposure to cold, or from cold applications. It is contagious and painful, but not dangerous.

TREATMENT:

Mercurius is the first and chief remedy, and is generally sufficient to effect a cure. A dose three or four times daily.

Belladonna. Severe pain, with a tendency to delirium; Mumps following Measles, or with an erysipelatous inflammation.

Pulsatilla. Useful when the breasts or testicles are affected.

ACCESSORY MEANS:

Frequent hot fomentations, covering the parts in the interval with a flannel bandage. The patient should be protected from cold, damp, or excitement, as a liability to relapse remains for several weeks.

18. Influenza. (Catarrhus Epidemicus).

Although derived from the Italian Influenza, an “Influence” all the various epidemics of this disorder appear to have originated in Russia. It is no respecter of persons; a man in the most robust health is as liable to an attack as the feeblest individual, and the disease itself varies in intensity from comparative insignificance to extreme severity.

SYMPTOMS:

The onset is sudden, and marked by great debility, headache, feverishness, shivering, pains in the back and limbs, sickness, sore throat, suffusion of the eyes, running at the nose (sometimes), a furred tongue, and marked depression. Relapses are common, and one attack is no protection against any subsequent one. The commonest complications are bronchitis and pneumonia.

TREATMENT:

Baptisia is of much value when the headache, foul tongue, and general uneasiness are prominent; Belladonna, Bryonia, or Sanguinaria for aggravating cough with difficult expectoration and throbbing headache; China, for dizziness and subsequent debility, and in the convalescent stages Nux Vomica.

DIET AND REGIMEN:

Keep up the patient’s strength by the most nourishing and generous diet. If light, solid food is able to be taken, it is as a rule not necessary to confine the patient to slops. Rest in bed is essential, while every care should be taken to guard against cold or chill. Going too long without food, or over-exertion, should be avoided after an attack.

19. Erysipelas St. Anthony’s Fire. (Erysipelas).

Idiopathic Erysipelas arises from constitutional causes, and commonly affects, the face and neck; traumatic Erysipelas follows injuries, and may, consequently, occur on any part.

SYMPTOMS:

Simple erysipelas, the variety treated of here, is marked by a spreading, inflammatory redness of the skin, with puffy swelling, tenderness, burning, and a painful sensation of tingling and tension. The colour of the skin varies from a light-red to a dark-red or purplish colour, becoming white under pressure, but assuming its former appearance on the removal of that pressure. An attack is often ushered in with shivering, languor, headache, and sometimes nausea, vomiting, or diarrhoea.

CAUSES:

Debility and loss of resisting power from disease; the habitual use of stimulants; exposure to cold; impaired digestion; wounds; badly ventilated or crowded apartments; and certain conditions of the atmosphere. A recent wound or brain is a chief exciting cause; neglect of cleanliness, intemperance, unwholesome food, and bad air, are the predisposing causes.

TREATMENT:

Aconitum. This is mostly required before the rash appears, but may be given, if indicated by febrile symptoms, at any stage, every three hours.

Belladonna. Severe, bright-red, smooth eruption, with headache, thirst, constipation, thick urine, etc. Belladonna may be alternated with Aconite in the early stages of the disease.

Rhus Tox.

Vesicles (little bladders), whether on the face or body, with swelling, shiny redness of the parts, and restlessness. A dose every second or third hour.

Cantharis. Erysipelas with much irritation, burning and serous exudation. 1 See Illustrative Cases in the H. World, vol. vi p. 149.

Other remedies are Veratrum-Vir. (delirium), Apis (rapid swelling), Arsenicum, Carbo Veg., (great prostration), Pulsatilla and Sulph. (formation of matter under the skin), Arsenicum and Hepar alternately.

ACCESSORY MEASURES:

In mild cases no external application is required, unless fluid exudes, which may be absorbed by dusting powdered starch or flour over the surface. In severe cases, warm fomentations, and after- wards flour or fine starch, should be sprinkled over the parts. When the eruption is obstinate, we have found a lotion of Verat- Vir. successful. Incisions, poultices, and bandages may be necessary, should matter form.

DIET:

Gum-water, barley-water, or pure water to allay thirst. Bad and tedious cases require beef-tea and good nourishment, at regular intervals; and subsequently, change of air.

CHAPTER II

GENERAL DISEASES.

B: CONSTITUTIONAL DISEASES

20. Acute Rheumatism Rheumatic Fever; and Chronic Rheumatism.

SYMPTOMS:

Acute Rheumatism sets in with general febrile disorder, followed by acute inflammation of the fibrous structures about one or more of the larger joints the shoulder, elbow, knee, ankle, etc. The affected joints are swollen, tense, stiff, slightly reddened, very painful, and the pain is so increased by movement that a patient often says he has lost the use of the limb. The skin is hot, tawny in colour, but covered, with a sour sweat, having an offensive odour; the pulse is round and full; the tongue furred; the urine highly coloured and turbid when cool, and the bowels generally confined. Palpitation, and continued pain in the heart, are unfavourable symptoms. The inflammation is liable to metastasis from one joint to another, or to other fibrous structures, as the pericardium, the valves of the heart, etc. (See also under “Gout.”)

Muscular Rheumatism includes Lumbago (see the next Section); Pleurodynia or False Pleurisy rheumatism of the muscles of the chest; Crick-in-the-neck when the cervical muscles are affected, etc. The treatment, however, is nearly the same in the different varieties.

CAUSES: Exposure to cold and wet; sudden suppression of perspiration; and especially evaporation from wet clothes, causing chill, induce an altered condition of the blood, which produces pain. It occurs most frequently in young persons, from twenty to thirty years of age, or younger. Joints which have been sprained, long and excessively exercised, or otherwise impaired, are particularly prone to suffer.

TREATMENT:

Aconitum. Acute Rheumatism, chiefly at the commencement; violent shooting or tearing pains, aggravated by touch; swelling and redness of the affected parts; impaired appetite; high-coloured, scanty urine, and other febrile symptoms. A dose every second or third hour.

Bryonia. Lancinating or stitching muscular pains, worse on movement or touch; Rheumatism affecting the joints and muscles of the chest, with catching or painful breathing (False Pleurisy).

Rhus Tox. Pains worse during rest, the patient constantly turning about for ease, yet finding little; deep, tearing, or bruised pains; Rheumatism from getting wet, aggravated by damp or cold weather.

Mercurius. Puffy swelling of the affected parts; the pains seem to be in the bones, and are worse with warmth and at night; profuse perspirations without relief.

Pulsatilla. Wandering Rheumatism: Rheumatism relieved by cold; sensation of torpor in the limbs; pale face; diarrhoea, etc.

Sulphur. Rheumatism in scrofulous patients; and after other remedies to complete the cure; also as an intermittent remedy in obstinate cases.

ACCESSORY MEANS:

During the fever the patient should remain in bed, and the diet be restricted to free draughts of water, milk-and-water, barley- water, gruel, etc. Oranges, grapes, lemons, may be given, but apples, pears, and stone-fruit should be withheld. Warm-baths, or hot compresses, are both useful and comforting. Wet-packing of the whole body (pp. 84-86), or of the affected parts, according to circumstances, is a most useful adjunct. When the heart suffers, a hot linseed meal poultice, or hot flannels, should be frequently renewed over the region. During convalescence great attention must be paid to the joints; they must be diligently worked both by the patient and the nurse, and rubbed with oil to prevent them becoming stiff.

CHRONIC RHEUMATISM:

Chronic Rheumatism requires similar remedies to the acute form: Bryonia, Arnica, Cimic., Phyto., Mercurius, and Rhus Tox. being the chief. Persons liable to Rheumatism should wear flannel and warm clothing generally, and avoid damp and cold. Warm, salt, vapour, or hot-air baths are useful. After the use of warm bathing, cold should be gradually tried, as it tends to prevent subsequent attacks. Turkish-baths, judiciously taken, are often efficacious. Frictions, with Arnica or Rhus Liniments, are beneficial in local and limited forms of Rheumatism. Errors in diet should be guarded against, as attacks are very likely to follow derangement of the digestive organs.

Edward Harris Ruddock
Ruddock, E. H. (Edward Harris), 1822-1875. M.D.
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."