21. Lumbago 1 See under “Rheumatism,” page 148. Pains in the Loins.
Rheumatism of the muscles of the back, on one or both sides of the loins, the pain being increased by movement of the back.
Aconitum. Sudden and acute cases, especially in alternation with Rhus Tox.
Rhus Tox. Chronic Lumbago; pains worse during repose, and at night; and when the disease has arisen from getting wet.
Cimicifuga. Useful in a large number of cases; especially when there is restlessness, and depression of spirits.
Bryonia. Intense pains, causing the patient to walk stooping, increased by movement or a draught of air, with shivering or biliousness.
Liniments. medicated with Rhus or Arnica, rubbed into the affected parts, are often very useful.
22. Gout. (Podagra).
The ancient name of this blood disease podagra, foot-pain indicates the parts usually first affected.
CAUSES:
Gout generally occurs in elderly persons who live luxuriously, and suffer much from heartburn, and other symptoms of acid dyspepsia.
Distinctions between Gout and Rheumatism.
1. Gout rarely occurs till about or after the middle period of life; Rheumatism attacks the young.
2. Gout chiefly attacks the small joints the metatarsal joint of the great toe for instance; Rheumatism the large joints.
3. Gout is often associated with chalk-stones (urate of soda); Rheumatism is not.
4. Gout is decidedly hereditary; Rheumatism is less so.
5. Gout is not attended with profuse acid sweats; Rheumatism is.
6. Gout is often the punishment of the luxurious and indolent: Rheumatism is rather the lot of the hard-working and the exposed.
TREATMENT:
Aconitum. Fever symptoms, especially at the commencement, and in plethoric patients.
Pulsatilla. May be alternated with Aconite from the commencement, or given along when the joint has become attacked.
Nux Vomica. Attacks traceable to stimulants or luxurious living, with indigestion or irregular action of the bowels.
Bryonia. Gout implicating the chest, or with bilious symptoms; pains increased by movement.
Colchicum, Ant., Crud., Ledum, Lycopodium, etc. Acetic Acid is also recommended.
ACCESSORY MEANS:
Flannels, or spongiopiline, after immersion in hot water, often give relief. The affected limb should be raised.
PREVENTIVE TREATMENT:
The patient should be well nourished, but the consumption of animal food diminished, and the tendency to acidity guarded against by avoiding indigestible, saccharine, highly-seasoned, or greasy food, twice-cooked meat, raw vegetables, and stimulants. Moderate and regular exercise should be taken in the open air, and the sponge-bath every morning. Perspiration should be encouraged, with care that it is not checked by chill.
23. Phthisis Pulmonalis Scrofulous Consumption.
In cases of Phthisis (from thin, to consume) there are deposited in the lungs certain morbid bodies called tubercles, in which the processes of suppuration and ulceration are set up. Although no period of life is exempt, Phthisis is most frequent in the course of youth, especially from the eighteenth to the twenty-second year, and, of all the diseases that claim our attention, is the one that proves the most destructive of human life. When once fully developed, it is generally supposed to be incurable; but in the early stages of the disease, while the tubercles are yet small, and but slight irritation has been set up, our preventive and remedial measures may be employed with much hope of success.
SYMPTOMS:
The early symptoms of Consumption are obscure, and consist chiefly of cough; shortness of breath on moderate exertion; wandering, irregular pains, and constriction about the chest; excessive sensitiveness of the lungs to cold air; impaired digestion; debility and loss of flesh without any assignable cause; haemoptysis; flushing of the cheeks, and quickening of the pulse in the evening, followed by disturbed sleep, and early, morning perspirations.
Spitting or coughing up blood often takes place, and usually gives the first intimation of the real nature of the malady; its occurrence before or soon after the setting in of a cough always indicated danger. As the disease advances, breathing becomes very distressing, the sputa more purulent, and exhaustion and emaciation, from impairment of the digestive functions, are now confirmed and progressive symptoms. From thickening or ulceration of the respiratory mucous membrane, huskiness or loss of voice is produced. Other organs often becomes implicated, especially the intestinal canal, in which a deposit of tubercles takes place, producing diarrhoea. The skin covering the parts on which the patient lies is apt to become sore and inflamed, and even to perish from the pressure of the attenuated body. Aphthae of the mouth, pharynx, etc., or oedema of the feet, ankles, and even legs, ensues, and the long and watery struggle is at last terminated by the gentle approach of death.
The Physical signs observed by auscultation and percussion tend to remove that uncertainty which formerly prevailed on the subject; but as these signs can only be appreciated and interpreted by a medical man, they are not further referred to in this work. All doubtful cases should be early submitted to professional homoeopathic treatment.
CAUSES:
Tubercular Phthisis is generally hereditary; it may arise in early life from an enfeebled condition of the system induced by a confined and impure atmosphere, unhealthy or too prolonged occupations, non nutritious food, anxiety, etc., to which an hereditary predisposition and the scrofulous constitution powerfully contribute.
TREATMENT:
Where tubercles exist in the lungs, either in a latent or partially developed state, we strongly recommend the following measures:-
1st. Highly-nutritious and easily digestible food. The diet should be nourishing, digestible, and sufficiently abundant, including animal food once or twice daily, or occasionally, fish, stale home-made or brown bread, farinaceous puddings, green vegetables, mealy potatoes, milk, lightly-boiled eggs, etc. Condiments, pastry, and all articles of food that occasion nausea, eructations, or other symptoms of indigestion, are to be avoided. The diet should include Cod-liver Oil, in small quantities. The continued use of oil, judiciously given, controls the expectoration and night sweats, soothes the cough and checks emaciation.
COD-LIVER OIL.
Cod-liver oil is an agent of great value in the treatment of many constitutional diseases, especially for the one under consideration. That kind of oil should be chosen which the patient finds most easy of digestion. A tea-spoonful, one or twice daily taken before, after, or between meals, as may prove most agreeable is generally sufficient, especially at the commencement; and, by slightly warming the oil, or taking after it a lump of sugar on which a drop of some essential oil has been placed; or some coffee, or orange wine, etc., the unpalatableness may be in great measure removed. How much this oil has gained favour with the public since 1841, appears from the fact that well-known Edinburgh druggist now dispenses between six and seven hundred gallons annually, as compared with one gallon sold in the former year. Inunction over the chest and between the shoulders is also generally beneficial.
2nd. Daily exercise in the open air, employed in such a manner as to bring all the muscles especially those of the chest and upper extremities into moderate and agreeable actions, and with the body in an erect posture, as in walking. Riding on horseback is also favourable, as affording a large amount of fresh air, the exercise not exciting great difficulty of breathing. In unfavourable weather, some of the well-contrived apparatus for arm and back exercise, especially that of the cross-bar, should be used in the house, with open windows.
3rd. Bathing, followed by vigorous friction, by means of a Bath- sheet, is an important measure, and, except in confirmed Consumption, is generally beneficial. The water may be applied in the form of baths, sponging, or wet sheets, and may even include sea-bathing. Weak children or delicate patients may use tepid water, and gradually reduce the temperature. When admissible, the best plan is rapidly to plunge a child in water, which obviates the exposure consequent on sponging, and ensures a quick and complete reaction. A healthy action of the skin will thus be promoted, and the general circulation equalized. But cold bathing is injurious when the surface is rendered cold and pale, and the patient is left languid and dejected. In such a case warm salt baths should be first used. In consumptive cases sponging the patient every morning with one part of dilute acetic acid to six parts of hot water is most agreeable and refreshing.
4th. Residence in a moderately warm climate. Warm air soothes the trachea and bronchial tubes and the external warmth tends to keep the blood to the surface of the body, and so obviates congestion of the lungs; and further, the warm air being rarefied, less oxygen is inspired, and less carbonic acid given off, so that less vigorous breathing is required; and, also, the liver, in the warmer climates, seems to take, on some of the offices of the lungs. The climate, however, must be dry, as damp is prejudicial. The writer is strongly convinced that entire change of climate, if adopted before the disease has produced irreparable changes in the lungs, is the most effective and permanent remedy. The climate of Victoria in Australia, or Cape Colony in South Africa, is probably the best to which a patient of consumptive tendency can be sent.
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."