5th. Lastly, all excesses are to be avoided, whether in the pleasures of the table, wine or liquors, business, intellectual pursuits, or in the gratification of any passion which over- stimulates and fatigues the mind or body.
By the early and preserving adoption of these suggestions, and the administration of homoeopathic remedies, much might be done towards the prevention of Consumption, as well as for the restoration to comparative health of tuberculous persons.
We have often administered our remedies with marked and permanent benefit to consumptive patients, but do not prescribe any of them here, as the treatment should always be conducted by a physician. Experience in the treatment of a large number of private and dispensary patients enables us to encourage hope even in grave and complicated cases. In the early of the disease, a cure can often be effected; even when considerably advanced, life may be prolonged for many years; and in the last stages of the disease, the patient’s sufferings may be mitigated to a marked degree.
Among the articles of diet may be mentioned the various extracts of malt or maltine. They assist in the digestion of starchy foods and should be taken with meals. Cod-liver oil is also of great importance where it is well tolerated. It should be taken two or three times a day immediately after food. When it is not tolerated Iodine given homoeopathically will sometimes do more than the Cod-liver oil which contains iodine. Also suet and milk may be taken as a substitute. It is made by simmering an ounce of finely-chopped mutton suet in a pint and a half of milk, until the whole is reduced to one pint. Skim carefully and strain. It should be taken warm, and makes an excellent supper.
Medicinal Treatment: This will always be directed by a homoeopathic physician when possible. The most useful medicines are Arsenicum, Iodide, for washing, night sweats, bleeding; Baptisia, low fever and diarrhoea; Phosphorus, irritative cough with expectoration of mucus streaked with blood. Cough on lying down at night preventing sleep, Aconite or Belladonna See also under COUGH, the medicines there named will be found useful in consumption, according to the particular indications given.
CHAPTER III
DISEASES OF THE NERVOUS SYSTEM
From statistical return of the Registrar-General of births, marriages, and deaths, in England and Wales, we learn that nervous diseases Congestion of the Brain, Apoplexy, Paralysis, Epilepsy, etc. have considerably increased of late years, the average number of deaths in 1858 being but 1485C3 per million, while in the year 1833 they had increased to 1855; and in 1884 they were 1815. This augmented brain affection is no doubt the result of the overtaxed energies and feverish excitement in which great numbers live, and of the large amount of stimulants taken to sustain that excitement.
Hence it is our honest conviction that if the suggestions contained in the present work be faithfully observed, they will lead to the moulding afresh of our commercial and social habits; and that daily exercise and recreation in the open-air, true temperature, a less selfish and anxious pursuit of wealth, and a knowledge of the chief causes of disease, would materially reduce the present superfluous physical and mental wear and tear, and conduce to a more healthy, because a more natural, mode of life. The more complete application of the early-closing and weekly half-holiday movements to all departments of business, benefitting a like the employer and the employed, would also greatly contribute to the diminution of diseases of the head. Having regard to the health as well as the happiness of the industrious classes, we strongly urge all the employers to pay wages on Friday, and to give the weekly half-holiday on Saturday, our plea being strengthened by the experience of years, that work is better done when it is not excessive or unrelieved by recreation. Rest and out-of-door amusements are to the human frame what oil is to the wheels of the iron machine. To the whole community, then, we commend the rule, Never shop after two on Saturday, or after six or and day, and thus help to secure for the city clerk, the busy shopman, and the toiling artisan, relief from his duties at noon on Saturday, to enjoy, amidst the scenes of nature, or in the bosom of his family, the unbending of his back and the unwrinkling of his brow, and ensuring from lighter hearts and invigorated bodies, greater diligence and better work.
24. Epilepsy (Epilepsia) Falling Sickness
SYMPTOMS:
Epilepsy means literally a seizure; for often in a moment the patient falls to the ground, with sudden and complete loss of consciousness, struggling and foaming; the eyes roll spasmodically, the teeth are clenched, the tongue is often bitten, the breathing is laboured, and the face purplish and swollen. Sometimes a fit is preceded by depression of spirits, a gloomy mood drowsiness, or the Aura epileptica, a peculiar sensation, compared to a stream of warm or cold air, the trickling of water, or the creeping of an insect. It is followed by deep sleep, from which the patient awakes with headache and sense of weariness.
CAUSES:
Hereditary tendency; injuries or malformation of the head; local irritation; derangement of the nervous or sexual system; self- abuse; fright, or fits of rage; the irritation of worms; the sight of other Epileptics; etc. The evidence of hereditary tendency exists in the fact that two more cases of Epilepsy frequently occur in the same family, far more frequently than it would do if it were a mere coincidence. Still, evidence of a local irritation as a cause should be sought after, so that it may, if possible, be removed.
TREATMENT DURING A FIT.
Tight articles of clothing must be loosened, particular care being taken that there shall be no pressure on the vessels of the neck; the patient should be placed in a cool airy place; the head and trunk slightly raised; a cork or linen pad placed between the teeth to prevent the tongue, which should be pushed back, from being bitten; and the patient with-held as much as possible from injuring himself, without restraining him beyond what is absolutely necessary. Dashing the face with cold water, the applications of smelling-salts to the nose, are of no advantage; the fit had better take its course. After it is over, the patient should be allowed to sleep.
TREATMENT BETWEEN FITS.
Belladonna. Great irritability of the nervous system, the patient starting at the least noise; convulsive movement of the muscles of the mouth, face, and limbs; dilated pupils, fixed or convulsed eyes, intolerance of light; stammering; congestion of blood to the head; and when an attack commences with a sensation of crawling in the upper extremities.
Ignatia. Nervous, sensitive patients; when anxiety or grief has been an exciting cause, and there are deep sighs between or before attacks.
Nux Vomica. Indigestion; irregular action of the bowels; great irritability between the fits; and the patient takes too little open-air exercise.
Opium. Fits traceable to fright; deep, lethargic sleep between the paroxysms; fulness of blood.
Chamomilla. From gastric derangements in children; an attack is preceded by colicky pains, and followed by stretching of the limbs, clenching of the thumbs, sour vomitings, paleness of one cheek and redness of the other. But true brain symptoms point to Belladonna
Phosphorus. Epilepsy associated with, or consequent on, Self- abuse.
Cina. From the irritation of worms.
Sulphur. Epilepsy following a suppressed eruption or discharge; chronic cases; also as an intercurrent remedy.
Arsenicum, Calcarea, Cuprum, Zincum met., Kali Bromium, or other remedies are required in some inveterate cases.
Administration. For the premonitory symptoms, a dose every one, two, or three hours; during the intervals, twice or thrice daily.
ACCESSORY MEANS:
Regular exercise and amusements, but not carried to the point of fatigue; plain, nourishing food, in moderate quantities; cold ablutions every morning. Patients with a tendency to plethora or congestion should wholly abstain from stimulants. Bodily and mental fatigue, violent emotions, excesses of every kind, more especially sexual, must be strictly avoided.
25. Infantile Convulsions
SYMPTOMS:
Unconsciousness, rolling of the eyes, grinding of the teeth, clenched hands, contortions or stiffness of body and limbs; sometimes the face is purplish, and the breathing laboured. The attacks terminate with trembling, chilliness, paleness of the face, and evacuation of the bladder and bowels, etc.
CAUSES:
Irritation of the brain from pressure of a tooth upon an inflamed gum, or anything which over-excites the nervous system; disease of the brain; an insufficient supply of blood to the brain, as in badly-fed children, or an impure supply of blood, as in the eruptive fevers; the irritation of worms; fright; in sucking infants, powerful emotions of the mother; indigestion. The remote causes are, hereditary predisposition, too early or too late marriages; etc.
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."