Fever
Characteristic – Adapted to the nervous, irritable, sanguine temperament, persons of a scrofulous diathesis.
Constitutions which suffer from deficient nutrition, not because food is lacking in quality and quantity, but from imperfect assimilation (Barytac., Calcarea), oversensitive, mentally and physically.
Scrofulous, rachitic children with large heads, open fontanelles and sutures, much sweating about the head (lower than Calcarea), which must be kept warm by external covering (Psorinum, Sanicula), large bellies, weak ankles, slow in learning to walk.
Persons of light complexion, fine, dry skin, pale face, weakly, with lax muscles.
Diseases: caused by suppressed foot – sweat, exposing the head or back to any slight draft of air, from vaccination (Thuja), chest complaints of stone cutters, with total loss of strength.
Want of vital heat, always chilly, even when taking exercise (Ledum, Sepia).
Nervous debility, exhaustion with erythism, from hard work and close confinement, weariness, wants to lie down, may be overcome by force of will.
Has a wonderful control over the suppurative process – soft tissue, periosteum or bone – maturing abscesses when desired or reducing excessive suppuration (chiefly affecting soft tissues, Calendula, Hepar).
Children are obstinate, headstrong, cry when kindly spoken to (Ant.t., Sanicula, Iodium).
Restless, fidgety, starts at least noise.
Anxious, yielding, faint hearted.
Mental labor very difficult, reading and writing fatigue, cannot bear to think.
Vertigo: spinal, ascending from back of neck to head, as if one would fall forward, from looking up (Pulsatilla – looking down, Kal., Spigelia, psorinum).
Chronic sick headaches, since some severe disease of youth (Psorinum), ascending from nape of neck to the vertex, as if coming from the spine and locating in one eye, especially the right (left, Spigelia), aggravated draught of air or uncovering the head, ameliorated pressure and wrapping up warmly (Mag.m., Stron.), ameliorated profuse urination.
Constipation: always before and during menses (diarrhea before and during menses, Am-c., Borax), difficulty, as from inactivity of rectum, with great straining, as if rectum was paralyzed, stool when partly expelled, recedes again (Thuja), remains a long time in rectum.
Discharge of blood from vagina every time the child takes the breast (compare Crot-t.).
Nipple is drawn in like a funnel (Sarsaparilla).
Night walking, gets up while asleep, walks about and lies down again (Kali br.).
Unhealthy skin, every little injury suppurates (Graphites, Hepar, Mercurius).
Crippled nails on fingers and toes (Ant.c.).
Takes cold from exposure of feet (Conium, Cuprum).
Sweat of hands, toes, feet and axillae, offensive.
Intolerable, sour, carrion-like odor of the feet, without perspiration, every evening.
Desire to be magnetized, which ameliorates (Phosphorus).
Promotes expulsion of foreign bodies from the tissues, fish bones, needles, bone splinters.
Relations – Complementary: Thuja, Sanicula.
Graphites, Fluoric acid and Hepar follow well.
Silicea is the chronic of Pulsatilla.
Aggravation: Cold, during menses, during new moon, uncovering, especially the head, lying down.
Amelioration: Warmth, especially from wrapping up the head, all the symptoms except gastric, which are aggravated by cold food (Lycopodium).
Type: Periodicity not characteristic. Stages ill defined. All kinds of fever. Time: Midnight to 8 A.M., 10 A.M. to 8 p.m.
Evening chill from 5 to 6 p.m. Chilly all day.
Fever without chill 12 to 1 p.m.
Cause: If the fever can be traced to a suppressed foot sweat, Silicea is the first remedy to be thought of.
Chill: Without thirst, on every movement (Arnica, Nux.), very chilly all day, in the morning fell asleep from excessive weariness. Very chilly even in a warm room. Cramp-like chill in the evening in bed, with shivering. She did not dare to put her foot out of bed on account of consequent chilliness (Baryta, Cantharis). Shaking chill at 6 P.M., was obliged to lie down and could not get warm in bed for a long time. Icy cold shivering frequently creeps over the body, not relieved by heat of fire (Phosphorus). Affected parts feel cold. Coldness with ravenous hunger (Cina). Coldness of knees and arms, finger – nails white (coldness of knees, Apis, Carbo vegetabilis Phosphorus ). Nose cold as ice. Icy coldness of the feet and legs as far as knees.
Heat: With thirst and chilliness, at 11 A.M Violent heat in the head, and dark redness of the face (face of a mahogany red, Eup. ). Fever in evening, worse at night (Cina). Afternoon paroxysm, consisting of heat with intense thirst and very short breath. Great heat all night, with catching respiration. Heat returning periodically during day, followed by slight sweat.
Sweat: Profuse and general at night (Cinchona). Sweat only on the head or head and face (reverse of, Rhus, Secale ). Sweats periodically, 6 A.M., 3 to 5 P.M., 11 P.M. Sweat only on the head, running down the face. Profuse night – sweat, offensive, sour, debilitating, worse after midnight, from least exertion (Sepia, Sul.). Offensive sweat of feet, they become sore while walking (Graphites).
Tongue: Clean or coated with brown mucus. Loss of taste and appetite, or taste of blood, of soap – suds, rotten eggs, oil. Sensation as if a hair were lying on the forepart of the tongue. Disgust for meat. Averse to warm food, desire only for cold things (Lycopodium).
Apyrexia: The constitutional symptoms developed during this stage are numerous and always reliable.
