prodigiously, and become extremely painful, causing the principal
suffering. For this, wrap the feet and legs in cloths wet in a strong
solution of Epsom salts, quite warm, and cover with flannels so as to
keep them warm. This will afford immediate relief, and reduce the
swelling in a day or two. The finely pulverized Epsom salts, dry,
sprinkled on the pustules, will very often prevent pitting. It is the
safest and surest remedy of which I have any knowledge.
Varioloid
is small pox modified by vaccination. It is to be treated as a mild case
of small pox. The _Macrotin_ has been used with apparent success as a
prophylactic (preventive) to small pox, taken three times daily.
Painful Urination, Incontinence of Urine,
_Involuntary Urination._
Where the discharge of urine produces smarting and burning of the
urethra, _Cantharis_ is the remedy. Where there seems to be an over
secretion of acrid urine, producing inflammation of the neck of the
bladder, known by pain in the glans penis, _Copaiva_, and _Apis mel._
are the remedies. If there appears to be a partial palsy of the neck of
the bladder, the discharge taking place in sleep, _Podophyllin_ is the
surest remedy. I have cured some bad cases by the use of these three
remedies, given in rotation three or four hours apart.
Injections of a solution of borax into the bladder, have, in several
cases, been sufficient to effect a perfect cure, without any other
remedy. This may be used in connection with the other remedies. For
painful urination with a distressed feeling in the neck of the bladder,
causing a constant disposition to evacuate urine, the _Althoea
Officinalis_ is a certain remedy; it acts like a charm. It is an
important remedy for inflammation of the bladder. A good mode of using
it is in form of a warm infusion in doses of a table spoonful every half
hour or hour, according to the urgency of the symptoms. The _Althoea
Rosa_ (Hollyhock) may be used as a substitute, though it is not as good.
Every family should cultivate the _Althoea Officinalis_ (Marsh
Mallow), so that the fresh green root, which is the best, can be
procured at any time. I have been able to relieve patients with it,
especially females, when all other remedies seemed unavailing. It is
particularly useful for urinary difficulties of pregnant females.
Neuralgia.
_Aconite_ and _Bell._ are two important remedies in this affection. If
given low, and applied directly along the course of the affected nerves,
at full strength of the tincture, they will almost always effect a
cure. The proper way to use them is to give them internally at the
second dilution, at intervals of fifteen to thirty minutes, when the
pain is severe and nearly constant, and apply _Aconite tincture_ as hot
as practicable over the course of the nerve, by means of wet cloths, for
an hour or two hours, and if the pain has not subsided use _Bell._
locally in the same manner.
If the Neuralgia is periodical, coming on at regular intervals,
_Arsenicum_ and _China_ are the remedies, and they should be used
externally as directed for the others, both at the first dilution, and
given internally at intervals, in proportion to the violence of the
symptoms, the _Arsen._ at the 3d and the _China_ at the first dilution.
If the patient has used alcoholic drinks to excess, _Nux_ is to be used
in place of Arsenicum.
_Periodical Neuralgia_ generally requires the same treatment as ague. In
females when there is uterine disease, _Pulsatilla_ and _Macrotin_ are
the remedies to be used, as directed above.
Jaundice.
This disease depends upon derangement of the liver. The skin and whites
of the eyes become yellow; the patient grows weak, loses his appetite,
is dull and sluggish in all his actions, melancholly and discouraged in
his moods.
TREATMENT.
_Mercurius_ and _Podophyllin_ given in alternation, each twice a day,
will nearly always effect a cure. If the patient is costive, _Nux_
should be taken at night, until his bowels become regular.
Bathing the surface daily, or oftener, is a very important measure in
the treatment of this affection. As often as once in two or three days,
an alkaline bath should be taken. If the patient has fever every day, or
once in two days, ever so slight, _China_ should be used with
_Podophyllin_. If he has been drugged with Mercury in any form, in large
doses, even six months or a year before, give _Hydrastin_ in place of
Mercurius.
Itch.
I shall say but little about this very common and very obstinate
affection. Everybody has a "cure for itch" yet nobody cures it short of
the use of _Sulphur_ in some form. Though the attenuations of Sulphur
may sometimes cure itch, it must be acknowledged that such cures are so
rare in this country, and the time requisite to accomplish it is so
long, as a general rule, that few will trust them.
The most successful remedy, and the one that will always cure quickly,
if at all, is _Hepar Sulphurus Potassium_, the common Hepar Sulphur
(sulphuret of Potassa) of the shops. To succeed with it most certainly,
let the patient be thoroughly bathed with warm soap suds, _quite
strong_, in a room at the temperature of 90 to 100°, continuing the
bathing and _rubbing_ for an hour or more, then dry off the surface with
soft cloths, and apply the _Hepar sul._ with water, at the strength of
thirty drops of the strong alcoholic solution, with a gill of water,
wetting every eruption on the whole surface and let it dry on. This
causes some smarting, but it is effectual; it kills the _acarus_, (itch
animalcule) and in a few days the sores heal, the itching all subsides
immediately. If every pustule has not been touched, those left may
continue to itch, in which case, a second application is necessary.
_Hepar Sul._ should be given internally at the third dilution, for a
month, once a day, after the baths. Avoid greasy food. For the
Scald Head
of children, where there is a discharge of yellow and watery pus from
the sores, and the eruption extends to the ears or face, like the
disease called the _crusta lactea_ (milk crust), the same washes as for
itch, are the most effectual, while at the same time, and for a month or
two, the child should have _Hepar Sul._ 5th at night, and _Petroleum_ 3d
in the morning. Daily ablutions of the head with warm soap suds, and
keeping it covered, are absolutely essential.
Carbuncle.
This affection, though it somewhat resembles a common boil, and is by
some writers considered only such, in an overgrown state, is,
nevertheless, far from being identical with it.
While a _boil_ is only a sanitive effort of nature to eliminate the
cause of a morbid process, and tends to a spontaneous, healthy
termination, the _carbuncle_, on the contrary, is the very essence of
disease; its constant tendency being towards the dissemination of
diseased action, causing destruction of the parts affected. It, in fact,
appears like a parasite, living by the destruction of surrounding
tissues, literally absorbing them and "thriving on death." It begins
with a red, livid color, slight aching and burning pains, the part
swells and is elevated some like a boil, except that it does not
"point," but has a broad base rising like a cone and flattened at the
top. It feels soft and spongy, and will appear to fluctuate, but if
punctured, blood only flows. The pain and burning increases rapidly, and
sooner or later several openings appear upon the top, varying from three
or four to half a dozen or more, looking like the holes in a sponge, out
of which issues a fluid like thin gruel. Instead of becoming easier
after the suppuration begins, as is the case with a boil, the burning
increases to an alarming and unbearable extent; cold chills, loss of
appetite, great depression of spirits, general nervous and muscular
debility come on. The tumor continues to discharge, turns purple;
gangrene beginning in the carbuncle extends to other parts and death
follows.
The disease is nearly always confined to quite feeble persons and those
past the meridian of life; but I have seen it on younger though feeble
patients. It is generally located on the back, occasionally on the head,
where it is very dangerous from its liability to affect the brain.
TREATMENT.
If treated very early, _strong tincture of Arnica_ applied to the
surface of the carbuncle, by cloths wet and laid over the tumor, will
often arrest it so that the swelling will not be developed to the
suppurative stage. However, to reap any benefit from _Arnica_, it must
be applied while the pain is not severe, and the parts only feel bruised
and tender to pressure, like a common bruise.
After the ulceration occurs, _Arsenicum_ is the great remedy to be
relied on. It should be given at the second or third attenuation as
often as every three hours, when the pain is severe, and applied to the
surface of the carbuncle freely by cloths laid over it, wet in the
first dilution, or by sprinkling the first trituration of the oxyde
(1-10) freely upon the open surfaces, so that it may penetrate into the
open mouths or orifices. Over this powder apply an emolient poultice, or
soft cloths wet in water hot as can be endured. This will soon allay or
greatly lessen the pain. It should be repeated as often as any of the
burning pain peculiar to the carbuncle returns, until the tumor
suppurates in a tolerably healthy manner; then lessen the strength of
the _Ars._ applications, and continue them until it has the appearance
of a healthy abscess, when only simple dressings are necessary. Some may
suppose such strong applications injurious, but I can assure them from
abundant experience, that there is not the slightest danger. The
carbuncle should _never be punctured_ or _cut into_. Such operations
always make them worse, and induce a more rapid approach to gangrene.
The patient should have nourishing food, and good native wine may be
taken in moderate quantities, by a very feeble person, with decided
advantage.
Though the knife operations for the removal of carbuncle are always
injurious, the chemical effect of _Potash_ is frequently most
beneficial. I have, in repeated instances, applied to the ulcerated
surface, _caustic potash_ freely, allowing the dissolved caustic to
penetrate to the very "core" by running into the orifices. At first it
would produce some smarting, but the pain is different from that of the
carbuncle, and the change is agreeable rather than otherwise. Soon after
the application all pain ceases, and the tumor, under the use of a
poultice, begins to slough off in a few days, leaving a raw surface,
disposed to heal kindly. Occasionally, however, the healing process is
tardy, when _Arsenicum_, at the third, applied and taken internally,
will soon effect a cure.
I have occasionally used _Hepar Sul._ with good effect in the latter
stage.
Felon--Whitlow.
For this disease, in the early stage, when the sensation is that of
sharp, sticking pain, feeling as though a brier or thistle was in the
finger, immerse the part in water as hot as possible, into which put
common salt as long as it will dissolve; hold it in this _hot_ salt bath
for an hour or more at a time, and when removed, apply finely pulverized
salt, wet in _Spirits of Turpentine_; bind on the salt with several
thicknesses, and keep it constantly wet with the sp'ts turpt. for
twenty-four hours, when, if all symptoms of felon are gone, no further
treatment is necessary. As a general rule, the hot bath should be
repeated three times a day, especially if the symptoms have existed for
several days and there is much pain or swelling, and the dressings
should be kept on as above directed for several days, more or less,
until all symptoms disappear.
I am quite confident that a large majority, if not all, of the cases if
thus treated at any time before pus is formed, will be discussed and
cured. If pus has begun to form before the treatment is commenced, this
will not _cure_ the felon, but it is good treatment, especially the hot
bath, as it will greatly lessen the pain.
By holding it in hot water for an hour or two each day, the suppurative
process will be hastened, and as soon as the pus can be felt at any
point, fluctuating, puncture and let it out; then continue the hot bath,
with _Calendula_ (_Marygold_) flowers in the water, keeping the part all
the time warm and moist.
For the restless and nervous irritability that frequently occurs,
especially in females, _Aconite is the best remedy_. It should be given,
one drop of the tincture to a gill of water, in teaspoonful doses, once
in one or two hours, and the same applied to the sore.
DISEASES OF FEMALES
Suppression of the Menses, (Amenorrhoea.)
For sudden suppression from taking cold, as by wetting the feet, there
being headache, more or less fever, the pulse frequent and variable,
pains in the small of the back and cramp like pains in the pelvic
region, give, in alternation, _Aconite_ and _Pulsatilla_, as often as
every fifteen or twenty minutes in a violent case, and at longer
intervals as the patient begins to get easy. Putting the feet into hot
water, or taking a hot Sitz bath is very useful. If the patient is sick
at the stomach, as is often the case, give lukewarm water freely and let
her vomit; after which let her drink freely of water as hot as it can be
safely swallowed, adding milk and sugar to make it palatable. The good
effects that are often attributed to and experienced from the use of
various hot teas in this affection, are, in my opinion, attributable
more to the hot fluid alone than to any specific medicinal virtue in the
substance of which tea is made. At all events, very _hot_ drink with
nothing but water, milk and sugar, is equally efficacious, and my
medicine (a few grains of sugar of milk) put into the hot water,
seasoned as above, has often obtained great credit, when the _hot water_
was alone worthy. Rubbing the loins and abdomen briskly downwards with
the hands of a healthy and vigorous nurse, will often excite the
menstrual flow after a sudden suppression. If the head is hot, the face
full and red, and the arteries of the neck and temples beat violently,
give _Bell._ with _Pulsatilla_, and if the lungs are oppressed, use also
_Bryonia_, giving the three in rotation. If, after the menstrual flow
begins, there is still much pain in the pelvic region, give
_Caulophyllin_, which will immediately afford relief.
_Apis mel._ is very servicable in suppressed menses of several days, or
even weeks duration, where there is fever, redness of the face, and pain
in the head, and pains in the hips extending to the limbs, especially if
there is any tendency to bloating of the abdomen and swelling of the
limbs or feet. It acts _promptly_ and _efficiently_.
If the suppression has been caused by sudden fright or any strong mental
emotion, _Veratrum_ should be given in connection with the two former
medicines. Should there be great fullness of the vessels of the head, or
bleeding at the nose, _Bryonia_ with _Pulsatilla_ are to be used.
_Bell._ is also useful in this case if the pain in the head is
throbbing, especially if any delirium is present.
For suppression in young females, of several months duration, I have
used, with much success, _Podophyllin_ and _Macrotin_, one at night, the
other in the morning, giving them for two or three weeks before the
proper time for a return, and a day or two prior to the time, give also
_Pulsatilla_, and give the three in rotation, a dose every six hours.
This practice has been successful with me in cases of long standing and
apparently obstinate character. Where there is other disease, as an
affection of the liver, lungs or stomach, this must be treated and
cured, or the menses will not probably return. Great care should be
exercised to keep the patient's feet and limbs warm, as upon this may
depend her future health.
Dysmenorrhoea.--Painful Menstruation.
For this disorder, I know of no one remedy so valuable as the
_Caulophyllin_, but _Pulsatilla_ in many cases is efficacious, and as
they do not prevent each other's action, I prescribe them in
alternation, giving a dose every half hour, for a short time during the
paroxysm, or until the pain abates to some extent, then every hour.
If there is pain in the head, sickness at the stomach, a kind of sick
headache, as is often the case, with painful menstruation, _Macrotin_
should be used with the others; _Ipecac_ is the _Specific_ for an
excessive flow of the menses with great pain, especially if the stomach
is nauseated. It should be given as low as the first dilution, and the
tincture, in water, in the proportion of thirty drops to half a pint,
injected into the vagina quite warm.
The application of extract of _Belladonna_ to the neck of the uterus
will often produce immediate and perfect relief. After the patient is
relieved from the painful paroxysm, she should be treated so as to
prevent a return of the pains at the next monthly period. _Pulsatilla_,
_Caulophyllin_ and _Podophyllin_ are the three medicines that are most
certain to effect this object. They are to be given, one medicine each
day, a dose at night for three weeks, then morning, noon and night,
until the time for the return of the menses, when they should be used
oftener if there is pain. If the patient is inclined to be costive,
_Nux_ should be given at night for a few days before the menstrual
period, in place of _Pulsatilla_.
Menorrhagia--Profuse Menses--Flowing.
For this affection, _Ipecac_ and _Hamamelis_ are the specifics. They
should be taken alternately, at intervals of from half an hour to two
hours apart, according to the urgency of the symptoms, and the
_Hamamelis_ injected into the vagina. These will nearly always arrest
the flooding immediately. _Secale_ should be used either alone or with
the above medicines, if there are bearing down pains like labor pains,
and sickness at the stomach in spite of the Ipecac. _Ipecac_ alone is
often sufficient.
Nursing Sore Mouth.
Sore mouth of nursing women, as the name of the disease indicates, is
peculiar to women who are suckling children. It is an inflammation of
the mouth, tongue and fauces, which sometimes comes on during pregnancy,
several months or but a few days before the birth of the child. It
generally, however, makes its first appearance when the child is a few
weeks old, and sometimes not till after the lapse of several months. In
some cases the tongue and inside of the mouth ulcerate, and the
irritation extends to the stomach and bowels, producing distressing and
dangerous inflammation of these parts, with severe and obstinate
diarrhoea.
For the sore mouth, before diarrhoea begins, give _Eupatorium Aro._
and _Hydrastin_, in alternation, a dose once in three hours, and wash
the mouth with the same, each time. After the diarrhoea occurs, use
_Podophyllin_ with the other medicines, giving them in rotation, three
hours apart. It is best to give a dose of _Podophyllin_ night and
morning.
I have treated very bad cases of this disease that had been running for
more than a year, and been treated with the ordinary remedies directed
in the Homoeopathic authorities without any permanent benefit, curing
them perfectly in ten days with _Podophyllin_ and _Leptandrin_, giving
them in alternation at the 1st attenuation in half grain doses, at
intervals of from four to eight hours according to the frequency of the
evacuations. These two remedies are almost certain to arrest _Chronic
Dysentery_ where there is ulceration of the lower portion of the rectum,
a peculiar distress felt at the stomach just before stool, with _sudden_
rush of the evacuations and inability to control the inclination even
for a few minutes, with a feeling of faintness after the stool.
_Leptandrin_ is the specific for the Dysentery that often succeeds
cholera, and these two, _Pod._ and _Lept._, are almost certain to
relieve the "Mexican Diarrhoea," as well as that connected with the
fevers along the Mississippi river.
Mammary Abscess,
(_Ague in the breast--Inflamed breast_.)
This is a disease peculiar to nursing women. The first symptom is a
slight pain or soreness in some part of the "breast," which continues to
increase for a day or two, when a chill, more or less severe, sets in,
followed by high fever and quick pulse, headache and great restlessness.
The gland swells and becomes very painful. This is generally a disease
of rather slow progress, running eight or ten days and sometimes two or
three weeks before abscess forms and "points" to the surface.
TREATMENT.
_Phosphorus_ is to be taken internally, and the first dilution put in
water, twenty drops to one gill, and applied to the surface by means of
cloths wet in the mixture, as hot as it can be borne, and laid over the
whole breast. If this is done and the medicine given internally every
hour, as early as the first and frequently as late as the second or
third day, it is quite sure to remove the disease and prevent an
abscess. It is best to use it even much later. In fact it often succeeds
as late as the fifth or sixth day, and if it does not prevent the
abscess, it so far palliates the severe symptoms as to render the pain
but slight and keep the patient comfortable.
An application of the Tincture of Cantharides diluted with water and
applied to the breast by cloths wet in it, to the extent of producing
considerable redness and even eruptions, and the second dilution of the
same taken in drop doses every three hours, has proved successful in
subduing the inflammation after _Phos._ had failed, and it was supposed
an abscess would form in spite of any treatment.
I recently succeeded in giving perfect relief with _Apis Mel._
internally, applying it externally after the pain and swelling was very
great. I am of opinion that the _Apis_ is a valuable remedy.
_After abscess forms_ as soon as the pus can be felt at any point, soft
and fluctuating under the skin, _puncture_ and let it out, then poultice
it for a few days until it heals, giving _Phosphorus_ and applying it to
the sore. In _puncturing_, always be _very particular_ to have the
lancet or knife enter so that the edge will look towards the point of
the nipple, so as not to cut _across_ the milk ducts, which all run
toward that point, and if cut off will close up so that the milk which
may be secreted at any future time cannot get out, and swelling, pain
and severe inflammation, abscess and ulceration will be the consequence;
whereas, if the cut is made lengthwise of the ducts, very few, if any
will be cut off, and all future danger will be avoided. Apply an elm
poultice from the beginning to the end of treatment. For malignant
ulcers of the breasts, the _Cornus Sericea_ is a most potent remedy. It
is to be taken internally at the first dilution, and applied in strong
infusion or diluted _Tr._ of the bark to the sore.
Sore Nipples.
This affection of nursing women frequently comes on before the birth of
the child, but generally does not make its appearance until after the
suckling has continued for a week or more. It seems in some cases to be
connected with the aphthæ (sore mouth) of the child, or at least to be
aggravated by contact with the sore mouth; on the other hand it
sometimes seems as though the sore nipples produced the sore mouth of
the child.
TREATMENT.
I treat both the nipple and the child's mouth with the same remedy
_Eupatorium aro._, applied at the strength of 6 drops of the tincture,
to a teaspoonful of water, the application being made by a soft cloth,
wet and laid over the nipple; give drop doses of the same strength
internally every three hours, which will, in nearly all cases effect a
cure in one or two days. The child's mouth should be wet with the same
each time just before nursing. The oil from the pit of the butter nut,
(Juglan's Cinerea,) obtained by heating the pit and pressing out the
oil, applied to the nipple, will generally cure it after 3 or 4
applications about six hours apart. The child may take hold when the oil
is on, without danger. This remedy is sufficient in nearly all cases.
Leucorrhoea and Prolapsus Uteri--Whites, Female Weakness.
The disease depends in all cases upon _inflammation_ of the uterus, or
vagina, or both.
The inflammation may be simply in the neck of the uterus extending to
the posterior surface of the vagina, or the latter may not be affected;
or it may extend to the whole internal surface of the uterus, producing
swelling of that organ, both the fundus and neck.