Enquire within upon everything · Chapter 18Publisher's Preface (17)
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.
848. After Leeches have been Used
After leeches have been used they should be placed in water containing sixteen per cent. of salt, which facilitates the removal of the blood they contain; and they should afterwards be placed one by one in warm water, and the blood forced out by _gentle_ pressure. The leeches should then be thrown into fresh water, which is to be renewed every twenty-four hours: they may then be re-applied after an interval of eight or ten days, and be disgorged a second time. The best plan, however, is to empty the leech by drawing the thumb and forefinger of the right hand along its body from the tail to the mouth, the leech being firmly held at the sucker extremity by the fingers of the left hand. By this means, with a few minutes' rest between each application, the same leech may be used four or five times in succession.
849. If a Leech be Accidentally Swallowed
If a leech be accidentally swallowed, or by any means should get into the body, employ an emetic, or enema of salt and water.
850. Scarification
Scarification is useful in severe contusions, and inflammation of parts. It is performed by scratching or slightly cutting through the skin with a lancet, holding the lancet as you would a pen when you are ruling lines on paper.
851. Terms used to express the Properties of Medicines
852. Absorbents
Absorbents are medicines which destroy acidity in the stomach and bowels, such as magnesia, prepared chalk, &c.
853. Alteratives
Alteratives are medicines which restore health to the constitution, without producing any sensible effect, such as sarsaparilla, sulphur, &c.
854. Analeptics
Analeptics are medicines that restore the strength which has been lost by sickness, such as gentian, bark, &c.
855. Anodynes
Anodynes are medicines which relieve pain, and they are divided into three kinds,
and
(see these terms); camphor is anodyne as well as narcotic.
856. Antacids
Antacids are medicines which destroy acidity, such as lime, magnesia, soda, &c.
One Watch Set Right will Do to Set Many by.
857. Antalkalies
Antalkalies are medicines given to neutralize alkalies in the system, such as citric, nitric, and sulphuric, acids, &c.
858. Anthelmintics
Anthelmintics are medicines used to expel and destroy worms from the stomach and intestines, such as turpentine, cowhage, male fern, &c.
859. Antibilious
Antibilious are medicines which are useful in bilious affections, such as calomel, &c.
860. Antirheumatics
Antirheumatics are medicines used for the cure of rheumatism, such as colchicum, iodide of potash, &c.
861. Antiscorbutics
Antiscorbutics are medicines against scurvy, such as citric acid, &c.
862. Antiseptics
Antiseptics are substances used to correct putrefaction, such as bark, camphor, charcoal, vinegar, and creosote.
863. Antispasmodics
Antispasmodics are medicines which possess the power of overcoming spasms of the muscles, or allaying severe pain from any cause unconnected with inflammation, such as valerian, ammonia, opium, and camphor.
864. Aperients
Aperients are medicines which move the bowels gently, such as rhubarb, manna, and grey powder.
865. Aromatics
Aromatics are cordial, spicy, and agreeably-flavoured, medicines, such as cardamoms, cinnamon, &c.
866. Astringents
Astringents are medicines which contract the fibres of the body, diminish excessive discharges, and act indirectly as tonics, such as oak bark, galls, &c.
867. Attenuants
Attenuants are medicines which are supposed to thin the blood, such as ammoniated iron, &c.
868. Balsamics
Balsamics are medicines of a soothing kind, such as tolu, Peruvian balsam, &c.
869. Carminatives
Carminatives are medicines which allay pain in the stomach and bowels, and expel flatulence, such as aniseed water, &c.
870. Cathartics
Cathartics are strong purgative medicines, such as jalap, &c.
871. Cordials
Cordials are exhilarating and warming medicines, such as aromatic confection, &c.
872. Corroborants
Corroborants are medicines and food which increase the strength, such as iron, gentian, meat, and wine.
873. Demulcents
Demulcents correct acrimony, diminish irritation, and soften parts by covering their surfaces with a mild and viscid matter, such as linseed-tea, gum, mucilage, honey, and marsh-mallow.
874. Deobstruents
Deobstruents are medicines which remove obstructions, such as iodide of potash, &c.
875. Detergents
Detergents clean the surfaces over which they pass, such as soap, &c.
876. Diaphoretics
Diaphoretics produce perspiration, such as tartrate of antimony, James's powder, and camphor.
877. Digestives
Digestives are remedies applied to ulcers or wounds, to promote the formation of matter, such as resin, ointments, warm poultices, &c.
878. Discutients
Discutients possess the power of repelling or resolving tumours, such as galbanum, mercury, and iodine.
879. Diuretics
Diuretics act upon the kidneys and bladder, and increase the flow of urine, such as nitre, squills, cantharides, camphor, antimony, and juniper.
880. Drastics
Drastics are violent purgatives, such as gamboge, &c.
881. Emetics
Emetics produce vomiting, or the discharge of the contents of the stomach, such as mustard and hot water, tartar-emetic, ipecacuanha, sulphate of zinc, and sulphate of copper.
882. Emmenagogues
Emmenagogues are medicines which exercise a direct action on the uterus or womb, provoking the natural periodical secretion, such as castor, asafœtida, galbanum, iron, mercury, aloes, hellebore, savine, ergot of rye, juniper, and pennyroyal.
883. Emollients
Emollients are remedies used externally to soften the parts they are applied to, such as spermaceti, palm oil, &c.
884. Epispastics
Epispastics are medicines which blister or cause effusion of serum under the cuticle, such as Spanish flies, Burgundy pitch, rosin, and galbanum.
885. Errhines
Errhines are medicines which produce sneezing, such as tobacco, &c.
886. Escharotics
Escharotics are medicines which corrode or destroy the vitality of the part to which they are applied, such as lunar caustic, &c.
One that Goes Wrong may Mislead a Whole Neighbourhood.
887. Expectorants
Expectorants are medicines which increase expectoration, or the discharge from the bronchial tubes, such as ipecacuanha, squills, opium, ammoniacum.
888. Febrifuges
Febrifuges are remedies used in fevers, such as all the antimonials, bark, quinine, mineral acids, arsenic.
889. Hydragogues
Hydragogues are medicines which have the effect of removing the fluid of dropsy, by producing watery evacuations, such as gamboge, calomel, &c.
890. Hypnotics
Hypnotics are medicines that relieve pain by procuring sleep, such as hops, henbane, morphia, poppy.
891. Laxatives
Laxatives are medicines which cause the bowels to act rather more than natural, such as manna, &c.
892. Narcotics
Narcotics are medicines which cause sleep or stupor, and allay pain, such as opium, &c.
893. Nutrients
Nutrients are remedies that nourish the body, such as sugar, sago, &c.
894. Paregorics
Paregorics are medicines which actually assuage pain, such as compound tincture of camphor, henbane, hops, opium.
895. Prophylactics
Prophylactics are remedies employed to prevent the attack of any particular disease, such as quinine, &c.
896. Purgatives
Purgatives are medicines that promote the evacuation of the bowels, such as senna, aloes, jalap, salts.
897. Refrigerants
Refrigerants are medicines which suppress an unusual heat of the body, such as wood-sorrel, tamarind, &c.
898. Rubefacients
Rubefacients are medicaments which cause redness of the skin, such as mustard, &c.
899. Sedatives
Sedatives are medicines which depress the nervous energy, and destroy sensation, so as to compose, such as foxglove. (
See
.)
900. Sialogogues
Sialogogues are medicines which promote the flow of saliva or spittle, such as salt, calomel, &c.
901. Soporifics
Soporifics are medicines which induce sleep, such as hops, &c.
902. Stimulants
Stimulants are remedies which increase the action of the heart and arteries, or the energy of the part to which they are applied, such as food, wine, spirits, ether, sassafras, which is an internal stimulant, and savine, which is an external one.
903. Stomachics
Stomachics restore the tone of the stomach, such as gentian, &c.
904. Styptics
Styptics are medicines which constrict the surface of a part, and prevent the effusion of blood, such as kino, Friar's balsam, extract of lead, and ice.
905. Sudorifics
Sudorifics promote profuse perspiration or sweating, such as ipecacuanha, antimony, James's powder, ammonia.
906. Tonics
Tonics give general strength to the constitution, restore the natural energies, and improve the tone of the system, such as all the vegetable bitters, most of the minerals, also some kinds of food, wine, and beer.
907. Vesicants
Vesicants are medicines which blister, such as strong liquid ammonia, &c.
908. Special Rules for the Prevention of Cholera
It is impossible to urge too strongly the necessity, in all cases of cholera, of instant recourse to medical aid, and also in every form and variety of indisposition; for all disorders are found to merge in the dominant disease.
Let immediate Relief be sought under disorder of the bowels especially, however slight. The invasion of cholera may thus be readily prevented.
Let every Impurity, animal and vegetable, be quickly removed to a distance from the habitation, such as slaughterhouses, pig-sties, cesspools, necessaries, and all other domestic nuisances.
Let all Uncovered Drains be carefully and frequently cleansed.
Let the Grounds in and around the habitation be drained, so as effectually to carry off moisture of every kind.
Let all Partitions he removed from within and without habitations, which unnecessarily impede ventilation.
Let every Room be daily thrown open for the admission of fresh air; this should be done about noon, when the atmosphere is most likely to be dry.
Let Dry Scrubbing be used in domestic cleansing in place of water cleansing.
Let excessive Fatigue, and exposure to damp and cold, especially during the night, be avoided.
Let the Use of Cold Drinks and acid liquors, especially under fatigue, be avoided, or when the body is heated.
Let the Use of Cold Acid Fruits and vegetables be avoided.
Let Excess in the use of ardent and fermented liquors and tobacco be avoided.
Let a Poor Diet, and the use of impure water in cooking, or for drinking, be avoided.
Let the Wearing of wet and insufficient clothes be avoided.
Let a Flannel or woollen belt be worn round the belly.
Let Personal Cleanliness be carefully observed.
Let every cause tending to depress the moral and physical energies be carefully avoided. Let exposure to extremes of heat and cold be avoided.
Let Crowding of persons within houses and apartments be avoided.
Let Sleeping in low or damp rooms be avoided.
Let Fires be kept up during the night in sleeping or adjoining apartments, the night being the period of most danger from attack, especially under exposure to cold or damp.
Let all Bedding and clothing be daily exposed during winter and spring to the fire, and in summer to the heat of the sun.
Let the Dead be buried in places remote from the habitations of the living. By the timely adoption of simple means such as these, cholera, or other epidemic, will be made to lose its venom.
The Loveliest Bird has No Song.
909. Rules for the Preservation of Health
910. Fresh Air
Pure atmospheric air is composed of nitrogen, oxygen, and a
very
small proportion of carbonic acid gas. Air once breathed has lost the chief part of its oxygen, and acquired a proportionate increase of carbonic acid gas.
Therefore
, health requires that we breathe the same air once only.
911. Diet and Exercise
The solid part of our Bodies is continually wasting, and requires to be repaired by fresh substances.
Therefore
, food which is to repair the loss, should be taken with due regard to the exercise and waste of the body.
912. Water
The fluid part of our bodies also wastes constantly; there is but one fluid in animals, which is water.
Therefore
, water only is necessary, and no artifice can produce a better drink.
913. Proportion of Food and Drink
The fluid of our bodies is to the solid in proportion as nine to one.
Therefore
, a like proportion should prevail in the total amount of food taken.
914. Sunshine
Light exercises an important influence upon the growth and vigour of animals and plants.
Therefore
, our dwellings should freely admit the solar rays.
915. Bad Odours
Decomposing animal and vegetable substances yield various noxious gases which enter the lungs and corrupt the blood.
Therefore
, all impurities should be kept away from our abodes, and every precaution be observed to secure a pure atmosphere.
916. Warmth
Warmth is essential to all the bodily functions.
Therefore
, an equal bodily temperature should be maintained by exercise, by clothing, or by fire.
917. Exercise and Clothing
Exercise warms, invigorates and purifies the body; clothing preserves the warmth the body generates; fire imparts warmth externally.
Therefore
, to obtain and preserve warmth, exercise and clothing are preferable to fire.
918. Ventilation
Fire consumes the Oxygen of the air, and produces noxious gases.
Therefore
, the air is less pure in the presence of candles, gas, or coal fire, than otherwise, and the deterioration should be repaired by increased ventilation.
So the Loveliest Woman may Lack Virtue.
919. Clean Skin
The skin is a highly-organized membrane, full of minute pores, cells, bloodvessels, and nerves; it imbibes moisture or throws it off, according to the state of the atmosphere and the temperature of the body. It also "breathes," as do the lungs (though less actively). All the internal organs sympathize with the skin.
Therefore
, it should be repeatedly cleansed.
920. Over-Work
Late hours and anxious pursuits exhaust the nervous system, and produce disease and premature death.
Therefore, the hours of labour and study should be short.
921. Body and Mind
Mental and bodily exercise are equally essential to the general health and happiness.
Therefore
, labour and study should succeed each other.
922. Over-Indulgence
Man will live most healthily upon simple solids and fluids, of which a sufficient but temperate quantity should be taken.
Therefore
, over indulgence in strong drinks, tobacco, snuff, opium, and all mere indulgences, should be avoided.
923. Moderate Temperature
Sudden alternations of heat and cold are dangerous (especially to the young and the aged).
Therefore
, clothing, in quantity and quality, should be adapted to the alternations of night and day, and of the seasons; and drinking cold water when the body is hot, and hot tea and soups when cold, are productive of many evils.
924. Summary
Moderation in eating and drinking, short hours of labour and study, regularity in exercise, recreation, and rest, cleanliness, equanimity of temper and equality of temperature, —these are the great essentials to that which surpasses all wealth,
health of mind and body
.
925. Homœopathy
926. Principle of Homœopathy
As homœopathy is now practised so widely and, indeed, preferred to the older system in many families, the Domestic Pharmacopœia could scarcely lay claim to be considered complete without a brief mention of the principal remedies used and recommended by homœopathic practitioners, and the disorders for which these remedies are specially applicable. The principle of homœopathy is set forth in the Latin words "
similia similibus curantur
," the meaning of which is "likes are cured by likes."
The meaning of this is simply that the homœopathist in order to cure a disease, administers a medicine which would produce in a perfectly healthy subject, symptoms
like
, but not
identical
with or the
same
as, the symptoms to counteract which the medicine is given. The homœopathic practitioner, therefore, first makes himself thoroughly acquainted with the symptoms that are exhibited by the sufferer; having ascertained these, in order to neutralize them and restore the state of the patient's health to a state of equilibrium, so to speak, he administers preparations that would produce symptoms of a like character in persons in good health.
It is not said, be it remembered, that the drug can produce in a healthy person the disease from which the patient is suffering: it is only advanced by homœopathists that the drug given has the power of producing in a person in health, symptoms similar to those of the disease under which the patient is languishing, and that the correct mode of treatment is to counteract the disease symptoms by the artificial production of similar symptoms by medicinal means, or in other words, to suit the medicine to the disorder, by a previously acquired knowledge of the effects of the drug, by experiment on a healthy person.
927. Allopathy
Allopathy is the name given to the older treatment of disorders, and the name is obtained from the fact, that the drugs given, do not produce symptoms corresponding to those of the disease for whose relief they are administered as in homœopathy. The introduction of the term is contemporary with homœopathy itself. It was merely given to define briefly the distinction that exists between the rival modes of treatment, and it has been accepted and adopted by all medical men who have no faith in homœopathy, and the treatment that its followers prescribe.
Deep Rivers Flow with Silent Majesty.
928. Comparison
Allopathic treatment is said to be experimental, while homeopathic treatment is based on certainty, resulting from experience. The allopathist tries various drugs, and if one medicine or one combination of drugs fails, tries another; but the homœopathist administers only such medicaments as may be indicated by the symptoms of the patient. If two drugs are given, as is frequently, and perhaps generally, the case, it is because the symptoms exhibited are of such a character that they cannot be produced in a healthy person by the action of one and the same drug, and, consequently cannot be counteracted or neutralized by the action of a single drug.
929. Homœopathic Medicines
Homœopathic medicines are given in the form of globules or tinctures, the latter being generally preferred by homeopathic practitioners. When contrasted with the doses of drugs given by allopathists, the small doses administered by homœopathists must at first sight appear wholly in adequate to the purpose for which they are given; but homœopathists, whose dilution and trituration diffuse the drug given throughout the vehicle in which it is administered, argue that by this
extension of its surface
the active power of the drug is greatly increased; and that there is reason in this argument is shown by the fact that large doses of certain drugs administered for certain purposes will pass through the system without in any way affecting those organs, which will be acted on most powerfully by the very same drugs when administered in much smaller doses. Thus a small dose of sweet spirit of nitre will act on the skin and promote perspiration, but a large dose will act as a diuretic only, and exert no influence on the skin.
930. Treatment of Ailments by Homœopathy
Great stress is laid by homœopathists on attention to diet, but not so much so in the present day as when the system was first introduced. The reader will find a list of articles of food that may and may not be taken in
par
.
. For complete direction on this point, and on diseases and their treatment and remedies, he must be referred to works on this subject by Dr. Richard Epps and others. All that can be done here is to give briefly a few of the more common ailments "that flesh is heir to," with the symptoms by which they are indicated, and the medicines by which they may be alleviated and eventually cured.
931. Asthma
Asthma, an ailment which should be referred in all cases to the medical practitioner.
Symptoms
. Difficulty of breathing, with cough, either spasmodic and without expectoration, or accompanied with much expectoration.
Medicines
. Aconitum napellus, especially with congestion or slight spitting of blood; Antimonium tartaricum for wheezing and rattling in the chest; Arsenicum for chronic asthma; ipecacuanha; Nux vomica.
932. Bilious Attacks
Bilious attacks, if attended with diarrhœa and copious evacuations of a bright yellow colour.
Medicines
. Bryonia, if arising from sedentary occupations, or from eating and drinking too freely; or Nux vomica and Mercurius in alternation, the former correcting constipation and the latter nausea, fulness at the pit of the stomach, and a foul tongue.
933. Bronchitis
Symptoms
. Catarrh accompanied with fever, expectoration dark, thick, and sometimes streaked with blood; urine dark, thick, and scanty.
Medicines
. Aconitum napellus, especially in earlier stages; Bryonia for pain in coughing and difficulty of breathing; Antimonium tartaricum, loose cough with much expectoration and a feeling of, and tendency to, suffocation; Ipecacuanha, accumulation of phlegm in bronchial tubes and for children.
Shallow Brooks are Noisy.
934. Bruises and Wounds
For all bruises, black eyes, etc., apply Arnica lotion; for slight wounds, after washing well with cold water, apply Arnica plaster; to stop bleeding when ordinary means fail, and for larger wounds, apply concentrated tincture of Calendula.
935. Cold in the Head or Catarrh
Symptoms
. Feverish feeling generally, and especially about the head, eyes, and nose, running from, and obstruction of, nose; soreness and irritation of the throat and bronchial tubes.
Medicines
. Aconitum napellus for feverish symptoms; Belladonna for sore throat and headache with inclination to cough; Mercurius for running from nose and sneezing; Nux vomica for stoppage of nostrils; Chamomilla for children and women, for whom Pulsatilla is also useful in such cases.
936. Chilblains
Symptoms
. Irritation and itching of the skin, which assumes a bluish red colour.
Medicines
. Arnica montana, taken internally or used as outward application, unless the chilblain be broken, when arsenicum should be used. If the swelling and irritation do not yield to these remedies use Belladona and Rhus toxicodendron.
937. Cholera
Bilious or English cholera.
Symptoms. Nausea, proceeding to vomiting, griping of the bowels, watery and offensive evacuations, in which much bile is present, accompanied with weakness and depression. Medicines. Bryonia, with ipecacuanha at commencement of attack.
Malignant or Asiatic cholera.
Symptoms as in English cholera, but in a more aggravated form, followed by what is called the "cold stage," marked by great severity of griping pain in the stomach, accompanied with frequent and copious watery evacuations, and presently with cramps in all parts of the body; after which the extremities become chilled, the pulse scarcely discernible, the result of which is stupor and ultimately death. Medicines. Camphor, in the form of tincture, in frequent doses, until the sufferer begins to feel warmth returning to the body, and perspiration ensues. In the later stages, Cuprum and Veratrum.
938. Tincture of Camphor
Tincture of camphor is one of the most useful of the homœopathic remedies in all cases of colic, diarrhœa, etc. In ordinary cases fifteen drops on sugar may be taken every quarter of an hour until the pain is allayed. In more aggravated cases, and in cases of cholera, a few drops may be taken at intervals of from two to five minutes. A dose of fifteen drops of camphor on sugar tends to counteract a chill if taken soon after premonitory symptoms show themselves, and act as a prophylactic against cold.
939. Colic or Stomach-Ache
This disorder is indicated by griping pains in the bowels, which sometimes extends upwards into and over the region of the chest. Sometimes the pain is attended with vomiting and cold perspiration. A warm bath is useful, and hot flannels, or a jar or bottle filled with hot water should be applied to the abdomen.
Medicines
. Aconitum napellus, especially when the abdomen is tender to the touch, and the patient is feverish; Belladonna for severe griping and spasmodic pains; Bryonia for bilious colic and diarrhœa; Chamomilla for children.
940. Constipation
Women are more subject than men to this confined state of the bowels, which will, in many cases yield to exercise, plain nutritious diet, with vegetables and cooked fruit, and but little bread, and an enema of milk and water, or thin gruel if it is some time since there has been any action of the bowels.
Medicines
. Bryonia, especially for rheumatic patients, and disturbed state of the stomach; Nux vomica, for persons of sedentary habits, especially males; Pulsatilla, for women; Sulphur, for constipation that is habitual or of long continuance.
941. Convulsions
For convulsions arising from whatever cause, a warm bath is desirable, and a milk and water enema, if the child's bowels are confined.
Medicines
. Belladonna and Chamomilla, if the convulsions are caused by teething, with Aconitum napellus if the little patient be feverish; Aconitum napellus, Cina, and Belladonna, for convulsions caused by worms; Aconite and Coffœa, when they arise from fright; Ipecacuanha and Nux vomica, when they have been caused by repletion, or food that is difficult of digestion.
942. Cough
For this disorder, a light farinaceous diet is desirable, with plenty of out-door exercise and constant use of the sponging-bath.
Medicines
. Aconitum napellus, for a hard, dry, hacking cough; Antimonium, for cough with wheezing and difficulty of expectoration; Belladonna, for spasmodic cough, with tickling in the throat, or sore throat; Bryonia, for hard, dry cough, with expectorations streaked with blood; ipecacuanha, for children.
943. Croup
As this disorder frequently and quickly terminates fatally, recourse should be had to a duly qualified practitioner as soon as possible. The disease lies chiefly in the larynx and bronchial tubes, and is easily recognisable by the sharp, barking sound of the cough. A warm bath and mustard poultice will often tend to give relief.
Medicines
. Aconitum napellus, in the earlier stages of the disorder, and spongia and Hepar sulphuris, in the more advanced stages, the latter medicine being desirable when the cough is not so violent and the breathing easier.
944. Diarrhœa
The
medicines
to be used in this disorder are those which are mentioned under colic and bilious attacks.
945. Dysentery
Dysentery is somewhat similar to diarrhœa, but the symptoms are more aggravated in character, and the evacuations are chiefly mucus streaked with blood. As a local remedy hot flannels or a stone jar filled with hot water and wrapped in flannel, should be applied to the abdomen.
Medicines
. Colocynthis and Mercurius in alternation.
946. Dyspepsia
Dyspepsia or Indigestion arises from weakness of the digestive organs.
Symptoms
. Chief among these are habitual costiveness, heartburn and nausea, disinclination to eat, listlessness and weakness, accompanied with fatigue after walking, &c., restlessness and disturbed sleep at night, bad taste in the mouth, with white tongue, especially in the morning, accompanied at times with fulness in the region of the stomach, and flatulence which causes disturbance of the heart.
The causes of indigestion are too numerous to be mentioned here, but they may be inferred when it is said that scrupulous attention must be paid to diet (see
par
.
); that meals should be taken at regular and not too long intervals; that warm drinks, stimulants, and tobacco should be avoided; that early and regular hours should be kept, with a cold or chilled sponge bath every morning; and that measures should be taken to obtain a fair amount of exercise, and to provide suitable occupation for both body and mind during the day.
Medicines
. Arnica montana for persons who are nervous and irritable, and suffer much from headache; Bryonia for persons who are bilious and subject to rheumatism, and those who are listless, disinclined to eat, and have an unpleasant bitter taste in the mouth; Hepar sulphuris for chronic indigestion and costiveness, attended with tendency to vomit in the morning; Mercurius in cases of flatulence, combined with costiveness; Nux vomica for indigestion that makes itself felt from 2 a.m. to 4 a.m., or thereabouts, with loss of appetite and nausea in the morning, and for persons with a tendency to piles, and those who are engaged in sedentary occupations; Pulsatilla for women generally, and Chamomilla for children.
947. Fevers
For all fevers of a serious character, such as scarlet fever, typhus fever, typhoid fever, gastric fever, intermittent fever, or ague, &c., it is better to send at once for a medical man. In cases of ordinary fever, indicated by alternate flushes and shivering, a hot dry skin, rapid pulse, and dry foul tongue, the patient should have a warm bath, take but little nourishment, and drink cold water.
Medicine
. Aconitum napellus.
And Faith be Our Staff.
948. Flatulency
This disorder, which arises from, and is a symptom of, indigestion, frequently affects respiration, and causes disturbance and quickened action of the heart. The patient should pay attention to diet, as for dyspepsia.
Medicines
. China and Nux vomica; Pulsatilla for women, and Chamomilla for children. See
(946).
949. Headache
This disorder proceeds from so many various causes, which require different treatment, that it is wiser to apply at once to a regular homœopathic practitioner, and especially in headache of frequent occurrence.
Medicines
. Nux vomica when headache is caused by indigestion; Pulsatilla being useful for women; Belladonna and Ignatia, for sick headache; Aconitum napellus and Arsenicum for nervous headache.
950. Heartburn
For this unpleasant sensation of heat, arising from the stomach, accompanied by a bitter taste, and sometimes by nausea, Nux vomica is a good medicine. Pulsatilla may be taken by women.
951. Indigestion
See
(946).
952. Measles
This complaint, which seldom attacks adults, is indicated in its early stage by the usual accompaniments and signs of a severe cold in the head—namely, sneezing, running from the nose and eyelids, which are swollen. The sufferer also coughs, does not care to eat, and feels sick and restless. About four days after the first appearance of these premonitory symptoms, a red rash comes out over the face, neck, and body, which dies away, and finally disappears in about five days. The patient should be kept warm, and remain in one room during the continuance of the disorder, and especially while the rash is out, lest, through exposure to cold in any way, the rash may be checked and driven inwards.
Medicines
. Aconitum napellus, and Pulsatilla, which are sufficient for all ordinary cases. If there be much fever, Belladonna; and if the rash be driven in by a chill, Bryonia.
953. Mumps
This disorder is sometimes consequent on measles. It is indicated by the swelling of the glands under the ears and lower jaw. It is far more painful than dangerous. Fomenting with warm water is useful.
Medicines
. Mercurius generally; Belladonna may be used when mumps follow an attack of measles.
954. Nettlerash
This rash, so called because in appearance it resembles the swelling and redness caused by the sting of a nettle, is generally produced by a disordered state of the stomach.