An Epitome of Homeopathic Healing Art by B. L. Hill (read after TXT) 📕

with simple water only, after each meal, brushing both inside and out and crossways, so as to clean between them, they will be saved much pain and decay, and disease of other parts, arising from foul and diseased teeth. Teething of Children.

Affections arising from teething of children, are often of a serious character. The most prominent of which is Diarrhœa. Fever frequently accompanies the diarrhœa, and convulsions occasionally occur. Aconite and Chamomilla should be used in alternation, every one or two hours, according to the violence of the fever, and if convulsions occur, or are threatened, as will be known by twitching, starting, and screaming, use Nux and Bell. These may be given in rotation with the others, following the remedies, one after the other, every hour. I have relieved the most alarming cases in a day by this method of procedure, that had not yielded to either of the single remedies for several days, given as directed in the books; the patient growing worse continually. If the gums over the teeth look white and the teeth, (one or more,) are near the surface, the gums should, by all means, be cut. Press the point of a lancet or penknife down upon the top of the gum, until the tooth is plainly felt, and be sure to make the cut as wide as the tooth. Rub the gums with Arnicated water once or twice a day. Pulsatilla should be given at night and Chamomilla in the morning, during the whole summer while the child is teething, as a prophylactic against the fever and diarrhœa that is likely to occur. It will generally save all trouble.

If the diarrhœa is profuse, watery and light colored or brown, give Phos. acid and Veratrum alternately, as often as the discharges occur. For the restlessness of infants at night, Coffea is the specific.

Apthæ—Thrush.

This is a disease peculiar to nursing children. The mouth becomes sore, and the tongue, lips, and fauces are covered with a white crust, looking like milk curds, which, when removed, leaves the surface red, inflamed and very tender. It sooner or later, extends to the stomach and bowels, producing severe and dangerous diarrhœa.

TREATMENT.

Of all the medicines known to our Materia Medica, none, according to my experience, will in the least, compare with the Eupatorium aromaticum. It is almost, if not quite certain to relieve speedily in all cases. I say this, not only from my own experience and observation, but from the testimony of several other Homœopathic Physicians, who have, within the last year, used it.

It should be given at the first or second dilution, once in four or six hours, and three or four drops of the tincture put into a teaspoonful of water, and the mouth occasionally washed with the mixture.

In summer, where agues prevail, and the child is feverish and restless, China will aid in the cure, to be given once in six hours between the doses of the Eupatorium. If the diarrhœa is obstinate, the discharges colored, and the child is sick at the stomach, give Podophyllin with the other remedies.

Inflammation of the Eyes—Ophthalmia.

For common Ophthalmia, in the early stages, while there is more or less fever and headache, with flushed face, bloodshot eyes and throbbing of the temporal arteries, Bell. and Aconite should be used alternately every two hours, and a wash made with ten drops of tincture of Aconite to one gill of pure water, applied to the eyes as hot as the patient can bear. This application should be repeated every two hours, in a violent case, until the eyes are easy, and then about twice a day until all inflammation and redness pass off. This will relieve a large proportion of cases in from one to four days.

If, however, the case continues obstinate for a longer time, or has been of a week or more standing before the treatment is commenced, in the place of Bell., or after using it one or two days, use Hydrastus with the Aconite, giving them alternately at intervals of two to six hours, according to the stage of the case—more frequently as the symptoms are more urgent, using washes prepared of each separately, as directed for Aconite, except that the Hydrastus wash may be twice as strong; and apply each about half as often as the same medicine is taken internally. The wash should, in all cases of acute inflammation of the eyes, be as hot as it can be borne. Let it be put into the eyes so as to come directly in contact with the inflamed surface.

Simple hot water applied to inflamed eyes for hours together, allowing short intervals between the applications, will often cure most painful cases.

Never apply cold to inflamed eyes. It always aggravates. When the inflammation is in a scrofulous person, especially in infants, it assumes a purulent character, and may leave the cornea in clouded (nebulous) condition, and the sight more or less obliterated. For this condition use Conium first, and apply it in tinct., half water, to the eyes every four hours.

Wounds and Bruises.

On this subject, I must necessarily be very brief. When a wound is inflicted, the first and most important thing to be done is to arrest the flow of blood. Every one should know how to do this. The bleeding is to be stopped, and the wounded vessels to be secured, so that no further flow can take place.

First, then, to stop the bleeding, pressure is to be made upon the artery leading to the wound. If the wound is in the leg or foot, pressure is to be made, either on the vessel above and near the wound, or, where that cannot be easily found and compressed, make firm pressure with the thumb or some hard substance, in the groin, about two and a half inches at one side of the center of the pelvis, (wounded side) just below the lower margin of the belly, towards the inner side of the thigh, where the great artery (Femoral artery) can be felt pulsating. By pressing firmly upon this artery, the blood is arrested in its flow into the limb, and of course the bleeding from the wound soon ceases. If the wound is in the arm or hand, pressure is to be made, either just above the wound, or on the inside of the arm, about one-third of the way from the shoulder to the elbow, where the artery (Brachial) can be felt. To secure the parts from further bleeding, the wounded artery must be taken up and tied. Let it be seized by forceps, or the point of a needle may be thrust into it, and the vessel stretched out a little, a thread put round it and tied; cut off one end of the tie, and let the other hang out of the wound, until it comes out by the vessel sloughing off. Bring the lips of the wound together, and if it is large, put in stitches enough to hold them, and put on an adhesive plaster, compress of cloths, and bandages to keep it from straining the stitches, and protect it from the air. The Arnica plaster, made by John Hall, of Cleveland, is the best adhesive plaster of which I have any knowledge. Give the patient Aconite once in two hours, for a day after the accident.

Slight Cuts about the joints, especially the knee, are dangerous, from their liability to affect the ligaments, inflame, and produce Lockjaw. Therefore, such wounds, ever so slight, are of great importance. They should be at once closed up, whether they bleed or not, and covered with an adhesive plaster, (Arnica plaster is the best) a bandage, and the knee should not be bent, even when walking or sitting, until the wound is healed. It is best to apply a splint from the hip to the heel, and bandage the limb to it, so as to prevent bending of the joint.

Bruises are to be treated with Arnica, applied to the part affected, by putting twenty drops of the tincture into a gill of water, if the skin is not ruptured, or three drops into the same if it is, and bathing freely. The Arnica is to be taken internally at a higher dilution. Keep the parts covered with cloths and wet in Arnica water.

If a blow is received upon the head, by a fall, or in any other way, producing a "stunning" effect, (concussion of the brain) so that the patient appears lifeless for a time, and delirious when he begins to come to, there is great danger of inflammation of the brain, and death from the re-action, or in some cases, the shock is so great that the patient will never revive unless he has the proper aid.

Arnica is the great remedy to bring on reaction, arouse the patient, and prevent dangerous inflammation or congestion of the brain.

When a patient is "stunned" by a blow or fall, he should be conveyed soon as possible, to some quiet place, and as little noise as practicable made about him, and the room kept darkened. Arnica 3d should be given immediately, and the nostrils wet with strongly arnicated water.

If fever arise after he comes to, Aconite should be given with Arnica, and if the head aches, or becomes hot, Bell. is to be used. This will prevent or arrest all symptoms of inflammation.

Torn and Mangled wounds should not be handled much. If they bleed, the blood must be stopped as in any other case. If they are dirty, warm water may be gently applied to cleanse them. The wound should be covered with some soft cloths, and kept constantly wet in Arnicated water of the strength of four drops of the tincture to a pint of water.

Piles—Hemorrhoids.

One important matter in all cases of habitual piles, is, to keep the bowels regular. Much can be done for this purpose by diet and regimen. On rising from bed in the morning drink freely, from a gill to half a pint of cold water, at least half an hour before breakfast; use such diet as is easily digested, and drink no alcoholic beverages. To relieve the bowels when costive, take a dose of Nux Vomica at night, and Podophyllin in the morning. This may be repeated from day to day until the proper effect is produced.

To relieve from a severe attack of Piles, use Bell. and Podophyllin in alternation every four hours, and apply to the tumors when inflamed, cloths wrung out of hot water, or sit in hot water for a time.

A poultice made of fine-cut Tobacco wet in hot water and crowded firmly up against the pile-tumors, secured by a T bandage, will relieve the most desperate cases for the time, and is attended with no danger or disagreeable symptoms except in rare cases, when it produces sickness at the stomach, which soon subsides on the poultice being removed. Oil of Arnica is an excellent application for inflamed Piles.

A most important point in the management of Piles, and one often neglected, is to replace the prolapsed tumors. The tumors will be protruded from within the anus by the act of evacuating, and if left in that condition, will be pressed upon by the external parts, chafed and inflamed. In all such cases, the patient should take particular pains to return the tumors into the rectum; and to aid in that process a little oil may be applied when they will be easily pushed back, and the sphincter of the bowel will close below them, preventing any chafing, and the consequent inflammation.

For Bleeding Piles, Ipecac and Bell. are very efficient remedies. They may be alternated every half hour, or oftener if the