The Science of Therapeutics - Classical Homeopathy Online

Full text of "The Science of Therapeutics: According to the Principles of Homeopath...Page 108 of 653erroneous. We place this fact in bold relief in order to show wit80 much more force the superiority of the homoeopathic treatmentof croup over any other method. To this eflect we first name someof the more renowned remedial agents that are used in croup. Atthe same time we cannot help expressing our surprise that croupshould drive the scepticism of the Physiological or Rational Schoto such straits ; for it is astonishing what remedies even the leof this School propose in order to avert the fatal blow. Here thehighly praised expectant method is utterly abandoned ; on the contrary, the most diametrically opposed agents are brought into reqsition one after the other in the most rapid succession, so that,out entertaining the least prejudice, we are naturally led to inqwhat has become of the "rationality" of the method.120 Diseases of the Larynx and Trachea.The most important and most extensively used remedies areemetics, topical and general sanguineous depletions, Calomel intenally and the mercurial ointment externally, Antimony, Tartaremetic, Ilepar sulphuris. Alum and finally a number of locally applied substances. At the same time cold and warm compresses,watery vapors, wrappings, etc., are not wanting. Emetics whichare the most important agents in this list, are indebted for theireputation to the apparent success which they have in simplelaryngitis ; we call this success apparent because no true laryng'can be cut short by a simple emetic. No amount of sophisticalargumentation is able to show that an emetic can exert the leastinfluence over an incipient croup. Moreover we cannot overlookthe fact that the effect of an emetic does not end with the act ovomiting, especially if the Sulphate of Copper is used for this ppose, and that our patients are little children. Children who hadan attack of simple laryngitis, often suffer for weeks from theeffects of the Sulphate of Copper or of Tartar emetic. The use ofan emetic is much more excusable if, after the membrane had begun to be formed, the process of expectoration is to be promotedthere is no difficulty in comprehending that the act of vomitingstimulates the disposition to expectorate. An homoeopath willundoubtedly know how to account for the action of Ipecacuanhaor Tartar emetic or even of the Sulphate of Copper upon differentprinciples from those in vogue. In the second stage of croup theSulphate of Copper is now the fashionable emetic; yet this preference is not accounted for upon scientific principles. We know thaCopper has a good effect in the spasmodic closing of the glottis,hence is of advantage in croup. While mentioning this effect ofCopper a knowledge of which has been acquired by the most foolhardy empiricism, we at the same time have to remind our readersthat not one of our allopathic opponents has been able to account for the good eflfects of Copper in croup except by the actvomiting.As regards the sanguineous depletions, be they local or general,we can dispense with the trouble of dwelling upon them anyfurther. It is inconceivable that they are expected to prevent,arrest or diminish the exudation; what is certain is that bleedinrobs the child of the power to develop the necessary reaction agathe disease. Even the croup-tever is not sufficiently intense totify bleeding. As far as Mercury is concerned, the only excuse,we dare not call it indication, for its use is that a quantity ofhttp://www.archive.org/stream/sciencetherapeu00kafkgoog/sciencetherapeu00kafkgoog_djvu.txt