The Science of Therapeutics - Classical Homeopathy Online

Full text of "The Science of Therapeutics: According to the Principles of Homeopath...Page 110 of 653lives. Is it possible to remain blind to such events? We do notattach implicit faith in the doctrine that vox populi is vox Deibut in such terrible epidemics even a layman has sense enough tosee whether those who are attacked, perish or get well, and whatmethod of treatment is crowned with the latter result.The remedies which homoeopaths use in treating croup, are thefollowing: Aconitum, Hepar sulphuris, Spongia maritima, loiliurriBroinum^ Phosphorus^ Cupj'um and several more. We shall consider these drugs in their respective bearing upon each of the diferent stages of croup, instead of furnishing a detached list ofsymptomatic indications of each drug in particular.If we are called to a case of croup in the night, it is not alwaypossible to at once obtain the conviction that we are dealing wita case of croup; for even the presence of considerable dyspnoeadoes not always imply that the disease before us is croup. In ordto meet this uncertainty the custom has prevailed for a long timealready to at once give Aconite in alternation with some otherremedy. We do not approve of this custom of giving remedies inalternation, but make an exception in favor of croup on account othe uncertainty in our diagnosis. Aconite is excellent in catarrhbut utterly inefficient in membranous croup. If we suspect a caseof membranous croup, we give Aconite 2, and lodimn 2, in alternation every hour. The Iodine had better be prepared fresh in orderthat we may be sure of operating with a reliable attenuation. Thiremedy is not given by all practitioners at the outset of the attbut Hepar sulphuris or Spongia. We have the following reasonsfor our proceeding. lodium exerts a special action on the larynxso constantly, and causes a violent inflammation of the larynx wiso much certainty that this effect may be set down as a pathognomonic and highly characteristic symptom of the action of Iodine. That it is capable of healing far advanced cases of croup, itrue beyond all doubt. Hence there is no reason why a medicinethat embraces in its pathogenetic series all the symptoms of crouand must therefore be adapted to every stage of this disease, shoLaryngotracheitis Crouposa. 123not be given at tlie very commencement of the attack. We consider this medicine much more appropriate than some other medicine that is only suitable in the incipient stages of the diseaseMany other physicians prefer Hepar sulphuris at the outset, if thfollowing symptoms prevail : Marked febrile motions, the respiration is almost entirely unembarrassed, but has a peculiar sound ;dry, metallic cough with disposition to choke, mingled with a shorattling in the trachea, as if mucus would be raised ; or if theseems to continue moist, and the croupy sound is present ; the laynx is painful ; thei-e is hoarseness, but no loss of voice. Sponis even recommended more strongly than Hepar at the first invasion of the disease. Hahnemann himself regards Spongia as themain remedy in croup and directs to resort now and then to anintermediate dose of Aconite or Hepar ; he does not consider Spongia indicated until the respiration has become embarrassed andexudation has commenced. Almost all observers are of the sameopinion.In the first night, it may not matter much which of these rehttp://www.archive.org/stream/sciencetherapeu00kafkgoog/sciencetherapeu00kafkgoog_djvu.txt