The Science of Therapeutics - Classical Homeopathy Online

Full text of "The Science of Therapeutics: According to the Principles of Homeopath...Page 111 of 653medies is given in alternation with Aconite. It is certain thatcatarrhal croup will be modified by a few doses of Aconite withintwelve hours so fully that whenever this favorable change does notake place within this period of time, we may rest assured, thatare dealing with a case of membranous croup and that the selectioof a specific remedy can no longer remain doubtful. This feat isnot so easily accomplished if we take the Materia Medica for ourguide ; moreover, experience has done already a great deal for usin this respect. Experience informs us that Hepar is a suitableremedy on the second day, if mucus begins to accumulate in thewindpipe, there is no increase of hoarseness, no dyspnoea or verylittle of it, and the cough has a uniformly croupy sound ; henceHei>ar is indicated in the milder cases of croup. Spongia is requif the croup shows its malignant features after the lapse of a fehours, the cough has a hollow sound, less resonance, the hoarseness approximates to aphonia, the dyspnoea is more marked. lodiumis to be given if the symptoms steadily increase in intensity, thloss of voice is complete, the dyspnoea has reached the highest dgree of intensity, and the cough has lost a good deal of its ringand shrill sound.As soon as we have become satisfied of the nature of the disease,Aconite is no longer given in alternation with some other drug,even if violent fever should be present. The question now is124 Diseases of the Larynx and Trachea.whether at this stage of the disease two remedies like Spovgia anHepar^ or Hepar or Spongia and lodium^ had not better be continued in alternation. A good deal may be excused in the presenceof such a dangerous malady, and we have not the heart to condemnany one who deems it proper to continue the alternate use of* twodrugs, more particularly in cases where the life of the patient mbe jeopardized if the action of a single drug were allowed to continue for twelve hours and even longer. Alternating drugs doesnot improve our knowledge of their true action ; hence this custoshould be abandoned whenever such a thing is possible.\ In the vast majority of cases the further progress of croup wilbe stayed under the operation of one of the above-mentioned threeremedies ; if this fact is perceived, we have every reason to befied with the treatment, and we must not be anxious to change themedicine until every symptom of the real croup-disease has disappeared. If Hepar and Spongia seem ineffectual, and the diseasesteadily continues to grow worse, we give lodium which we continue at least forty-eight hours unless symptoms of asphyxia manifest themselves before this period is passed. In most cases lodiuwill undoubtedly have a favorable effect. Only we must not indulge in the expectation of cutting the disease short. A result othis kind only occurs in a very small number of cases. Most commonly the pathological process continues to go on under the actioof Iodine^ after which it retrogrades, as is the case in every otinflammation. What is essential is that it should be kept confinewithin proper boundaries. Even if the dyspnoea increases at firstthis is no reason why the use of Iodine should be discontinued.Instead of Iodine, many physicians recommend Brombie ; somesuccessful cures with Bromine are reported, whereas others deny ihttp://www.archive.org/stream/sciencetherapeu00kafkgoog/sciencetherapeu00kafkgoog_djvu.txt