The Science of Therapeutics - Classical Homeopathy Online

Full text of "The Science of Therapeutics: According to the Principles of Homeopath...Page 113 of 653dare give it below the third attenuation.In this place we will call attention to a few remedies that haveno relation to the croupous exudation, but are important in otherrespects. The danger of suffocation depends in many cases upona spasmodic closing rather than upon a mechanical disarrangementor an inflammatory infiltration' of the rima glottidis. A conditiof this kind is pretty certain to exist if the dyspnoea sets in isingle, pretty sharply detached paroxysms, the remissions betweenthe paroxysms are quite considerable and no rSles are heard in thlarynx. If we designate this closing of the glottis as spasmodic,the designation is not entirely correct, because paralysis of themuscular apparatus of the larynx is undoubtedly the chief causeof the asphyxia, \vbereas a spasm of the larynx could not well beaccounted for. If we consider that in the case of children the gltis forms an uniformly narrow chink whose sides incline obliquely>.126 Diseases of the Larynx and Trachea.towarJs each other from without inwards, and from below upwards, it is easily conceivable that, in case the sides are somewrelaxed, they may be forced against each other during the act ofinspiration, in consequence of which the glottis will either be vmuch contracted or even closed. These facts explain how childrenmay die of croup without a membrane being seen after death, andwhy full-grown persons whose glottis is wider and differentlyshaped, scarcely ever succomb to an attack of crouy. We canmeet this paralytic condition by some remedies that are well wortof our consideration : Cuprum^ MoschtiSy Nux mosctiata^ Ipecacuanand Arsenicum. Of all these remedies, Cuprum is undoubtedly themost important ; its effect is in a measure confirmed by the effeof the Sulphate of Copper when administered as an emetic. Arsenicum has shown its favorable effect upon dyspnoea in a most desperate case which terminated in recovery. The other three remedieshave been strongly recommended by other physicians ; we have nopersonal experience to offer in their behalf. If these remedies ato be used, they will have to be given iu alternation with the trspecifics for croup ; the best mode of using them is to interpoladose every few hours.If the stage of asphyxia sets in in spite of this treatment,will not often be the case, — the question then occurs what willto be the further object of the tivatmeut. The glottis is paralyzor its space encroached upon, together with that of the trachea,membranes ; the existing sopor shows that the poisoning by carbonic acid has already made considerable headway; the icy coldness of the skin is evidence that an independent reaction can harbe expected any longer. The only remaining chance of saving thepatient is by promoting the oxygenation of the blood. It wouldbe absurd to prescribe for these apparent symptoms of cerebral cogestions remedies like Opium, Belladonna, Hyoscyamus, etc., whichwill not have the least effect, Nor will the continued use of Phophorus or Tartar emetic, in the absence of all reaction, produceleast result. Under these circumstances trachelotomy alone canhttp://www.archive.org/stream/sciencetherapeu00kafkgoog/sciencetherapeu00kafkgoog_djvu.txt