The Science of Therapeutics - Classical Homeopathy Online

Full text of "The Science of Therapeutics: According to the Principles of Homeopath...Page 124 of 653the patient is a child. Our literature does not offer any positivsuccessful cures of this disease, and, since it is one of the rarkind, all we can do is to indicate the remedies which it may benecessary to use in a given case. We are acquainted with only oneremedy which has oedema pf the glottis among its physiologicaleffects ; this remedy is lodium. For particular indications we reto our remarks in the chapter on croup. Another remedy whichCEdema Glottidis. 139offers some resemblance is Phosphorus; in this case, however, theresemblance is limited to a single symptom. If we consider thenature of the pathological process which results in the productioof oedema glottidis, independently of the symptoms superinducedby the mechanical closing of the rima glottidis, we are more particularly led to three remedies that act similarly to the generalease, we mean: Apis mellijicay LachesiSy and Bhus toxicodendron.Lachesis especially has the peculiar serous infiltration of interas well as external parts of the body which sets in without anysymptoms that might properly be called inflammatory, and whichreaches its full development in a few hours. However, since in thdisease we cannot fall back upon experience for a positive knowledge of the curative action of drugs, it would be criminally indicreet to depend exclusively upon internal treatment. In this disemuch sooner than in croup, success may be expected from tracheotomy, for the reason that the trachea is not usually involved ; onthe operation should be performed so soon as the symptoms ofpoisoning by carbonic acid begin to manifest themselves ; otherwithe paralysis of the respiratory organs might have progressed toofar for the operation to be of any use. An incision into the visiswelling has some advantage and cannot do any harm. Compressesas hot as can be borne, may be applied to the throat, whereas colapplications can only prove injurious. We should not forget thatwe have no inflammation to deal with, and it seems absolute follyto treat oedema of the glottis with copious depletions which ategenerally recommended. [The following interesting case of oedemaof the glottis occurred in the practice of Jacob Reed, jr., M. D.this city, as reported by himself:"Marth 16th, 1867, evening. Called to see Miss B., set. 20, whohad for some days ^'had a bad sore throat," and was reported aschoking to death."When seen, the patient was evidently suffering from an acuteoedematous inflammation of the larynx, there being high fever, pain the region of the larynx, difficulty of swallowing and breathivoice almost inaudible, every effort at speaking causing great painspirations prolonged and stridulous, being effected only by vioeffort ; there was but little cough. Frequent spasmodic exacervations of these symptoms rendered suffocation imminent."Ordered inhalations of steam, medicated with Opium, cold packto region of larynx, Aconite and Kali bichrom.; of the Aconite140 Diseases of the Larynx and Trachea.http://www.archive.org/stream/sciencetherapeu00kafkgoog/sciencetherapeu00kafkgoog_djvu.txt