The Science of Therapeutics - Classical Homeopathy Online

Full text of "The Science of Therapeutics: According to the Principles of Homeopath...Page 218 of 653252Diseases of the Lungs.Experience has shown that the seat of pneumonia is of greatimportance as regards the probability of a normal termination. Asa rule pneumonia of the right side is much more favorable thanthat of the left, pneumonia of a lower lobe lighter than that ofupper one, which is apt not to terminate in resolution and to assa tubercular form. Inflammations of the left upper lobe are especially obstinate and deviating from the normal course; they occurthe least frequently.The deviations of the infiltration are very essential, since thedeviations in the course of the disease are mostly founded upon tformer. One of the most common deviations is the tardy resolutionof the infiltration. It occurs rarely in uncomplicated forms ofpneumonia, but is a very common event if carditis supervenesduring pneumonia. In such cases the deficient energy of the circulation seems to constitute the sole obstacle, for a purulent metamorphosis is not necessary to lead to such a result. We shall refto this afterwards in treating of chronic pneumonia. No resolution of the infiltration need take place even for years ; in onethat of an apparently healthy man we discovered after a numbciof years over one or two pulmonaiy lobes, especially at their posterior border, marked bronchial respiration and a perfectly emptypercussion-sound. Or else the infiltration may remain in some portions of the lungs, disappearing entirely everywhere else, and thpatient may enjoy perfect health. If the infiltration remains, buchanges to a tubercular deposition, the phenomena of the diseasechange entirely. We not only meet with this change in individualswho had been previously affected with tubercles, but likewise inindividuals of whom we positively know that up to the time whenthey were attacked with pneumonia, they had enjoyed perfecthealth. On the critical days the fever indeed decreases, but someof it remains, and the patients are not able to recover their stror only slowly and imperfectly. There remain a dry and hackingcough and an imperfect fulness of the respiration, and sooner orlater the symptoms of tubercular phthisis supervene, which in suca case usually runs a very rapid course. We should not, however,in every case of tardy reabsorption, infer a tubercular metamorphosis and express a prognosis corresponding with such a change.often takes months before such a metamorphosis can be diagnosedwith perfect certainty.The most important, most frequent and at the same time mostdangerous change of the infiltration is the transition into the sof gray hepatization or purulent metamorphosis. It must aH^^avP4«http://www.archive.org/stream/sciencetherapeu00kafkgoog/sciencetherapeu00kafkgoog_djvu.txt