The Science of Therapeutics - Classical Homeopathy Online

Full text of "The Science of Therapeutics: According to the Principles of Homeopath...Page 234 of 653Mercurius, if the symptoms are more violent and tumultuous. Wewill afterwards account for our dissenting opinion. There are twoforms of pneumonia where we consider Mercurius as a leadingremedy. One is pneumonia complicated with bronchitis. MuUermentions this form ; we have quoted his statements in our chapteron influenza, page 185. This form of pneumonia is almost alwaysan epidemic disease ; having at this very time had frequent opportunities in this district of testing the curative virtues of Mercin an affection of this kind, we cannot deem a short descriptionour epidemic superfluous. Under the modifying action of a widespread influenza, that is to say of catarrh accompanied by a deepirritation of the nervous system, the nose, larynx and tracheabecome affected with a slight catarrh which seems quite triflingfor a few days; suddenly the fever becomes more violent, the catarhal secretion ceases^ dyspnosa sets in, together with a spasmodigenerally nocturnal cough, without any, or with a yellowblood-streaked expectoration; the pulse is upwards of 120; in theease of a lady of upwards of fifty years, the pulse had 150 beatsit is small, has very little resistance, the skin is burningtimes covered with copious perspiration, the tongue is yellow andvery soon becomes dry, the sensorium is blunted, there is violentheadache, the patient lies in a soporous condition, with light deriam ; he has a great desire for cold drinks, after which the coueasily breaks out again. At the same time the patients do notcomplain of pain, and scarcely ever of pain in the affected side,on ^vhich account a careful exploration is very apt to be neglected* Such an exploration shows extensive hepatization, that272 Diseases of the Lungs.is to say, complete dulness of sound with rales, and attended witbronchial respiration. This condition resembles typhus to suchan extent that we do not wonder at hearing many physiciansassert that influenza has changed to typhus. That this affectionis of a serious character, is apparent from the fact that underallopathic treatment numerous deaths have taken place within afew weeks, and that even young and robust individuals havesuccumbed to the epidemic. We three homoeopaths so far havenot lost a single patient and, without having had any previousunderstanding on the subject, we have all of us commenced thetreatment with Mercurius a« the best and principal remedy. Thesefavorable results have been obtained in an affection which, inopposition to MuUer's statements, is attended with an exceedinglysevere fever. The selection of Mercurius in broncho-pneumoniamay be justified by its admirable action in bronchitis; for it canot be denied that the greatest danger proceeds from this quarterand that, after the removal of the bronchial symptoms, the remaining pneumonia is comparatively insignificant. A third form ofpneumonia, which is particularly adapted to Mercurius, is thecatarrhal form or lobular pneumonia which has an entirely different meaning from the former. As soon as we have reason, in acase of bronchitis, whooping-cough, etc., to suspect the formatioof small foci of exudation, Meruurius will first commend itself tour judgement as a remedial agent, and we shall have before oureyes an image of epidemic influenza, such as has been described ipreceding paragraphs. In tubercular pneumonia we have nevernoticed any good effects from Mercurius. "What mercurial preparation deserves a preference, we do not dare to decide. In thehttp://www.archive.org/stream/sciencetherapeu00kafkgoog/sciencetherapeu00kafkgoog_djvu.txt