The Science of Therapeutics - Classical Homeopathy Online

Full text of "The Science of Therapeutics: According to the Principles of Homeopath...Page 243 of 653which is not cut short in the first stage, a purulent decompositiand resolution is the normal and almost the only favorable couiAmong the local symptoms one at least seems to deserve a moreprominent place, it is a dyspnoea peculiar to Rhus and occasionedby distention of the pit of the stomach ; however, even in thisrespect, it will only compete with other remedies, especially witNux vomica and Phosphorus. Kreussler's recommendation of Rhusin case miliaria break out, attended with a general aggravation othe whole condition of the patient, is in our opinion, founded innothing else than the marked tendency inherent in Rhus to causeexanthems, some of which resemble miliaria ; nor can it be deuiedthat it is in pneumonias complicated with miliaria, that the abovPneumonia* 288described nervoas syinptoms are moet apt to prevail. Hhus mightlikewise be principally recommended for pneumonia occasioned byexposure to wet and cold, provided the power of Rhus to cure suchcatarrhal diseases, and which is now generally believed in, had asure basis ; it is evident, however, that this view has not beengested by physiological experimentation, but rests upon an empirical basis ; moreover, the definition of catarrhal disease is evitoo vague and indefinite to deserve very serious consideration. Imight bo replied that the reputation of Arnica in contusions hasbetter foundation ; but here the case is a very different one. Thvirtue of Arnica in removing the consequences of contusions andblows, is not the result of empiricism, but a knowledge thereof hbeen obtained by physiological provings and could not have beenobtained but for the circumstance that the symptoms occasioned byexternal injuries, are definite and fixed in their characteristicfestations, and that their correspondence with drug-symptoms canvery readily be established. The consequences of a cold, on the ctrary, are not circumscribed within such narrow and precise limitbut are of the most diversified kind and meaning, so that, if weknow a cold to be the cause, the connection between cause andeffect can readily be suspected, but cannot, as in the other caseinferred with perfect certainty from the existing symptoms." Tothis exposd we will add a few remarks. When speaking of Phosphorus, we stated that Rhus might be found indicated above everyother remedy in cases of pneumonia setting in from the commencement with adynamic fever. We repeat this statement in this place.If in the first two days the diagnosis wavers between tyj^hus andpneumonia ; if the local process commences at the outset as if mofied by a general deterioration of the mass of blood, Rhus will bfound indicated, although, we have never seen the disease cut shoby this remedy. In pneumotyphus Rhus ranks next to Phosphorusto which it may even be regarded as superior. Whereas Phosphorusis less adapted to pneumonia complicated with bronchitis, Rhus, othe contrary, is in its place in such circumstances, as we have lterly learned to know from abundant experience. Bronchitis isattended with a scanty secretion of mucus, it precedes pneumoniaa few days ; the pneumonia itself supervenes almost imperceptiblyand is only recognized by the increasing dyspnoea which becomesunbearable by exposure to stove-heat, and is accompanied by acharacteristic dry and tormenting cough, by which sleep is disturbed particularly after midnight. As a rule, attention had betthttp://www.archive.org/stream/sciencetherapeu00kafkgoog/sciencetherapeu00kafkgoog_djvu.txt