The Science of Therapeutics - Classical Homeopathy Online

Full text of "The Science of Therapeutics: According to the Principles of Homeopath...Page 251 of 653The following constitute particular forms of pneumonia withreference to the circumstances which either occasion or accompanythe attack, although they cannot be considered as complications.Pneumonia of children assumes most commonly the form oflobular pneumonia, the more so the younger the individuals. Insimple croupous pneumonia no other remedies are required than inthe case of adults, although we would call attention to two remedin such cases, namely Mercurius and Opium. The former is rarelysuitable for adults in the second stage, on the contrary, it is oserviceable to children and is usually preferable to Bryonia, Opiis a very excellent remedy for the severe cerebral hypersemia witwhich children are so often attacked. This condition of the brainvery often makes Belladonna superior to Aconite even at the beginning of the pneumonia. Very seldom the symptoms in the case of^LPneumonia, 293children will point to Phosphorus which is aptly replaced by Mercurius or even by Bepar sulphuris. As a general rule, a simpleuncomplicated pneumonia is neither a very important nor a verydangerous disease to the infantile organism; but it can easily bemade so, especially by sanguineous depletions and cathartics. Inthe ease of children the momentary effect of a debilitating treatis greater; in the case of adults it is less instantaneous than psistent.In old age pneumonia is almost always associated with catarrhof the bronchia, and hence much more dangerous. Simple pneumonia not unfrequently sets in with symptoms that call for Belladonna rather than Aconite ; sometimes Bryonia is indicated by thesymptoms from the very beginning. Here too the co-existing cerebral symptoms often call for Opium and Hyosciamus. The reabsorption is usually trifling; a crisis generally takes place bycopious expectoration, and although Sulphur may be perfectlyappropriate for a few days, the copious, but difficult expectoratrequires without any further delay the exhibition of Tartar emetior Carho vegetabilis or Lycopodium^ also Baryta. We would notadvise Phosphorus for the reason that all signs of an excessivereaction are wanting. The greatest danger to old people is theacute cedema and the paralysis of the lungs by which the oedemais often speedily followed. In order to obviate this event, thepatient should be put on a nourishing diet and have a little stimlating wine given him, whatever the antiphlogistic theory may sayagainst it. As far as medicines are concerned, help may be expectfrom Tartar emetic, Arsenicum, Digitalis, perhaps also from Jffyocyaraus and Squills; even Veratrum album may have to be used insome cases. As a measure of precaution, which is of great importance to the patient, he should not be allowed to remain lying onback too long at a time, but should be directed to change his postion quite frequently, and to keep the upper part of his body inmore or less vertical posture, lest hypostasis should set in, whihttp://www.archive.org/stream/sciencetherapeu00kafkgoog/sciencetherapeu00kafkgoog_djvu.txt