The Science of Therapeutics - Classical Homeopathy Online

Full text of "The Science of Therapeutics: According to the Principles of Homeopath...Page 270 of 653IMoschus, for asthma without cough, with a violent feeling ofconstriction in the throat as if the glottis were involved in theattack, in the case of hysterical, hypochondriac, irritable individuals.We might extend this list by adding other remedies ; but sincewe believe that the indications for their use are mostly illusorywill content ourselves with mentioning their bare names. CannabisColchicunij Tartarus siibiatus^ Cocculus^ Staphysagria^ Nuz moschVeratrum^ Opium^ Phosphorus^ Nitri acidum^ etc. Many of theseremedies owe their use to the mistaken notion that a catarrh orany other affection of the respiratory organs with asthmatic symptoms is real asthma. The remedies from which most may be expected during the attack itself, are Bel^donna^ Cannabis^ Moschusand Opium, Opium especially sometimes renders substantial aidwithout it being necessary to employ large doses on this account.Morphia^ 2d trituration, two or three grains at a dose, exerts asufficiently powerful effect, and if this dose is not sufficient,remedy can only do harm. A copious secretion of mucus alwayscounter-indicates Opium. Cannabis likewise only palliates by virtof its narcotic properties, and hence will have to be given in amassive dose ; this remedy is altogether unreliable.As we said before, we have no great confidence in the use of anyremedy during the paroxysm which we compare to an epilepticparoxysm for which very little can be done by treatment. Nevertheless we should not remain idle spectators during an attack, siit is often possible to relieve the patient by all sorts of exterapplications. It is important, for instance, to regulate the patiposture. Some people will not allow him to leave his bed ; yet itof great importance and affords great relief to the patient, if erespiratory movement is brought into play, as much as possible, ba change of position. For this reason the lower extremities shoulnot be kept in a horizontal position, but should be placed verticand pressed against any object in order to facilitate the actionthe dorsal as well as abdominal muscles. All tight clothing shoul818 Diseases of the Lungs,be removed ; if the patient is in his senses, he attends to thisout being told. The temperature of the room must not be kept toolow, for the reason that the paroxysm always excites a profuseperspiration; nor should it be too highland, above every thing elthe air should be kept sufficiently moist. If we are called to atient who has had a number of attacks, we shall find that he keepevery thing on hand which, by it« direct action upon the lungs,may relieve a paroxysm ; nor can it be denied that relief is ofteprocui'ed by such means during one and even several paroxysms.They are generally powerful domestic stimulants, such as thesmelling and inhaling of the spirits of Ammonia; inhalations ofthe spirits of Turpentine or of Camphor evaporated on hot water ;the inhalation of the fumes of burnt nitre-paper, feathers and Suphur. We have tried the last remedy in our own case. That insuch cases it is not the specific action of the inhaled substancethe local stimulation that affords relief, is evident from the cistance that the effect is only palliative and transitory and thatinhalations of Chloroform, which have a direct narcotic effect, ahttp://www.archive.org/stream/sciencetherapeu00kafkgoog/sciencetherapeu00kafkgoog_djvu.txt