The Science of Therapeutics - Classical Homeopathy Online

Full text of "The Science of Therapeutics: According to the Principles of Homeopath...Page 280 of 653Pleuritis, Pleurisy. 827the plastic exudation increases the tendency to adhesions whichare sometimes so extensive that they enclose the exuded fluid aswithin a capsule or sometimes as within a net consisting of a number of meshes and cavities. The third form is the purulent exudation, empyema or pyothorax. In this form the eftusion may consistof mere pus, or serum may be mixed up with it in greater or lessquantity. This form either characterizes an uncommonly acutepleuritis, as it is often observed in pysemia, and where pus forma very short time; or else this third form is gradually developedfrom the second form in consequence of the solid constituents ofthis form being converted into pus. The further changes occurringin this form are absorption which is, however, scarcely ever ascomplete as in the other forms and generally leaves callous thickenings behind, or else enclosure of the fluid within a capsule whis a very common event, or finally invasion of the parts surrounding the suppurating process. In consequence of this invasion thepleura is perforated and the pus is discharged through the thoracwalls into the abdominal cavity or even into the bronchia. Recovefrom such an accident is a very rare event. The fourth form, wherscarcely anything but serum is eflused, occurs very rarely, but iimportant for the reason that this serous exudation generallyexceeds all others in quantity, exerts the most violent pressurethe lungs and heart, and that its reabsorption is on this accountexceedingly difficult. The hemorrhagic exudation does not constitute, strictly speaking, a distinct form, because a somewhat considerable eftusion of blood in any of the above-described four fomay determine an hemorrhagic exudation. The ichorous dissolution of the exudation only takes place during the severest prostrtion of the organism as a consequence of general decomposition,less frequently if the pleural cavity comes in contact with atmospheric air.It is absolutely impossible to draw a permanently and universallytrue picture of pleuritis ; the symptoms characterizing an attackpleuritis, vary greatly in intensity as well as extent; many symptoms are sometimes entirely wanting, whereas in other cases theyare most prominently present. However inasmuch as the symptomatic difterences of pleuritis are mostly de|)ending upon thequality of the exudation, we subjoin a superficial sketch of thesdifferences and shall discuss essential details in subsequent pargraphs.The plastic exudation exists seldom as an idiopathic affection :828 Diseases of the Pleura.it generally accompanies other diseases, more particularly pneumonia. Inasmuch, however, as it is scarcely ever, even whenexisting as an idiopathic disease, accompanied by violent fever,may suppose, that even where it exists as a complication, it doesnot contribute much to an increase of the fever. On the otherhand it is precisely this form that causes the most violent painwhich is very much increased by every somewhat more expansivemovement of the thorax and of the body generally, more partichttp://www.archive.org/stream/sciencetherapeu00kafkgoog/sciencetherapeu00kafkgoog_djvu.txt