The Science of Therapeutics - Classical Homeopathy Online

Full text of "The Science of Therapeutics: According to the Principles of Homeopath...Page 299 of 653the patient may recover entirely. Or else, the fluid portion mayabsorbed, and the plastic portion may be transformed into connective tissue giving rise to a membrane of more or less thickness.else, the eftused fluid may be transformed into pus, which is eitabsorbed or may assume an organized consistence. The more plasticthe exudation, the sooner adhesions of both surfaces of the pericardium take place ; they generally show the most firmness at thebase of the heart, but frequently cdnsist only in threadlike attaments and again cause large portions of the pericardium firmly toadhere to the heart. The exudation is the more copious, the lessfibrin it contains; the hemorrhagic exudation occurs more especially in great abundance.Endocarditis is almost without an exception met with in the leftventricle. It attacks less frequently than pericarditis large porof the endocardium ; most commonly it is limited to single spotsand has its chief locality near the valvular apparatus of the lefheart. The inflamed portions of the endocardium lose their brilliancy, have a dim-white, grayish or reddish-gray appearance ; itpuflfed up and easily torn and detached. This exudation into thetissue of the endocardium may be associated with exudation uponits free surface in the shape of fine fringes upon which fibrinoudeposits are apt to form. Further changes are : Either a completecure by absorption, which is a rare occurrence, or else inconsideable thickening of the exudation not materially interfering withfunctions of the heart. Or else, indurated deposits may occur onthe valves, containing calcareous matter. The most important consequences are those resulting from the breaking down of the exudation. The softened endocardium tears, thus giving rise to laceration of the chordae tendinese or of the valves themselves, and bcoming chiefly instrumental in originating numerous defects of thvalves ; or the tearing of the endocardium on the sides of the vetricle may give rise to acute aneurysm of the heart, in consequenof the muscular substance not being able to resist the constantpressure of the blood. The purulent decomposition on the free surface, during which the broken-down exudation is continually carried along by the current of the circulation, easily results in tplugging up of single arteries or in the formation of metastaticabscesses, especially in the spleen and kidneys. The purulent inftration of the muscular tissue of the heart occasions the samechanges as the next form, myocarditis.Myocarditis generally occurs in conjunction with one of the850 Diseases of the Heart*other two forms. It is never diffuse, but always limited to isolaregions, sometimes in the interior of the muscular tissue, at othtimes more on the internal and external surface of the heart. It■most commonly located in the wall of the left ventricle and in thventricular septum. The inflamed parts first show a dark redness,eyen ecchymoses, afterwards the affected fibres decay, being tranformed into a reddish-gray detritus ; or suppuration sets in leadto the formation of abscesses in the heart. This inflammationhttp://www.archive.org/stream/sciencetherapeu00kafkgoog/sciencetherapeu00kafkgoog_djvu.txt