The Science of Therapeutics - Classical Homeopathy Online

Full text of "The Science of Therapeutics: According to the Principles of Homeopath...Page 313 of 653based upon the symptoms in the Materia Medica Pura, for theheart-symptoms in the pathogenesis of Bryonia are mostly unmeaning or at least very vague. The analogy of pleuritis and pericarditis has doubtless led to the use of the drug; nor do we intenddispute the propriety of such a conclusion, since Bryonia has sucan excellent eftect in all inflammatory affections of serous membranes, and is altogether indispensable in acute rheumatism. Welikewise admit that the pathological picture developed by thesupervention of pericarditis during pneumonia or pleuritis, generally corresponds very fully with the pathogenesis of Bryonia. Wewould limit the use of Bryonia to such cases ; for uncomplicatedpericarditis we undoubtedly possess more suitable remedies.Cannabis is undoubtedly one of the remedies that has a directaction upon the heart, but we do not yet know what is the precise nature of this action. More recently a number of investigations have been instituted concerning the nature of Indian hemp(haschisch), from which we have extracted the following group ofcardiac symptoms: Violent palpitations of the heart, sometimeawithout any anguish, and sometimes attended with perfect agonyor the most frightful restlessness ; pulse small and sometimes inCarditis. 867mitting for a minute, from 100 to 120 beats; constriction of thepit of the stomach ; paroxysms of anguish ; the beats of the hearare scarcely perceptible and extremely weak ; fear of death, whicis felt every time the pulse intermits. To judge by these fewsymptoms, which always set in after large doses of Cannabis, thisdrug would seem to be a powerful cardiac remedy ; yet all secondary circumstances being considered, we shall find that this is nothe case. The incipient exaltation of the heart's action coincidewith great exaltation of cerebral action which is attended withphenomena of congestion. The cerebral exaltation very soonchanges to extreme depression, even partial paralysis, (for instaof the nerves of the senses, skin,) and this depression is likewiaccompanied by symptoms of diminished action of the heart, thelatter lasting precisely as long as the cerebral depression. Fromthis connection we can infer almost with certainty that the heartsymptoms do not arise from disease of the heart itself, but fromfunctional change in the brain. Otherwise it would be inconceivabhow such marked alterations of the functions should pass off sospeedily and without leaving a trace behind. Our opinion that Cannabis cannot be relied upon as a remedy in cardiac inflammations,is confirmed by the circumstance that the clinical trials that habeen instituted with this remedy, have not in any respect substantiated the recommendations with which this medicine has beenhonored.Opium might claim the privilege of being considered a cardiacremedy with as much propriety as Cannabis ; but in its case thecardiac symptoms are likewise secondary results of a primary functional change in the brain. If one of these two remedies were tobe employed in heart-affections, it would be in cases of endocardwhere the brain is very much involved ; this scarcely ever happenin pericarditis.Laohesis. It is a remarkable fact that the opinion of practitionehttp://www.archive.org/stream/sciencetherapeu00kafkgoog/sciencetherapeu00kafkgoog_djvu.txt