The Science of Therapeutics - Classical Homeopathy Online

Full text of "The Science of Therapeutics: According to the Principles of Homeopath...Page 322 of 653which we consider injurious. In such circumstances all we can andshould aim at, would be to remove the primary pathological cause,and, if this is not possible, to leave the condition intact and ato treat a few incidental troublesome symptoms. The physicianwill have enough left to do in supervising and regulating thepatient's mode of living, and in controlling intercurrent conditithat might result in an increase of the disorder. If the hypertrois a primary disease, either congenital or imperceptibly acquiredthere is still a prospect of the disease being overcome, providedphysician is made aware of it in time. As long as the body continues to grow, we deem it possible to remove the hypertrophy, or aleast to reduce it to scarcely perceptible dimensions. For this rson, it is of the utmost importance that, if there is the least scion of heart-disease in the case of children or growing people,hearts should be examined with the utmost care. Young peopleaddicted to the practice of onanism, are very apt to be afflictedhypertrophy of the heart ; when excited by such a cause, the disease can undoubtedly be arrested or even completely removed.In our opinion the following points ought to determine the treatment of cardiac hypertrophy.In the first place, if possible, the cause should be acted upon.This will be difficult if the circulation is obstructed by some m878 Diseases of the Heart.rial obstacle, sach as an aneurism, an atrophied kidney, conertrition of the aorta, valvular defects. A possibility of this kind,ever, exists, in the case of young people, if the hypertrophy iscaused by onanism, premature mental exertions with their necessary attendant consequences of nervousness, excitability, chlorosanreraia. The remedies adapted to this purpose are numerous andhave already been mentioned in the chapter where the corresponding pathological diseases were treated of. A second causal indication requiring particular attention is the patient's mode ofliving.The dietetic management has to aim at two objects, in the firstplace the avoidance of every thing in the patient's mode of livinthat might aggravate the disorder ; and secondly, to surround thepatient with influences that will have a direct tendency to amelirate his condition. As regards the first point, spirits, coftee,spices, the excessive use of salt, very substantial and more partularly fat food will have to be avoided. The patient should begoverned by the nature of his business in the quantity of food heconsumes. Overloading the stomach is very hurtful; frequent andsmall meals are preferable. A person afflicted with cardiac diseashould never go to sleep immediately after dinner, or go to bed wa full stomach. Every bodily motion occasioning a sensation ofincreased action of the heart, is too great a tax on this organ ;mental excitement is likewise strictly to be avoided. As regardsthe second point, we would call attention to the fact that we veroften succeed, by changing the patient's mode of living, in avoidor diminisliincr the violent conjjestions of the head. A businessthat compels the patient to lead a sedentary mode of life, or exphim to much ejj^citement, should be abandoned. If icy coldness ofthe lower extremities is accompanied by heat of the head and ahttp://www.archive.org/stream/sciencetherapeu00kafkgoog/sciencetherapeu00kafkgoog_djvu.txt