The Science of Therapeutics - Classical Homeopathy Online

Full text of "The Science of Therapeutics: According to the Principles of Homeopath...Page 331 of 653to them. All influences that occasion acute endocarditis, maylikewise be considered as causes of valvular diseases ; among thecauses rheumatism occupies the most prominent rank. This appliesparticularly to anomalies aftecting younger persons. Among personof a more advanced age it is the still obscure process of chronicendocarditis, the atheromatous deposition and degeneration whichaftects the valves as well as the arteries. Other causes which, hever, are extremely rare, are: Dilatation of the heart, externalpressure or a severe strain, excessive exertions, ruptures. Sex dnot seem to have any influence in this direction, except thatrepeated observations have shown that women are more frequentlyaffected with anomalies of the venous, and men more frequentlywith anomalies of the arterial orifices. Beyond the age of twentyfive a liability to every, kind of anomaly sets in, which seems tincrease in proportion as persons grow older. Corresponding withthe prevalence of endocarditis, acute as well as chronic, in theheart, it is only exceptionally that orificial anomalies are metin the right side of the heart.The following are the more particular alterations to be met within the different orifices respectively :a. Insufficiency of the Mitral Valve.During the systole the mitral valve closes the ventricle more orless imperfectly against the auricle, either because its lappelsshrunk or torn, or the tendinous chords and the coulmnee carneasare abnormally altered. Hence, during the systole blood regurgitates into the auricle. This causes a gradual dilatation of theAnomalies. . 889auricle* the flow of blood from the pulmonary veins is impeded,the vessels constituting the lesser circulation, become engorgedwith blooa, finally, the right heart is overcrowded with blood, ging rise to eccentric hypertrophy and, as an ultimate result, caua stasis in the peripheral veins. If the insufficiency is but litthe left ventricle remains unchanged ; the higher degrees of insuficiency lead to dilatation and hypertrophy of this ventricle. Phical signs : Greater extent of cardiac dulness in breadth ; impulof the heart stronger and over a larger area ; undulatory movements of the right ventricle. Systolic murmur, most distinct atthe apex, sometimes like a purring murmur ; second sound of thepulmonary artery louder, sometimes so loud that it can be felt;pulse either normal, or, if the insufficiency is considerable, vemuch weaker, sometimes irregular.The consequences of this anomaly to the whole organism are :hypersemia of theiungs; sanguineous clots in the lungs; catarrhof the bronchial mucous lining; hsemoptoe; dyspnoea; emphysema;hypersemia of the brain, liver, spleen, kidneys, stomach, with chgastric catarrh; subsequently cedema and serous efiusions in thediflterent regions attacked by hypersemia.The prognosis of this aflfection, of itself, is not entirely unfaable. Although a cure is scarcely ever possible, yet patients maywith care, live to an advanced age. This depends upon the compensation established by the right ventricle and auricle; as longhttp://www.archive.org/stream/sciencetherapeu00kafkgoog/sciencetherapeu00kafkgoog_djvu.txt