The Science of Therapeutics - Classical Homeopathy Online

Full text of "The Science of Therapeutics: According to the Principles of Homeopath...Page 367 of 653The simple, rapidly terminating and benign inflammation of theknee, without any alFection of the bone or any marked tendency tosuppuration, readily yields to Arnica^ if the trouble originatesmechanical injury. If the trouble proceeds rather from internalcauses, Belladonna will generally be found sufficient, if there imuch pain, and Bryonia^ if both pain and swelling are considerable; Conium^ Pulsatilla or liffUS toxicodendron will be requiredfrequently. [We think Pulsatilla is not sufficiently appreciatedby Bsehr; we know of no remedy that has a more specific relationto the synovial lining of the cavity of the knee than Pulsatilla;hence in gonitis, if the inflammatory process is primarily and chlocated in the synovial membrane, Pulsatilla is undoubtedly theleading remedy. In chronic gonitis of this character we shoulddepend chiefly upon Silicea, higher attenuations, with intercurredoses of Pulsatilla. H.]If tumor albus begins as a subacute disease, with severe pains,slight febrile excitement, rapid increase of the swelling, Bryonithe main remedy as long as the inflammation is confined to thesoft parts ; if the trouble is primarily located in the bone, ifpain is excessive, although the swelling is only slight, Mercuriuwill have to be employed. In the case of young and robust individuals Belladonna is preferred by many physicians, even if thebones are affected primarily. If the swelling progresses withoutmuch pain, Conium is indicated. Beside these remedies the following deserve attention at the outset: Ledum for severelynocturnalpains ; Mczereum for nocturnal, tearing pains; Rkus torif the pain is very much increased in a recumbent posture; andLycopodium. We shall seldom be able to arrest the swelling withthese remedies ; as a rule, it will progress to the stage where whave to dread the advent of suppuration. At this stage a favorable change may yet be effected by one of the following remedies:MercuriuSy Iodine^ Hepar sulphuris^ Sulphur. Their special indications cannot well be stated a priori^ because they generally resufrom the constitutional symptoms which the disease happens tohave evolved ; all we can here say is that Mercurius and Sulphurare more adapted to very hard and not very extensive swellings ;Iodine and Hepar suLphuris to large and soft swellings, with sympInflammation of * Joints. 483toms of fluctuation. If pus forms notwithstanding, and the abscesbursts, a remedy has to be selected, with reference to two conditions, namely : whether the suppuration threatens to speedily supinduce consumption, or whether the patient's strength bears wellup under it. In the former case Calcarea carhonica and Phosphoruswill have to be given ; in the latter, Siliceay Graphites and BarArsenicum may likewise be of eminent use in the case of scrofulouindividuals.External applications are not always appropriate in this disease.Poultices are injurious if they increase the pains ; in most casethey not only relieve the pain, but likewise exert a favorableefiect upon the reabsorption of the pus in the diseased joint. Anuninterrupted recumbent posture is to be avoided as long as thepatients remain capable of moving about ; only the diseased limbmust not be used for a walk. A moderate and constant pressurehttp://www.archive.org/stream/sciencetherapeu00kafkgoog/sciencetherapeu00kafkgoog_djvu.txt