The Science of Therapeutics - Classical Homeopathy Online

Full text of "The Science of Therapeutics: According to the Principles of Homeopath...Page 428 of 653Favus is a disease of the lower classes. It only attacks individuals who pay no sort of attention to cleanliness. In other respecsuch individuals may either enjoy the most perfect health, or elsbe of sickly and cachectic constitutions ; favus may attack eitheclass. This exanthem can be transferred to other persons by hats,caps and other head-gear, likewise by sleeping in the same bed ;has likewise been transmitted purposely from one individual to another.A single favus-efflorescence has its origin in the orifice of a sceous follicle in the form of a small, imbedded, not painful papuwhich is perforated by the hair and keeps constantly increasing ibreadth and height, until the characteristic crust finally arisesit. This crust has the shape of a dish, with a rounded centraldepression and round elevated borders ; it has a yellowish or gratint, without any exudation underneath, and has a peculiar odor.If, as usually happens in old cases, the efflorescences are closegether, they unite to an uneven incrustation, at whose borders thdistinct crusts are never missing, so that the diagnosis is quiteeasy. The consequences of favus are : Partial atrophy of the skinin consequence of the crusts being imbedded in it ; eczema occasioned by the scratching ; destruction of the hair on the affecteparts; on the other hand, this disorder has no infiuence upon theScabies, Itch. 507general state of the constitution. The disease runs a very cTironcourse, yet spontaneous cures occur, although very tardily and nowithout corresponding modifications in the hygienic circumstancesof the patients.According to what we have stated concerning the etiology of thedisease, we deem an internal treatment of it useless and ineffectHartmann's remarks in this respect have no reference to true favuIf constitutional disorders are present simultaneously with favusthey have, of course, to be treated with appropriate remedies ; athe same time they must not be regarded as the originating causeof favus. This can only be cured by removing the crusts in whichthe fungi are imbedded, and by preventing their return. The suresmeans of accomplishing this result, is care and cleanliness. Theremoval of the crusts is secured by softening them with oil, andafterwards removing them together with the perforating hair. Thisis a very tedious, but sure undertaking. Every sickly-looking haihas to be pulled out singly, for the reason that the disease hasalready invaded the soil in which it grows.[This eruption is treated with success in some cases by means ofIris versicolor; a cerate is applied to the scalp, and a few dropthe tincture, even as many as twenty, in half a tumblerful of watgiven internally, in teaspoonful doses, three or four times a daySee Hale's JSfew Remedies. H.]tt« Seables, Itch.It is with a certain reluctance that we enter upon a discussion othis aii'ection, since we are satisfied that our views concerningditter from those of most of our Colleagues. We will, therefore,anticipate all objections by stating that the opinions which we phttp://www.archive.org/stream/sciencetherapeu00kafkgoog/sciencetherapeu00kafkgoog_djvu.txt