The Science of Therapeutics - Classical Homeopathy Online

Full text of "The Science of Therapeutics: According to the Principles of Homeopath...Page 504 of 653Camphora acts well for a short time when given as an intermediateremedy for sudden paroxysms of severe collapse coming on the heelof great exaltation of the cerebral functions.A few other, most nnimportant remedies will be found indicatednnder catarrh of the stomach which very often bears a deceptivesimilarity to the lighter grades of typhus.The general management and the diet to be observed in typhusare of more importance than in any other disease. It is unfortnnately true that in this respect physicians are often guilty of tmost unpardonable delinquencies. In managing typhus-patients weobserve the following rules, the usefulness of which has been abudantly established, and which we have never known to result in anmischief to the patient. The patients should lie on a mattress,never on feather-beds which promote the development of bedsores.A woollen blanket with a linen sheet is sufficient covering. Thedows in the sick-room should never be shut entirely, no matter inseason of tVie year ; if possible, the room should always be keptproperly ventilated by securing a current of air along the ceilinIf possible, the patients should often be changed to another bed,and even to another room. Once every day, and, if the disease hasreached its height, several times a day, the patient should be wawith cold water over the largest part of his body ; an ablution othis kind affords an immense amount of comf^-t to +1^'^ patient600 Epidemic and Endemic Infectious Diseases.The passages from the bowels and bladder have to be removed assoon as possible. If possible, the same person should never be iaconstant attendance on the patient, lest he should become too mucimpregnated with the typhus-contagium. Only the most indispensable conversation should be held with the patient, and allmental excitement should be strictly avoided. As long as the violence of the fever continues, no great supply of nourishment isrequired ; the patient does not desire anything, nor should he bepersuaded to partake of anything substantial. Liquid nourishmentis best adapted to his condition. If the patient desires, he mayhave : beef-tea, broth (no veal-broth), chicken-broth, milk dilutwith one-third water, malt-beer cooked with sago or gruel, whichshould be allowed to cool before it is used ; mucilaginous soups,not exclusively. The best beverage is fresh water ; this should bgiven the patient quite often, even if he does not call for it, fis the best means of repairing the waste of moisture caused by thfever. Sugar-water is hurtful ; water with the juice of fruit dissolved in it, may be partaken of in very moderate quantities. Sodwater very soon becomes offensive to the patient. Water with alittle wine is perfectly appropriate in the later course of the dMalt-beer with a little sugar is perfectly admissible ; it impartthan any other beverage the sensation that the thirst is quenchedand the patients crave it even when they are lying in a state ofsopor. We have never seen it do any harm. Many patients manifest a strong desire ibr fruit which they may partake of stewed,moderately, not too often ; stewed prunes without the skin are thbest kind.The diet during the period of convalescence is very difficult tohttp://www.archive.org/stream/sciencetherapeu00kafkgoog/sciencetherapeu00kafkgoog_djvu.txt