'■•■>;V-..':>:tCwS i''/\ -i.'.v., V.«t9 mm§m SURGEON GENERAL'S OFFICE LIBRARY. ANNEX1 Section,. Xo. IbklTO, i THE HOMEOPATHIC DOMESTIC PHYSICIAN. CONSTANTINE HERING, M. D. THE ONLY AUTHORIZED ENGLISH EDITION, BY THE AUTHOR HIMSELF THOROUGHLY REVISED AND REFORMED NEW YORK: BOERICKE & TAFEL, No. 145 GRAND STREET. PHILADELPHIA : F. E. BOERICKE, No. 635 ARCH STREET. 1870. \NBK "H54GV) IS TO Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1858, by CONSTANTINE HERING, In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States, in and for th« Eastern District of Pennsylvania. TO %fol$w IJajncI, St. g., HONORARY MEMBER OF THE AMERICAN PROVERS' UNION, AND OF VARIOUS OTHER MEDICAL SOCIETIES; PRACTISING PHYSICIAN IN BALTIMORE, MD ONE OF THE FEW SURVIVING PERSONAL DISCIPLES OF SAMUEL HAHNEMANN ONE OF THE FIRST PROVERS OF OUR MATERIA MEDICA, AND A MEMBER OF OUR MASTER S HOUSEHOLD FOR NEARLY A SCORE OF YEARS, DEDICATED %$ g Jokei) of §ii)eefe £sfeeh), By Ms Friend, CONSTANTINE HERING. CONTENTS. PAOS. Preface..........................................................xv Introduction......................................................xix Directions for Prescribing..........................................xx Administration of the Medicines and Kepetition of Doses............. xxii Regimen of the Sick during Homoeopathic Treatment................xxiy Instructions for Patients how to communicate their cases to a Physician by letter......................................................xxix List of Medicines...............................................xxxvi PART FIRST. OF THE MOST COMMON CAUSES OF DISEASE. Chapter I.—Affections of the Mind. Sudden Emotions............................................ 1 Grief and Sorrow............................................ 4 Vexation.................................................... 6 Anger...................................................... 7 Sensitiveness and Irritability.................................. 8 Chapter II.—Consequences of Colds. Remarks................................................... 9 Catarrh...................................................... 10 Cough...................................................... 11 Difficulty of Breathing........................................ 11 Diarrhoea................................................... 12 Pain in the Bowels........................................... 12 (V) Vi CONTENTS. Headache................................................... ] 3 Affections of the Eyes........................................ 14 Affections of the Ears........................................ Toothache.................................................. 14 Sore Throat................................................. Nausea and Vomiting........................................ i0 Rheumatic Paius............................................ Chapter III.—Consequences of Overheating, immoderate Exertion and great Exhaustion. Overheating................................................ 1" Sun-Strokes................................................. 18 Headache................................................... 19 Diarrhoea................................................... 19 Fatigue.................................................... 20 Sitting up at Night.......................................... 22 Confinement and much mental application...................... 23 Excesses................................................... 23 Loss of Fluids............................................... 24 Chapter IV.—Consequences of Surfeiting and disordered Stomach. Remarks.................................................... 25 Overfeeding of Children...................................... 27 Headache................................................... 27 Vomiting.................................................... 28 Flatulency.................................................. 29 Colic....................................................... 29 Diarrhoea................................................... 29 Sleeplessness................................................. 29 Nightmare.................................................. 29 Fever...................................................... 29 Rash....................................................... 29 Indisposition from Ice or Cold Water.......................... 30 Chapter V.— Consequences of spirituous Liquors, Coffee, Tea, Tobacco, Acids, &c. Intoxication................................................ 32 Effects of Intoxication....................................... 35 Delirium1 Tremens............................................ 36 Bad effects of Coffee......................................... 37 Effects of Tea Drinking....................................... 33 Effects of smoking Tobacco................................... 39 Injurious effects of sour Food................................. 39 CONTENTS. VH Chapter VI.—Effects of the Medicines hitherto in general use, and Reme- dies to counteract these effects. Remarks.................................. 09 Effects of Herb Teas.,..........................."..'.'.".."."."..'.'." 40 Opium or Laudanum................................ 40 " Peruvian Bark or Quinine........................... 40 " other Drugs........................................ 41 " Magnesia.......................................... 41 " Sulphur and Iodine................................. 42 " Mercury........................................# # < _ 42 " Lead.............................................. 44 " Arsenic........................................... 44 " Iron............................................. 44 Chapter VII.—Adulterations and Poisons. Remarks................................................... 45 Adulteration of Wine........................................ 45 " Vinegar...................................... 47 " Malt Liquors.................................. 47 " Brandy....................................... 47 " Sweet Oil..................................... 47 " Milk......................................... 47 " Butter........................................ 48 " Flour......................................... 48 " Bread......................................... 48 Poisons in the Air........................................... 48 Poisons in the Water........................................... 49 Milk....................................................... 49 Meat....................................................... 50 Vegetables and Fruit3........................................ 50 Mushrooms.....................................,......... 51 Kitchen Salt................................................ 51 Kitchen Utensils............................................ 51 Paints...................................................... 52 Cosmetics and Washes....................................... 53 Panaceas and Vermifuges.................................... 53 Chapter VIII.—Of Poisoning. What is to be done in cases of Poisoning....................... 55 Treatment when the Poison is ascertained...................... 60 Poisonous Gases, Antidotes and Treatment..................... 60 Poisoning by mineral and other strong Acids; Antidotes and Treatment................................................ 64 VIII CONTENTS. Alkaline Poisons, Antidotes and Treatment.................... 64 Other Substances which have a powerful effect, Antidotes and Treatment................................................. 65 Metallic Substances, their Antidotes and Treatment............. 66 Vegetable Poisons, their Antidotes and Treatment............... 68 Animal Poisons, their Antidotes and Treatment................. 69 Poison generated by Disease of any kind........................ 71 Poisoned Wounds........................................... 72 Table of Antidotes to the most powerful Poisons................ 76 Chapter IX.—External Injuries.—Concussion, Bruises, Sprains, Dislo- cations, Fractures, &c. Concussion of the Brain...................................... 77 Overlifting................................................... 78 False Steps................................................. 78 Bruises (Contused Wounds)................................... 79 Bruises of the Eyes.......................................... 79 Shocks and Bruises of the Head............................... 79 Sprains.................................................... 80 Dislocations, Luxations....................................... 80 Fractures................................................... 81 Wounds.................................................... 81 Burns and Scalds............................................ 87 Chapter X.—Foreign Substances introduced into the Human Body. Into the Eye................................................ 90 " Ear................................................ 91 " Nose............................................... 91 " Throat (CEsophagus)................................ 91 " Larynx or Windpipe................................. 93 " Stomach and Intestines.............................. 9i " Skin....,........................................... 96 CONTENTS. IX PART SECOND. TREATMENT OF DISEASES. Chapter I.—Affections of the Head. Giddiness, Vertigo........................................... 97 Weakness of Memory......................................... 98 Determination of Blood to the Head........................... 99 Headache................"...................................100 " from Determination of Blood to the Head..............100 " " Causes which lie in the Blood....................101 " caused by Catarrh..................................101 " from Rheumatism..................................102 " " Disordered Stomach and Bowels.................103 " " Constipation...........................'.........103 Sick Headache..............................................104 Nervous Headache...........................................106 Headache caused by Suppression of Rheumatism, Gout, &c........110 Losing the Hair ............................................Ill Chapter II.—Diseases of the Eyes. General Remarks............................................112 Inflammation and swelling of the Eyelid........................112 Stye on the Eyelid..................................•........11-1 Inflammation of the Eyes.....................................Ill Rheumatic Ophthalmia.......................................116 Gout affecting the Eyes.......................................11" Eyes affected by Scrofula.....................................118 Weakness of Sight, with Remarks on the Use of Spectacles.......121 Short-Sightedness............................................123 Far-Sightedness.............................................123 Attacks of Blindness.........................................1-3 Dread of Light..............................................1 ^ Squinting of Children.........................................124 Chapter III.—Affections of the Ears. Eruptions............ .......................................*25 Mumps....................................................!25 Inflammation of the Ear...................................126 Earache....................................................126 Running of the Ears..........................................128 Buzzing in the Ears..........................................I3*} Hardness of Hearing.......................................• • *31. * CONTENTS Chapter IV.—Affections of the Nose. Pains and Eruptions........................................133 Swelling of the Nose........................................133 Bleeding of the Nose. ,.......................................134 Polypus of the Nose..........................................135 Ozcena......................................................136 Catarrh or Cold in the Head..................................136 Chapter V'.—Affections of the Chest. Hoarseness........................................t.........138 Cough......................................................140 Hooping Cough..............................................148 Croup......................................................152 Congestion of the Chest.......................................155 Hemorrhage from the Lungs; Spitting of Blood.................156 Chronic Inflammation of the Larynx........................... 160 Bronchitis, including Catarrh on the Breast of Children...........161 Palpitation of the Heart......................................164 Asthma.....................................................166 Pleurisy, Inflammation of the Lungs and Stitch in the Side........170 False Pleurisy, Stitch in the Side..............................170 Inflammation of the Lungs....................................172 Consumption of the Lungs....................................176 Contusion or Concussion of the Chest..........................176 Chapter VI.—Affections of the Throat. Sore Throat or Quinsy.......................................177 Chapter VII.—Affections of the Teeth and the Face. Toothache..................................'................182 Swelled Face................................................202 Faceache, Neuralgia, Tic Douloureux..........................203 Chapter VIII.—Affections of the Mouth. Bad Taste in the Mouth......................................205 Offensive Breath.............................................206 Scurvy in the Mouth, Canker of the Mouth.....................207 Affections of the Tongue......................................208 Chapter IX.—Affections of the Stomach. Want of Appetite............................................209 Weakness of the Stomach, Dyspepsia, Indigestion................210 Mucous state of the Stomach..................................213 CONTENTS. XI Heartburn, Water-brash......................................214 Nausea and Vomiting.........................................215 Sea-Sickness................................................216 Pains or Spasms in the Stomach...............................217 Vomiting of Blood...........................................221 Chapter X.—Affections of the Abdomen. Colic........................................................221 Flatulency..................................................226 Inflammation of the Stomach and Intestines.....................227 Determination of Blood to the Abdomen........................230 Worms.....................................................231 Itching of the Anus..........................................233 Prolapsus Ani, Prolapsus of the Rectum.......................234 Hemorrhoids, or Piles........................................235 Diarrhoea...................................................239 Dysentery....................................................244 Common Cholera, Cholera Morbus.............................247 Asiatic (or Epidemic) Cholera.................................248 Cholerine...................................................249 Constipation.................................................251 Inflammation of the Liver; Pains in the Liver..................254 Jaundice....................................................255 Difficulty and Pain in making Water...........................255 Hernia; Rupture............................................257 Chapter XL—Diseases of Women. Menstruation (the Monthly Illness)............................259 Tardy Menstruation..........................................260 Suppression of the Menses.....................-...............262 Too Copious Menstruation....................................263 Painful Menstruation, Menstrual Colic.........................264 Chlorosis, Green Sickness.....................................266 Cessation of the Menses.......................................267 Leucorrhoea, Whites.........................................268 Remarks on Pregnancy.......................................269 Derangements during Pregnancy...............................270 Menstruation............................................270 Vertigo and Headache....................................270 Morning Sickness........................................272 Constipation.............................................273 Diarrhoea...............................................273 XII CONTENTS. Derangements during Pregnancy. Pruritus................................................2J4 Fainting and Hysteric Fits................................2^4 Toothache...............................................2]5 Varicose Veins.......................................... _ Hemorrhoids or Piles.....................................2^" Pains in the Back and Side during Pregnancy...............276 Cramps...............................•.................2~} Incontinence of Urine....................................2'' 977 Depression of Spirits.....................................^_4 Miscarriage, Abortion....................................^'' Menorrhagia or Flooding..................................280 Preparation of the Breasts................................282 False Pains......................,......................282 Labor, Child-Birth...........................................283 Protracted Labor................................-...--•- -.284 Spasmodic Pains, Cramps and Convulsions......................285 Treatment after Delivery......................................286 Flooding after Delivery.......................................286 After-Pains..................................................287 Duration of Confinement......................................288 Irregularities of the Lochial Discharge..........................288 Milk Fever.;..............................................• • 289 Suppressed Secretion of Milk..................................290 Excessive Secretion of Milk...................................291 Involuntary Emission of Milk.................................291 Diarrhoea during confinement..................................291 Constipation.................................................292 Retention of Urine............................................292 Sore Nipples................................................292 Gathered Breasts............................................292 Weakness from Nursing.......................................293 Falling off of the Hair........................................293 Chapter XII.—Treatment of Infants. Reception at Birth...........................................294 Apparent Death.............................................294 Washing the Child...........................................295 Dressing the Navel...........................................295 The Meconium...............................................295 Swelling and Elongation of the Head...........................296 Putting the Child to the Breast................................296 Inflammation of the Eyes.......................................296 CONTENTS. XIII Obstruction of the Nose, " Sniffles".............................297 Sore Mouth, Thrush..........................................297 Sore Throat.................................................298 Jaundice....................................................298 Excoriation..................................................299 The Gum...................................................299 Retention of Urine................................... t % 299 Constipation......................................... t # 299 Diarrhoea............................................. # 300 Colic......................................................301 Swelling of the Breasts.......................................301 Crying of Infants............................................302 Restlessness and Wakefulness.................................302 Hiccough.........................................,.........303 Scurf on the Head...........................................303 Milk-scab, Milk-crust.........................................303 Scald Head, Ringworm of the Scalp............................304 Spasms or Convulsions.......................................305 Dentition, Teething..........................................307 Summer Complaint, Cholera Infantum..........................309 Rupture of the Navel, Umbilical Hernia........................312 Heat Spots, " Prickly Heat''..................................312 Whites or Leucorrhoea of Children.............................313 Weaning.....................................................313 Limping, Lameness..........................................313 Stuttering...................................................314 Squinting...................................................314 Wetting the Bed............................................* 314 Vaccination....................................../..........317 Chapter XIII.—Diseases of the Skin. Rash........................................................321 Nettle Rash, Urticaria........................................322 Measles.....................................................323 Scarlet Fever, Scarlatina.....................................325 Scarlet Rash................................................327 Chicken-Pox................................................327 Small-Pox..................................................328 Varioloid...................................................328 Erysipelas, St. Anthony's Fire, Rose...........................328 Itching of the Skin...........................................330 Itch, Scabies...............................................330 Boil, Furunculus............................................331 XIV CONTENTS. Carbuncle, Malignant Furunculus..............................332 Chilblain, Frost-bite..........................................332 Whitlow, Felon.............................................333 Ulcer...................................'....................334 Abscess.....................................................335 Corns.......................................................335 Sore Feet...................................................336 Warts......................................................336 Bed Sores...................................................336 Chapter XIV.—Some General Diseases. Gout.......................................................336 Rheumatism with Fever.......................................337 Rheumatism without Fever....................................339 Lumbago, Pains in the Loins and Back.........................339 Sciatica.....................................................340 Crick in the Neck............................................340 Cramp in the Limbs..........................................340 Epilepsy, Epileptic Convulsions................................341 Night-Mare.................................................341 Sleeplessness................................................342 Dropsy......................................................343 Ague, Chills and Fever, Fever and Ague.......................343 Congestive or Pernicious Fever, Remittent or Bilious Fever......354 Yellow Fever...............................................354 Fainting, Swooning..........................................360 Apparent Death.............................................361 " " from Hunger..................................362 " " " a Fall..................................362 " " " Suffocation by Hanging, Pressure, Choking.. 363 " " " Drowning...............................364 " " " being Frozen............................ 364 " " " Lightning...............................365 M " " Mental Emotion, Bad Gases, and other Causes................................366 " " " Apoplexy................................366 Tabular Index of the Remedies used, their English Names, and Diseases in which employed.................................367 PRE FAC E. Since the last edition of this work in the English language, (pub- lished in 1851,) had been sold, about four years ago, the Author had refused to allow another one to be made, either by the former pub- lishers or others, and declined a great many offers made to him by those who wished to publish a new edition. ' The Author found his book, instead of being improved with every new edition, according to his German original work, had by others, trusted with the revision, been altered in direct opposition to his own views; it had been, as he calls it, more and more spoiled, particularly by the absurd introduction of a poor pathology and the most miserable "diagnosis;" and last of all by a deceptive advice in regard to the "doses." Since the first edition of this book was published, twenty years ago, a host of bookmakers had contrived and published a variety of so-called " domestic books," mostly made after and out of this book as the first. The publishers, one pushing the other in the market, had looked more to their own interest in the sale than to the interest of the cause, and proposed still more of such "improvements," called by the Author " deceptions," while the Author felt more and more disinclined to enter into such disreputable competition. A popular work has to accommodate itself to the position of the people, but ought never submit to popular prejudices or popular errors, and if a medical work, it should not become an advice how to bungle, and at least not sanction such continual blunders. But nothing else is promoted by all such works, if they contain high sounding names of diseases, with a diagnosis and such like, and this is particularly the case in homoeopathy. True homoeopathy ought never to be guided by the name of a disease. And as we may see every day, that even physicians themselves are by far oftener by such names misled than (XV) XVI PREFACE. aided in the selection of the right medicine, how then, can persons, not physicians, and for whom these books are intended, ever learn from a few lines in a book how to distinguish one form of a disease from another, and how to make a true diagnosis ? It is a complete absurdity even to attempt it. Thus it has been done, and is still done, only for the sake of a more learned appearance. To write in technical terms, is a very cheap way of boasting. But as all men of common sense never trust a doctor whose mouth abounds with tech- nicalities, so they will throw aside a book which pretends to be a clear advice for everybody, and in which there is not a page but swarms with technical terms. But the worst of all in such homoeopathic books, is the addition of the doses of the medicine. It has been said " on both sides of the Atlantic, many have felt it to be a very serious defect in the former editions of this domestic guide," that no directions had been given with regard to the strength of the doses, and particularly the repeti- tion of the same medicine. The only advice which can be given at all, had been given in the introduction to the book, but they wanted such a direction in every chapter with regard to the different diseases or different medicines. But all such directions in particular, are nothing but wilful deceptions of the people. There is not the slightest doubt among physicians, however great the difference may be in their general views regarding the doses, that the strength and repetition depend altogether and ex- clusively on the peculiarity of the single case, and not at all on the name of the disease or the drug. How is it possible, that in nearly all such books for family use, a conspicuous part of every chapter is formed by directions, because they are very much liked by the ignorant, whether the medicines are to be taken dry or in water, how often and in how many hours they are to be repeated, &c, if all this depends, never on the disease or the name given to it, but on the character of the case ? A physician has to take into consideration the age of the patient, his constitution, his general disposition, his peculiarities, &c. The homceopathists themselves differ greatly in their views; some cannot get the doses strong enough, some prefer different medium preparations, and some give higher and the highest potencies ; all these things are still open questions with them ; they differ also with PREFACE. XVII regard to the rule for the repetitions. But they all do agree that it ought to depend in every single case of a patient, on the nature of the ca e, and not on a name. Hence, all directions given must be general, and can only, in a few instances, be given more in particular. In a domestic work, a selection has to be made of the more common and more frequently used drugs ; the family boxes contain less than one-tenth of the drugs used by homoeopathic physicians. The phy- sician should have at his command, a long series of triturations, dilu- tions and potencies of each of the drugs. For the family box, a selection has also to be made from the most useful gradations of these preparations. Thus, general rules only can be given, and they have to be studied in the introduction, and followed in each case. Every one who " feels this as a very serious defect," has to take another book. The Author of this has never been governed by the rule : " As the world wants to be deceived, it ought to be deceived." His intention was to aid the cause, and this alone has induced him to allow his book again to enter into the arena. CONSTANTINE HERING. Philadelphia, January 1st, 1858. B INTRODUCTION. ___.___ t This book is to be a guide, by the aid of which, in many cases of disease, a cure may be effected with homoeopathic medicines. Those whom experience has convinced of the advantages of the system of Hahnemann, will soon learn how to make use of it; and those who have had no opportunity of testing the merits of homoeopathy, it will give a chance of trying it, instead of the so-called domestic remedies. It is intended to be an adviser to many in cases of indisposition, when one will not or cannot consult a physician. To persons living in the country, it will prove valuable, when medical aid, especially at night, can be -had but with much trouble, expense and delay; but, with this guide at hand, relief may be obtained in many cases of disease. As this work is intended for the great mass of the community, and to make the homoeopathic doctrines intelligible and useful to all, the author has tried to express himself with distinctness and simplicity, in order to be generally comprehended. This common-place, familiar style may, to a certain extent, enable a great many to prescribe for them- selves. But the contents of this book can make no- one a homoeopathic physician. It has been said by the opponents of our doctrine, that an acquaintance with the old system of medicine was unnecessary to a homoeopathic physician: but this is a great error. No one can be a successful disciple of Hahnemann, who is not well versed, as Hahne- mann himself was, in the learning of the medical schools ; and it would be just as impossible for him to act judiciously without a know- ledge of anatomy, physiology, pathology, surgery, and materia medica, together with chemistry and botany, as for a man, ignorant of naviga- tion and seamanship, to carry a vessel with safety into port. If, in giving this work to the public, the author can aid in driving from common use the so-called domestic remedies, such as chamomile, (xix) XX DIRECTIONS FOR PRESCRIBING. hoarhound and other teas, paregoric, Epsom-salts, magnesia, and the whole host of so-called simple remedies, and also all the nostrums or patent medicines, some of which are to be found in almost every nur- sery, and the habitual use of which is such a prolific cause of innumer- able drug-diseases, he will have accomplished the chief object of its publication, and have substituted for an irrational and pernicious practice, a judicious and rational one. Directions for Prescribing. Examine the table of contents, until you find the chapter where the complaint is spoken of for which you wish to have advice. Do not look for the common name only which may be given to such a com- plaint by the Old School Doctors. Most of these names are calculated to mislead ; but look for the principal symptoms of which the patient complains. In order to facilitate this as much as possible the work is divided into two parts ; the first treats of the most common causes of disease ; the second, of diseases occurring most frequently in the different parts of the body. Therefore, when the cause of sickness is obvious, or probable, first examine what is said of it in Part I.; then see what is said of the disease in Part II. The .latter are treated of in regular succession, commencing with the head, neck, breast, and so on downward, enumerating under each head the diseases to which that part is principally subject, and concluding with General Diseases. By bearing this arrangement in mind, the reader will readily find what he may desire. Suppose a case of cold attended with headache and diarrhoea; look first for " Cold" in the first part, chapter second ; then for " Headache" in the second part, chapter first; then for " Diarrhoea" in the same, chapter tenth. If a person is taken sick, and the direct cause is not perceptible, but the patient complains of pains in various parts of the body, examine the affections to which these several parts are subject; thus you will readily find the remedy applicable. There" are often several causes, and one remedy is not suitable for them all; in this case give one remedy after another; select first one for the worst symptoms, or still better, for the symptoms which appeared last, or the cause which acted last. One, who has taken cold, will easily get his stomach out of order; one, whose stomach is INTRODUCTION. XXI disordered, will easily take cold. Consider then first, the last cause as the i*ore important one. Always give but one remedy, and only when this does no more good, another one. When the patient appears to suffer from several complaints at the same time, it is well to ascertain and note down all the symptoms, without referring to the book, lest the patient may state something different from what is really the case, and thereby lead to the applica- tion of an improper remedy. Having thus noted accurately the com- plaints of the patient, then inquire minutely into all the attending circumstances. 1st. The precise locality of the pain. 2d. Require of the patient a description of the pain, and to what it may be com- pared—whether tearing, cutting, beating, throbbing, &c. 3d. The occasion of its getting worse or better, according to the time of day— morning, evening or night—to the weather, whether damp, cold or dry—to the position of the body, whether when still, or in motion— whether before or after eating—after sleep, when touched, pressed, &c. 4th. Note the combination of symptoms, if any; for instance, when coughing is accompanied with headache; or headache with inclination to vomit; or with this inclination, shivering, &c. Having written down these observations, then look into the book for the prin- cipal symptoms, and you may find the proper remedy. Examine " Directions for patients to communicate their cases to a homoeopathic physician in writing," at the end of this introduction. You will find there a detailed statement of all questions to which answers are required, and upon which the selection of a real homoeo- pathic remedy depends. This is, to be sure, troublesome, but you can have no success without it; if you succeed without this troublesome examination, it is by chance, not by skill. If a doctor tells you that he is so learned and skilful, that he can prescribe without these ques- tions, that he, for instance, can see by the eyes, tongue, &c, what medicines to give, he is a deceiver, and those who believe in him, show that they know nothing whatever of true homoeopathy. Do not be discouraged because of the difficulties experienced at first in finding a suitable remedy, as these difficulties will vanish as soon as you become familiar with the book. If you give the wrong remedy, the patient will, of course, not get better, but it is not so bad as under the Old School practice. For XXII ADMINISTRATION OF MEDICINES, ETC. homoeopathic medicine will relieve, if it is the right one, but if it is not the right one, it will do no harm. Usually the disease remains as it was, sometimes it changes, you must then look into the book for a more suitable remedy. You can do harm with a homoeopathic remedy only if you give too much of it and too often, or if you give too many of them, one after the other, without waiting for their effects. Let every remedy have its time to act, as often stated in the book, and give con- sistently nothing else, as long as there is the slightest improvement. The greatest improvement will often take place without any other remedies. Administration of the Medicines and Repetition of Doses. The medicines may either be administered dry, by placing them upon the tongue, or dissolved in water. In most cases, two or three globules should be placed dry on the tongue. For infants, one globule will be amply sufficient for a dose ; if the tongue is dry add a few drops of water; even new-born infants are able to swallow that. Where repeated doses of the medicine at short intervals are required, the appropriate remedies should be administered in solution in water. For this purpose take a clean tumbler which has contained nothing but milk or water, else you must rinse it first with cold and afterwards with hot water, dry and heat it on a stove as much as the glass will bear, and then suffer it to cool. Half fill it with water, as pure as you can get it, put six or eight globules—or if a trituration, as much as will lie upon the point of a penknife—of the medicine into the water, and mix it thoroughly by repeatedly pouring it from one tumbler into another, or if you have only one tumbler, by means of a clean spoon. Keep the tumbler containing the medicine, well covered with a saucer or piece of paper, in a cool place, free of odors of any kind. When thus prepared, a tablespoonful to adults, or a teaspoonful to children may be given at a time. In violent cases the medicine may be repeated every one, two or three hours; but in chronic complaints or those of long standing, not oftener than once or twice a-day. INTRODUCTION XXIII Aftei the first dose of every medicine, you should watch closely if, and what changes take place in'the patient. In very dangerous and painful cases, wait ten to thirty minutes ; in other bad complaints, one to two hours ; and in chronic cases one to two days. It is then either better, worse, or the same. If better, give nothing more as long as the improvement lasts. If a sudden improvement ceases as suddenly, and the case gets worse, give another dose; this second dose may in some cases be followed at first by an increase of the complaint, but in a short time by a more decided and lasting improvement. If a complaint had got better from a remedy given for its cause, but the same cause has occasioned the same trouble again, give another suitable remedy. For instance, if the bad consequences of a fright had been removed by Opium, but a new fright had caused the same symptoms, give Aconitum. If you had taken Bryonia for the conse- quences of having taken cold, and had been relieved by it, but a fresh cold makes you worse again, take Aconitum. When the patient, after having taken the medicine once, or oftener, begins to feel better, however little, he should discontinue it, lest the healthful progress of the cure be interfered with by taking too much; but as soon as the improvement ceases the same medicine should be taken again; or in case the symptoms have altered, another more appropriate one. If the patient is worse after the first or second dose, the symptoms are either the same, but worse, or there are new symptoms instead, or in addition to the former ones. If the latter case, give another remedy, but if the former, when the medicine aggravates the symp- toms, and makes the patient temporarily worse, which is, nevertheless, a good sign, the patient should cease taking it, and wait for the effects. Should the aggravation be violent, it may be relieved by smelling camphor, or sweet spirits of nitre. It happens sometimes, that the most violent pains are increased very much by the smallest dose of the suitable remedy; in such cases give a spoonful of black coffee, and as soon as the aggravation has ceased, repeat the remedy, if made worse again, repeat the coffee, and so on until the improvement is permanent. A homoeopathic physician of the right stamp, a great master, wrote to the author, that he has given in this way with the greatest success, Colocynthis and coffee for colic ; Pulsatilla and Coffea for "rheumatic pains in the limbs; and Mercurius XXIV REGIMEN DURING HOMOEOPATHIC TREATMENT. and coffee for faceache; in the last case the cure was complete and permanent only after the fifteenth dose. In very tedious cases, when the right remedy had been chosen and given in but one dose, and when the patient, after a short aggravation of the symptoms, commenced to grow better, he will sometimes, in a few days or a week get worse again ; he who can now wait, and gives nothing more, will witness most remarkable cures, which will be the more permanent and complete, the less they were interfered with. If the beneficial effects of the medicine is interrupted, or ceases entirely, and the patient grows worse in consequence of taking cold, eating improper food, &c, he should take a medicine to counteract the cause which occasioned this interruption, and then again the medicine which he had previously taken. With regard to the external application of the Tinctures of Arnica, Ruta, &c, a lotion of sufficient strength for most purposes may be made by putting five or six drops of the tincture in half a tumbler of water. It may be applied to the injured part three or four time3 a-day, or as often as mentioned under each particular case. While taking homoeopathic medicines, strict attention should bo paid to the following rules of diet. Regimen of the Sick during Homoeopathic Treatment. The general rule to be observed is, that patients should partake of light, digestible, nourishing food to satisfy hunger; and of such drink as nature requires to allay thirst; and abstain from everything of a medicinal or injurious nature. In acute or febrile diseases, only the lightest and most simple kinds of nutriment are proper, viz. : Pure cold water in preference to all other drinks; or water with the addition of some sugar, raspberry or strawberry syrups, or quince and apple-jelly prepared without spices. Barley-water, rice-water, thin oatmeal gruel, panada, gum Arabic water, whey, milk and water, preparations of arrow-root, sago, tapioca, semolina, or tous-les-mois, all without any other seasoning than a little salt or loaf sugar, or one of the syrups above-mentioned. Toast-water; the toast should be made from stale bread, either home-made or from bakers who make use of neither potash, soda, or INTRODUCTION. XX^ alum ; the slices ought to be thin and thoroughly toasted, but not too brown, and never black. To make a good toast-water, pour boiling water on the toast while hot and let it stand. Ice-water is often injurious and increases the thirst. The water, after being filtered if impure, should be cooled if possible without putting the ice in it. Put the vessel, containing the water to be cooled, into another larger vessel, a wooden one is preferable, which contains pieces of ice, and let it remain till sufficiently cold. If this cannot be conveniently done, put a lump of ice in the water and take it out again as soon as the water is sufficiently cooled. Most kinds of ripe, succulent fruits, possessing little or no acidity, fresh or prepared by cooking, and eaten in moderate quantities : as ripe grapes, sweet apples, pears, peaches, raspberries. Some kinds of dried fruits : as apples, quinces, peaches, cherries, prunes, dates, figs, &c. All imported dried fruits, raisins, figs, &c, ought to be well washed before they are used, first in cold and afterwards in hot water. Sweet oranges when well ripened are allowed, but all decayed, spotted, and sour ones, ought to be avoided. With regard to apricots, nectarines, plums, gages, watermelons, and cherries, the physician should be consulted. No fruit whatever should be used in cases of .colic, diarrhoea, dysen- tery, cholera, and in croup, not even in convalescence. When the more violent symptoms of acute disease have subsided, and the appetite calls for more substantial food, a wider range may be gradually taken in the choice of aliment, and all the articles used which are allowed in chronic or long-continued diseases, viz. : All kinds of light and not too fresh bread, and plain biscuit con- taining no potash, soda, alum or other similar ingredients ; cakes made of meal, eggs, sugar, and a little butter; arrow-root, rice and other cakes not raised with fermenting powders ; light puddings and dumplings of wheat, rye, Indian meal, rice, tapioca, sago, oatmeal or bread, without wines, spices, or rich sauces ; hominy, rice, groats and pearl barley boiled with water, milk, or soup. Potatoes, turnips, carrots, beets, salsify, artichokes, spinach, cab- bage, cauliflower, green peas, or beans, the green pods of scarlet and French beans; and in some cases also, asparagus, mushrooms, dried peas, beans, lentils, millet, haricot-beans, &c. XXVI REGIMEN DURING HOMCEOPATHIC TREATMENT. Milk, raw or boiled, fresh buttermilk, whey, milk posset; but care should be taken not to use milk from unhealthy cows. Ice-creams with the syrup of strawberries and that of other allowed fruits, and not flavored with aromatics nor colored with cochineal or other injurious drugs. Pure, plain chocolate or cocoa, and in some cases weak black tea. Butter, free from any rancid or unusual taste, cream, mild fresh cheese, milk cheese, curds, and other simple preparations of milk; plain custards, pure sweet olive oil. Raw or boiled eggs and egg-tea, except in diarrhoea. Soups and broths of animal and vegetable substances otherwise allowed, seasoned with a little salt only ; beef tea,* mutton broth, and chicken water, after having been boiled for at least half an honr. Beef, mutton, all kinds of tongues, venison and wild game, the lean part of ham, pigeons, chickens and turkeys ; the latter only in the winter season and not in all cases. Cod, haddock, whiting, sole, turbot, trout, pike, perch, carp, mackerel, herrings. Salt fish may be taken after having been well soaked in cold water before it is used. Oysters, raw, roasted in the shell, or boiled in soup. Salt, and also sugar or molasses, may be used, but always with great moderation. Should any of the allowed articles of diet disagree with the patient, on account of some constitutional peculiarity, or the nature of the disease, they should be avoided by him, though they may be perfectly wholesome for others. The patient should not overload his stomach, nor oppress it with various or incongruous dishes. The demands of the appetite for solids are to be satisfied at stated and not too frequent periods, and at no other time. Regularity in the time of eating is of great importance. The diet of children at the breast should not be changed during their sickness ; but in such cases that of the mother should be regulated according to the preceding rules. * In order to make the best beef-tea, the beef should be cut up into small pieces thi size of dice and allowed to soak in the cold water for at least twelve hours before it i boiled. See page "62. INTRODUCTION. XXVII ARTICLES FORBIDDEN, Unless especially allowed by the Physician. The flesh of all young animals, and particularly veal; geese, tame ducks; the liver, lungs or tripe of animals; turtles, eels, crabs, old smoked or salt meat, sausages, mince pies, rancid butter, strong 01 decayed cheese, lard, fat pork, roast pig, fried and pickled oysters. Food prepared from blood, and much animal fat. All highly seasoned soups, sauces, pepperpot. Cakes prepared with much butter or with aromatics; pastry, pies; honey, and all kinds of colored confectionary; all kinds of candies, excepting rock and barley sugar. All kinds of nuts, and fruits not mentioned amongst the allowed articles. Vinegar of all kinds, salads or cucumbers prepared with it; pickles prepared with spices or greened with copper ; parsnips, parsley, celery, radishes, horse-radish, garlic, onions; all kinds of pepper, catsups, mustard, saffron, nutmeg, ginger, lemon or orange peel, vanilla, laurel leaves, bitter almonds, peach kernels or peach leaves, cloves, cinnamon, allspice, fennel, aniseed, sage, thyme, mint, &c. All kinds of distilled and fermented liquors ; coffee and green tea; lemonade and drinks prepared with acids. All natural and artificial mineral waters. Colored toys, if the colors are not fixed, are on all occasions to be withheld from children, also vulcanised gum elastic toys. All perfumery, particularly musk, hartshorn, camphor, paccioli, Eau de Cologne, Eau de Luce, or other aromatic waters, strong smelling flowers, cosmetics and scented or medicated tooth-powder must be avoided. Tobacco, if used at all, should be used very moderately. Every medicine, excepting those prescribed by the physician, ought to be avoided ; not only all medicines procured at the shops, and all such as are empirical, but every description of domestic medicines, as XXVIII REGIMEN DURING HOMOEOPATHIC TREATMENT. all manner of herb teas, syrups, medicated poultices and irritating or medicinal substances applied to the skin. Blood-letting by the lancet, or by leeches and cups, and laxative injections, except of those of cold or lukewarm water, are likewise forbidden. Hot baths are to be strictly avoided, especially baths impregnated with herbs, sulphur, and other medicaments. Tepid or cold sponging baths, or rubbing with a wet towel, may be used, by most patients daily. For other employments of cold water the advice of an expe- rienced physician must be sought. Linen, cotton, silk or leather, worn next the skin is preferable to flannels, excepting for persons much exposed to the weather, or for little children. The patient should, if possible, use moderate exercise, in the open air for an hour or more daily; and his chamber should be well venti- lated every day. Rooms, papered with yellow paper, or stained or painted yellow, and yellow transparent window-shades or curtains should be avoided, the best color for the walls of a sick room is a light rose-color, particu- larly alternate stripes of white and light rose-color. The transparent window-shades should be of a grayish or light blue tint. Physical labor, which gives the mind the proper direction to use- fulness, while it exercises the body, should be daily used in chronic dis- eases as far as the strength will allow of it. Homoeopathic medicines should not be taken too soon after eating; and for about an hour after taking them the patient had better abstain from eating or the use of tobacco, and, if possible, from much mental or bodily exertion. INSTRUCTIONS FOR PATIENTS HOW TO COMMUNICATE THEIR CASES TO A PHYSICIAN BY LETTER. The patient should first describe his complaint in his own way, as though these instructions were not before him, viz: their commencement, progress and presumptive causes. The age and sex of the patient, and whether he be married or single, should of course be communicated to the physician, if these circumstances be not already known. It would be well to mention whether the patient is of a large or diminutive frame of body, meagre or stout, feeble or robust. Whether he is easy to take cold, and very susceptible to other external impressions. Is the complexion florid, or pale, or dark ? What is the color and condi- tion of the hair, and the color of the eyes ? Concomitant bodily infirmities, as hernia or rupture, prolapsus uteri, curvature of the spine, lameness, &c, should be made known. Is the disposition of the patient mild and placable, or boisterous and violent ? firm or yielding, lively and commnnicative, or reserved and taciturn; anxious, apprehensive, or timorous, or irritable, &c. ? Are his mental emo- tions of long continuance, or are they very transient ? The patient is next required to give an accurate and particular de- scription of the incidents or symptoms of his disease, such as pains and other morbid sensations. He should describe precisely the region or part, and on which side of the body they are seated, and how large is the space they occupy. Whether the pains are obtuse, and may be denominated dull or pressing, or whether they are sticking or piercing, rending, throbbing, perforating, pulling or drawing, pinching, snatch- ing, gnawing, cutting, griping, burning, obtusely prickling or crawling, itching, tickling, numb or as if the part were asleep, as if from a sprain (xxix) XXX INSTRUCTIONS FOR P-ATIENTS, or contusion, or whether they consist of several of these sensations combined, or may be. more accurately represented by other termi.— Are the symptoms continued, or do they remit or vary in intensity from time to time ? Do they recur at particular times of day, or at certain intervals of one or more days ? Is their recurrence, aggravation, diminution or cessation connected with the exercise of any bodily function ? Do they arise or disappear, are they increased or dimin- ished by exercise, or during rest, by lying down, or sitting, by stretch- ing out, or bending up the body, by walking, by standing, by warmth or cold, in the open air or within doors, by light, by noises, by talking, by eating, by drinking or swallowing soon after eating, by the motion of the affected part or by touching or pressing it, by mental emotion —fright, anger, during bodily or mental exercise, reading, &c, &c.— Are the symptoms associated with anxiety greater or less ? do they impair the powers of thought or recollection, or the due exercise of the senses ? (seeing, hearing, &c.)—Are the motions or functions of the affected part in any way impaired or disabled ? or is the local disease associated with complaints in other parts, and with what? does it alternate with other complaints ? Is the affected part red or swollen ? Is the swelling hard or soft or painful to the touch, and does it leave an indentation after pressure with the finger ? During the sufferings of individual parts or functions of the body, (even when these functions are not the principal ones) further infor- mation is to be given respecting the state of the patient's mind ; whether he suffers patiently, or is inclined to weep, to be morose, passionate, despairing, greatly anxious or fearful, &c, or whether the mind is remarkably affected in these respects by the disease. Are the intellectual functions, power of thought, memory or desire or ability for mental or bodily exercise weakened ?—Aberrations of mind, morbid affections of the moral and intellectual faculties are to be de- scribed by the narrators strictly as they are manifested by the patient's words or conduct. Is there dizziness, or " a dull, heavy sensation" of the head —Disor- ders of sight ? Does the patient see objects indistinctly as through a veil or mist ? Does he see dark specks floating before the eyes, or sparks, or false colors ? Do objects appear double or quivering ? Is the patient short—or long-sighted ? Is the pupil contracted, dilated or very changeable ? Are the eyes watery, red, inflamed, averse to the HOW TO COMMUNICATE WITH PHYSICIANS. XXXI light ? Do the ey« -lids frequently adhere together ? Do they open and close properly ? Are they affected by convulsive motions or twitchings, 01 beset with sties ? Are there specks upon the cornea ? Disorders of hearing : Is there a roaring, whizzing, or ringing noise in the ears ? Is the ear-wax dry or fluid, oozing from the ears, or foetid ? Are the nostrils obstructed ? Is there a cold in the head with or without a discharge from the nose? Sneezing? Sense of smell? Soreness and rawness of the nostrils, or a bad smell from them ? Bleed- ing at the nose ? Are the teeth incrusted with tartar, loose, decayed, and have any fallen out or been extracted ? Are the gums pale or red, hard or soft, spongy, swollen, apt to bleed, or retracted from the neck of the teeth ? Is there a dryness of the mouth ? Or excessive flow of saliva ? Is the saliva viscid, slimy, foetid, bloody ? Is the surface of the tongue, tonsils, uvula, palate, fauces or lips affected with blisters, swellings', or ulcers, or covered with mucus ? Is the tongue dry or moist, acutely sensible, chapt, sore or raw, clean or covered with fur (white or yellow) ?—Are the functions of speech, chewing, or motion of the tongue unembarrassed ? Is swallowing performed without difficulty ? (Is the swallowing of fluids or solids or of the spittle attended by no inconvenience ?) Has the patient a bad breath? Is the taste natural or absent, slimy, salt, bitter, sour, foul ?—Have the different articles of food their proper taste, or are they insipid, slimy, bitter, sour, salt, &c.?—How is the appetite and thirst? What articles of food or drink are preferred ? What complaints arise after eating and drinking? Is the patient troubled with frequent belching of wind, with or with- out taste,—or does it taste of the food just eaten, or of what ? Is there regurgitation of fluids from the stomach, or a confluence of saliva in the mouth ? and of what taste in either case ? Is there vomiting of water, saliva, or mucus, of an acrimonious, acrid or bitter taste, or of a putrid taste and smell, or of a yellow, green or bloody aspect ? Does the patient vomit coagulated blood, or food ? Is the. e sickness or nausea ? Is the abdomen tense, full, hard, or empty and retracted ? In the case of pains or other complaints in the abdomen, the particular region in which they are seated should be accurately defined (for ex- ample : pit of the stomach, region of the navel, immediately below XXXII INSTRUCTIONS FOR PATIENTS, the ribs, in which side, &c). Is the patient troubled with flatulency? Is there frequent rolling and rumbling in the bowels ? Does the wind readily escape, or is it retained, and what are the complaints which it seems to give rise to ? Are the evacuations from the bowels effected with ease or difficulty ? How frequent are they ? what is their con- sistence ? are they faecal or slimy, or bloody, &c. ? What is their color ? Are there any complaints immediately preceding, during or following a stool ? Are there any large or small worms discharged ? Are there abrasions or sore places, warts, or piles in the rectum or anus, and do the latter sometimes protrude or bleed ? What com- plaints arise before, or during, or after the urinary discharge ? And is the discharge sparing or copious ? What is the aspect of the urine ? (is it clear, high-colored, or turbid ?) Does it soon change after evac- uation and deposit mucus or sand, or a white, or red sediment? Does it contain blood, pus, or gravel ? Men are to give every information in relation to the sexual functions and the genital organs. Are there any discharges, what, and when ? &c Females should relate every circumstance in relation to menstruation. A t what age did it first appear ? And have they been regular ever since ? How are the periods now ; are they regular, too frequent or is the interval too long Too copious or sparing ? How long did they continue while the patient was in health and how long since she he- came diseased ? What complaints precede, exist with or follow men- struation ? What influence upon the discharge has motion or rest, &c. ? Is the discharge red, dark, clotted, foetid ?—Is the patient troubled with the whites ? and how long ? Constantly, or before or after menstruation ? bland or acrimonious ? watery or thick ? white, yellow, or greenish ? foetid ?—Has she ever had the green sickness, or uterine diseases, and in what did they consist ? Finally intimations concerning sexual desire, and its influence upon the health are desirable for the physician. When the patient is or has been married : Has she had children, and has she often conceived ?—Has she ever had a miscarriage, and how often? How was it occasioned and what were the accompanying symptoms, (for example : great loss of blood) ?—What complaints were there during pregnancy ?—What were the incidents during labor and child-bed ? Were injuries, haemorrhage, or diseases attendant ? or are any complaints remaining therefrom ?—Did the patient nurse HOW TO COMMUNICATE WITH PHYSICIANS. XXXII] her children at the breast? And was the nursing attended or followed by any complaint ?—Has she suffered with sore nipples, or inflamed breasts ? And from this cause or others, has she indurations of the breasts ? At what age did menstruation cease ? and with what complaints was the cessation accompanied ? or with what effect on the hea th ? Is the breathing short, or otherwise oppressed ? Can the patient ascend a height ? Is the breathing asthmatic, wheezing or rattling ? Does the patient make any complaint on drawing a deep breath ? How is the voice, rough, hoarse, hollow, &c ? Is there a cough ? is it slight and short, or hard and difficult ? does it seem to come deep from the breast ? do the paroxysms of coughing last long, and are they attended by swelling of the face and loss of breath ? How does the cough sound ? Is it dry, or followed by expectoration ? Is expecto- ration easy or difficult, sparing or copious, mucous, purulent, resem- bling saliva, bloody, (interspersed or tinged with blood, and of a bright, or dark color, or is it pure blood ?) white, yellow, green, ash-colored, &c. ? Does it taste salt, sweet, bitter, or what taste has it ? Is there a superabundance of mucus in the larynx or trachea, or does it seem to lie deep in the breast ? In what part of the organs of respiration is seated the irritation to cough ? and from whence proceeds the matter expectorated ? Is there palpitation of the heart ? or throbbing in other parts of the body ? Does the patient suffer from transient flushes of heat ? He can perhaps describe the condition of the pulse. Are the glands under the ear, under the jaw, in the arm-pits, on the head, in the groins, swollen or suppurated ? Is the patient afflicted with goitre, or an enlargement of the gland over the wind pipe. Are there swellings of the bones or joints, are there tubercles or swellings, or swollen or knotted veins ? Are there any parts red, swollen, and painful ? Are the hands or feet swollen ? Is there lameness of one or more of the limbs ? Are there cramps or spasms, tremor, twitching or starting, stupor or falling asleep, or other morbid sensations in any of the limbs ? Is the skin pallid, yellow, &c. ? Is it dry or inclined to sweat, or otherwise in an unhealthy condition ? Is there itching of the skin (tickling, slight prickling, or a sensation of biting, burning, crawling, stroking?) is it relieved by scratching, or is the sensation thereby only changed for another ? The presence in the skin of wheals, swellings, boils, chilblains and corns is to be men- C XXXIV INSTRUCTIONS FOR PATIENTS. tioned, and the attendant sensations described. Also cutaneous erup- tions, as miliary eruptions or rashes, spots, pimples, vesicles and pustules are to be described, viz : their seat, color, abundance, size; whether filled with water or pus, whether covered with scabs or crusts, and their duration. Also, tetter, scaliness, scald, brown and blue spots, moles, freckles, cracks or fissures of the skin, blisters with corrosive discharges, ulceration at the angles of the mouth, warts, swellings of the bones, chafing of the skin, malformation of the nails, falling out of the hair, scales or scabs on the head. When there are ulcers, whether they are inflamed, or overgrown with what is called proud flesh, whether their margins are elevated, whether they easily bleed, or their bottom looks red, black, or as if containing a fatty substance ; whether the matter issuing from them is copious, thin, thick, bloody, white, yellow, black, acrimonious, foetid. Is there chilliness, or a feeling of heat ? Chilliness, heat, or sweat of particular parts ?—Sweating of the feet, whether warm, cold or foetid ? When the patient has fever, does the paroxysms consist of a cold, hot and sweating stage ? Do they alternate with or succeed each other ? What is the order of their succession ? With what in- tensity, and how long does each continue ? Are they general, or do they affect particular parts only ? with or without thirst ? with pale- ness or redness of the face and skin ? Are there other symptoms ac- companying the paroxysm of fever (cold, hot and sweating stage)? Particular paroxysms of disease, as swooning, cramps, epilepsy, spasms of the stomach, asthma, &c, are to be accurately described in their commencement, course and termination. Whether they are changed, aggravated or relieved at certain hours of the day, during the performance of any bodily function, or by certain postures of the body. Does the patient sleep long, or is he restless, and is the sleep inter- rupted by frequent waking or startings? Does he talk or moan in his sleep, or has he the night-mare ? Is the sleep disturbed by anxious dreams, and of what character ? In what posture does the patient lie during sleep ? Is he accustomed to sleep with his mouth open ? How is his strength ? Is he obliged to lie down, or can he remain up ? Does he feel languid, weary, or sluggish, &c. ? Is he emaciated ? The patient should relate his previous diseases,—particular cuta- neous diseases,—itch, eruptions of the head, tetter, erysipelas, small- HOW TO COMMUNICATE WITH PHYSICIANS. XXXV pox, measles, pimples on the face or any itching eruption of the skin. —Also, whether he has had scrofula (glandular swellings) rickets, gout, rheumatism, piles, difficult dentition, worms, cramps, epilepsy (convul- sions), hooping-cough, inflammation of the lungs, or other inflamma- tions, intermittent or remittent fever, jaundice, haemorrhages, diseases of the teeth, apoplexy and palsy, sweating of the feet, ulcers, or other diseases. He relates how long he labored under either of these affec- tions, how long he was under treatment for them, what were the remedies employed, and what he has used for the existing disease. Has he resorted to medicated baths, herb teas of any kind, blood- letting, emetics or cathartics, teas " for purifying the blood," valerian tea, "strengthening medicines," Peruvian bark, &c. And is he accus- tomed to the use of either of these remedies ? Is he in the habitual use of distilled or fermented liquors, coffee, tea, much fat victuals, acid, or high-seasoned food ?—Does he partake of much food, and what ?— His manner of living should be described, and whether he is accus- tomed to the use of woolen clothing, and whether his habitation is in a wholesome condition.—When passions or emotions of the mind re- tard recovery, or have caused and sustained the disease, he should not conceal these circumstances from the physician. For example: disap- pointed love, blighted hopes, grief, domestic unhappiness, want. Neither should he conceal the fact of former habits of licentiousness, if any such have existed, and which may have contributed to his disease. If he has always been of a weakly frame of body, probably his disease is hereditary,; and if when an infant, he did not receive his nourishment at the breast, but was brought up " by hand," the physi- cian should be informed of the fact. LIST OF MEDICINES. Aconitum. Dulcamara. Rheum. Antimonium crudum. Euphrasia. Rhus. Apium virus. Ferrum. Ruta. Arnica. Glonoine. Sambucus. Arsenicum. Hepar. Sanguinaria. Belladonna. Hepar, 3d trituration. Sccale. Bryonia. Hydrophobium. Silicea. Calcarea. Hyoscyamus. Spigelia. Capsicum. Ignatia. Spongia. Carbo vegetabilis. Ipecacuanha. Spongia, 3d trituration. Causticum. Lachesis Staphysagria. Cepa. Lycopodium. Stramonium. Chamomilla. M ercurius. Sulphur. China. Natrum muriaticum. Sulphur, 3d trituration. Cina. Nux moschata. Tartar emeticus. Cocculus. Nux vomica. Tartar emeticus, 3d tn Coffea. Opium. turation. Colocynthis. Phosphorus. Variolinum. Crocus. Phosphoric acid. Veratrum. Cuprum metallicum. Platinum. Drosera. Pulsatilla. TINCTURES FOR EXTERNAL USE. Arnica. Cantharidea. Ruta. Calendula. Hypericum. The medicines should be kept in a dry and not too warm place, free from odors, and excluded from a bright light. (XXXVI) PART FIRST. OF THE MOST COMMON CAUSES OF DISEASE. CHAPTER I. AFFECTIONS OF THE MIND. Sudden Emotions. After an agreeable surprise, if the pleasurable sensations are accompanied by great excitement, trembling, fainting, &c, which may happen to women and children, give Coffea, particularly if they cry, weep, or laugh. After a common fright, caused by a sudden noise, &c, give Opium if it can be given immediately; but if a half hour, or an hour should have elapsed, Aconite is preferable. After a fright, with great terror, Opium is the best remedy. Fright with vexation, Aconite; if followed by sadness or grief, Ignalia. If children after being frightened are still fearful, have great heat in the head and twitching around the mouth, give Opium. If the fright is followed by pains in the forehead, sour vomit- ing or eructation, weakness and cold perspiration, or stupor with internal hent, agitation and heaviness in the abdomen, or coldness of the body, with trembling or nervous twitching, b 2 (1), 2 THE MOST COMMON CAUSES OF DISEASE. oppression of the chest, stiffness of the limbs, Unnatural sleep with loud snoring, give Opium in water, every fifteen to twenty minutes a tea-spoonful, if better, less often. Should within an hour the difficult breathing be the same, particularly after vomiting or coughing, as if the patient would suffocate, the face turn bluish, children weep much and grasp grown per- sons with their hands, tremble as if in distress, breathing more like whistling than snoring, give Sambucus. If the difficult breathing increases to suffocation, violent pains appear, especially in the pit of the stomach, give Aconite. If the fright is followed by twitching of the limbs, or convul- sions, insensibility, difficult breathing, involuntary evacuations, give Opium; or, if this should have no effect within half an hour, Ignatia, or Glonoine. If their sight fails, if they sink down, become pale as death, or alternately pale and red, have sometimes twitchings around the mouth, jerking of the limbs or spreading asunder of the fingers, give Glonoine; if th^ back becomes stiff, Ignatia. When children have been frightened into fits, and scream, tremble, have twitchings in the arms and legs—if the head is hot, with much perspiration and redness of the face, give Opium; if no better in half an hour, Belladonna; but if they become very pale, Ignatia; if very cold, with involuntary evacuations, Veratrum. In cases of simple vomiting, sickness of the stomach, or pains, caused by a fright, Aconite. For diarrhoea, caused by any sudden mental emotion, give Opium; and if the patient is excited, Aconite. If this proves ineffectual, Veratrum, or Pul- satilla, according to the symptoms under " Diarrhoea," Part IT. For fainting, after a fright, Opium; if the patient becomes cold, sprinkle his face and bathe his feet with cold water; if it returns, let him smell camphor spirit at short intervals. When, after a fright, there is a rush of blood to the head, give first Opium: if this fails, Aconite, and if it returns within six or eight hours, Belladonna. When, after a. fright, a person continues to be greatly agitated CHAP. I. AFFECTIONS OF THE MIND. 3 Belladonna will afford relief; sometimes Mercurius, according to the symptoms, to be given hereafter. I? fright or mortification produces derangement of the mind, Belladonna is to be given, if the blood rushes to the head, the pupil's of the eyes are large, face red, burning hot, nose dry, throat and neck sore to the touch, if the patient cannot bear any thing about the neck, cannot sleep at all, or is raving mad, will run away, or fears what he imagines to see before his eyes. If the throat and neck are very sensible to the slightest touch, if the patient talks incessantly, changing the subject often, give Lachesis. If the patient is very indifferent, or low spirited, alternating with paroxysms of laughter, or if he displays much pride and contempt for others, or fears the approach of death— or when, with females, it is accompanied with a copious men- strual discharge, give Platinum; should this discharge, however, be diminished or suppressed, give Pulsatilla. If Belladonna has given no relief, and the patient remains much agitated, the least exertion producing trembling and rushing of blood to the head, cannot sleep on account of frightful visions, is worse at night, cannot bear the heat of the bed, wishes to escape, or is quarrelsome, or complains of his friends and of all about him. give Mercurius. Fear is frequently combined with fright, and the same reme- dies may be used. When children are timid, Aconite in the evening, or Belladonna in the morning. If children fear to be alone, Arsenicum; if they are afraid of every stranger, Pulsa- tilla. Give these medicines only once, and let several days pass without repeating or giving any other medicine. For diarrhoea, caused by fear, give Veratrum, particularly when they are cold and tremble; when internally hot and externally cold, or the body hot and the limbs cold, Pulsatilla. If the head is hot, Opium. If the fear continues, if they imagine that they see dead persons, or that thieves are in the house, concealed here or there, give Arsenicum, 4 THE MOST COMMON CAUSES OF DISEASE. When other symptoms appear, particularly stupefaction, difficulty of swallowing, convulsions, laughing when asleep, starting, constant apprehension, or a desire to escape, give Hyos- cyamus. Grief and Sorrow. The consequences of grief and sorrow, if long continued, are worse than those of other affections ; without the proper moral remedy, medicines are useless. Whoever cannot find the former, need not expect relief from the latter. The first sudden consequences are, however, in most cases soon over- come by medicines. For silent, inward grief, combined with mortification, for sup- pressed vexation which we cannot quiet, for silent grief caused by misplaced affections, or in consequence of losses which we cannot forget—for something continually preying upon the mind, give Ignatic, which, in some cases, may be repeated once or twice within a day or two. For vomiting, or pains in the stomach, or headache and giddi ness, give also Ignatia ; and if it fails, Phosphoric acid. Sleeplessness, after depressing events, sorrow or losses of friends, when night after night passes without any sleep, one dose of Sulphur will often give relief. When fits are caused by grief or mortification, give Ignatia first; if this does not relieve, give Opium during the attack, and after it, Phosphoric acid. When grief is caused by disappointment in love, give Ignatia, particularly if one cheek turns very often red. When the patient is very quiet, taciturn, or has a slow fever, give Phosplwric acid, especially if both cheeks are sometimes red. If the disappointed lover is more mortified, indignant, Staphisagria. If jealous, violent in his motions, quarrelsome or delirious, give Hyoscyamus, which may also be given if lovers quarrel much. If he talks much and disconnectedly, changing the sub- ject of his conversation abruptly, talks to every person about his being jealous, or is peevish and malicious, feels worse when awaking or after eating, Lachesis. When contempt of persons, CHAP. I. AFFECTIONS OF THE MIND. 5 heretofore esteemed or loved, is shown in acts or words, some- times with a temptation to kill such persons, give Platinum. After grief and loss of sleep in consequence of watching at the sickbed of dear persons, if headache and nervousness follow, give Cocculus; if there is great exhaustion, the patient scarcely able to speak, Phosphoric acid; if entire sleeplessness, continuing for many nights, Sulphur. When mortificttions have produced a derangement of intellect, give Belladonna, Hyoscyamus, Mercurius, or Platinum, accord- ing to the symptoms stated above. If all things appear larger, Hyoscyamus; if much smaller, or very little, like playthings, Platinum; if dark, black, double, Belladonna or Mercurius; and if Mercurius does not improve any more let it be followed by one dose of Sulphur. When caused by home sickness, and the patient cannot sleep— is hot and flushed in the face, give Hyoscyamus; and if this should not give relief within a few days, the cheeks only being red, a hot feeling in the back of the throat, Capsicum. If followed by a short hacking cough every morning for half an hour, Drosera. If the patient is evidently wasting away, does not wish to speak, perspires much in the morning, is sleepy and dull, and will not eat, says every thing he eats lies heavily and oppres- sively in the stomach, Phosphoric acid. When the patient is very weak, trembling, uneasy, agitated, particularly during the night, chilly, perspiring much, give Mercurius. If grief, fright, anxiety or fear promote the monthly dis- charge, or increase or check it, or bring on other symptoms with it, give Platinum. For protracted effects of grief and sorrow, when the patient is irritable, cross, uneasy, fearful, dejected, anticipating danger, dreads the future, frets and grieves constantly, is sleepy during the day, but cannot rest at night, perspires night and day, loses the hair, the voice becomes feeble, give Staphisagria. If he is contemptuous, refuses to speak, is feverish, and loses flesh, give Phosphoric acid. If quarrelsome, obstinate, sensitive, and mani- festing great anxiety, give Mercurius. 2* 6 THE MOST COMMON CAUSES OF DISEASE. Vexation. Ghamomilla generally answers best when the vexation is attended with violent fits of anger. If vexation causes a bitter taste, retching and vomiting of bile^ headache, oppression at the pit of the stomach, or stomach, cutting pains in the bowels, diarrhoea, hot fever with thirst, red- ness of the face and eyes, agitation, bilious fever or jaundice, give Ghamomilla, which may, in some cases, be repeated in from six to twelve hours, according to circumstances. If the patient is cold and chilly, has belching, vomiting or rising of bitter water, has either constipation or diarrhoea, feels better when at rest, give Bryonia, and if it produces no effect in eight hours, give Veratrum. In case of fever with restlessness, pressure in the stomach, like a stone, Aconitum. When food or drink, taken immediately after being vexed, produces bad taste, bitter eructations, vomiting of bile, pain in the bowels, heat of the head, uneasiness, disturbed sleep, &c, give Ghamomilla once or twice; but if this medicine loses its effect, give Pulsatilla, Nux vomica, or Golocynth. Il a person had drunk chamomile tea, and had afterwards been vexed, or taken, improperly, chamomile tea for the fever following vexation, give Goffea, and if this does not relieve, give Nux vomica. If, after this, the pains still remain, give Golocynth. If the patient is of a mild disposition, and Golocynth does not effect a perfect cure,' give Pulsatilla. If grief or shame is the consequence of vexation, give Ignatia. If vexation is followed by coldness or chills, and the patient remains cross, give Bryonia; should Bryonia not suffice, the patient being one who is inclined to become very angry, or who has been taking wine or liquor, give Nux vomica. If the vexa- tion is accompanied by just and violent indignation and abhor- rence of the occurrence which induced it, if this is expressed by pushing away things on the table with the hands, give Staphis- agria. When there are pains in the bowels, especially if they occur after meals, or are increased by taking food, Golocynth may be given. CHAP. I. AFFECTIONS OF THE MIND. 7 Vexation may cause restlessness, want of sleep on account of heat, as if too much blood were in the head, short breathing, palpitation, then give Aconitum. Restlessness and distress, want of sleep from anxiety, cold- ness, fear of being alone, fear of dying, want of sufficient breath, Arsenicum. If vexation produces cough, or palpitation of the heart, asthma, spasms in the chest, so that the patient is threatened with suffo- cation, give Ghamomilla. In this case it will be well also, to put the hands for a short time in cold water; and if this fails, to bathe the arms in warm water until he is better. If worse after midnight, give Arsenicum; if worse towards morning, or if the patient seems to lose his reason, Veratrum. Anger. When persons of violent temper feel unwell, after having been in a passion, give Nux vomica; if the cheeks are burning, red, face red, hot, perspiration warm, if disposed to be in motion, Chamomilla; and if disposed to be quiet, Bryonia. Anger with indignation in persons inclined to much reflec- tion, who complain of soreness all over, are sleepy during the day, and sleepless during the night, Slaphisagria ; if chilly and feverish alternately, with thirst and vomiting of bile, generally worse towards morning, Nux vomica. Internal chilliness without chills, worse from afternoon till mid- night, Pulsatilla. If anger and vexation produce mental alienation, fear of death, anxiety or laughing and crying, Platinum. When little chil- dren get into so violent a rage as to lose their breath or fall into convulsions, give Ghamomilla; if they lose their breath, appa- rently from phlegm in the throat, with rattling, give Tartar emetic. If they shriek and weep violently which seems to cause coughing, or if the anger and crying cause a jumping or beating of the heart, give Arnica. Arnica must be given if anger causes blood-spitting or a sen- sation as if beaten all over (like Slaphisagria), most in the lack; 8 THE MOST COMMON CAUSES OF DISEASE. b\ ter taste, foul breath, and if lying there as if stunned by a bluw, head hot, feet cold; or if at first very irritable, afterwards stupid, or if urine and stool pass involuntarily. If they con- tinue to cry and will not be pacified, the blood rushing to the head, they talk confusedly, or are senseless, give Belladonna, and if this fails to relieve, Hepar. Sensitiveness and Irritability Cause indispositions with many persons, who are too much affected by even trifling emotions. If owing to this great sen- sitiveness there should be inward vexation, sleeplessness, and a disposition to shed tears at the most trifling and imaginary causes, give Coffea. The patient must, of course, abstain from drinking coffee. Persons with great irritability of the whole nervous system, particularly the senses, inclination to lie down, aversion to fresa air, a stubborn and refractory disposition, and in females, if the menstrual periods are irregular, give Nux vomica; to persons more tranquil, easily moved to tears, the menstrual period too late and insufficient, or suppressed, Pulsatilla. If more fretful, give Ignatia; if more peevish and still passionate, give Gha- momilla. If patients are greatly excited, form plans, and are exceedingly lively, particularly in the evening, give China. If the pains are distracting, give Coffea; if the patient has'fever with a quick, hard pulse, give Aconitum; and if three or four doses of this fail to afford relief, Chamomilla. When persons become flighty or distracted from excessive pain, are subject to its recurrence, are catching cold from every change of weather, and are worse by being touched, give China. Should this prove ineffectual within six hours, Mercurius. If violent pains bring on delirium and madness, Veratrum. If very different mental emotions or mental exertion cause headache, faintness, or determination of the blood to the heart, take Glonoine, as often as necessary, but if great weakness and fatigue remain, take Cuprum. CHAP. II. CONSEQUENCES OF CCLDS. 9 CHAPTER II. CONSEQUENCES OF COLDS. The most common results of taking cold are catarrh and cough, sometimes fever, colic, diarrhoea, pains in the teeth, ears, or limbs. When selecting a medicine, it may be necessary to refer to the chapter where these disorders are more fully treated. Here we shall only mention what is to be done in the most common cases. The first rule to be observed, in order to prevent bad effects from catching cold, is to keep warm, and see that the feet are kept dry ; to abstain from the use of spirituous liquors, which in some cases may aggravate the complaint; and eat less animal food and no spices. When you feel that you have caught cold, without any decided consequences having yet manifested themselves, after having been in a cold dry wind, take Aconitum; drink a large tumbler of cold water before going to bed; cover yourself well and try to perspire. Either next morning, or before noon, the symptoms will generally have disappeared. If children cannot be induced to drink water, or if you know from expe- rience that it does not produce perspiration, water and milk in equal pre por- tion, taken very warm, may cause perspiration. Robust laboring men or women, who, after having overheated themselves, catch cold, may take in the evening, on going to bed, a glass of hot water and sugar, with a small portion of brandy or rum ; intense heat will be relieved by Glonoine. To a person, who in winter has become quite stiff with cold and wet, give a.cup of strong coffee, without milk, and if this should prevent sleep at night, Nux vomica. If children have been out in the snovv, snow-balling, skating, or playing out-doors in winter, have perspired, perhaps got their feet wet, and taken cold, give Glonoine, especially if the head is hot, face red, pulse very quick, eyes red, and the arteries of the neck beating; also if they hold their head,or want to have the forehead pressed, say the head is too large, or begin to rave. Afterwards it may be necessary to give Belladonna or Bryonia. When perspiration has been checked by taking cold, and is followed by headache, earache, toothache, or pain in the bowels, give Ghamomilla; by pain in the ears alone, Rhus. 10 THE MOST COMMON CAUSES OF DISEASE. Ghamomilla, given to females in their confinement, often produces perspiration. If they complain of headache, especially on the right side, occasioned by a draught of cold air,—or of pain in the neck, in consequence of sitting up and the neck having been uncovered, give Belladonna; if the pain extends to the shoulders, being partly brought on by holding the child, Rhus will remove it; if the pain is more on the left side, is throbbing and shooting, and effects the lower jaw, the arms and the chest, Byronia will afford relief; but if mostly confined to the tem- ple, the eye, the upper jaw, or to the chest in the region of the heart, Spigelia should be given. When a person, while perspiring freely, gets drenched by a shower of rain, give Rhus. Should no relief be experienced within ten or twelve hours, and if the patient had previously over-exerted himself, give Bryonia. When in the latter part of summer a sudden change takes place in the weather from hot to cold, and almost every body complains of having taken cold, Belladonna; but if the cold, wet weather continues for a long time, give Nux moschata, par- ticularly for children, women and easily affected men. For cold in the head, from wet feet give Cepa; for cough and pains in the limbs, Rhus. For other complaints, one of the following: Ghamomilla, Pulsatilla, Mercurius. For suppressed ^perspiration of the feet select one of the above remedies, or Cuprum or Silicea. If these give no relief, heat some bran in an oven, and cover the bottom of a small tub with it to the depth of three or four inches, place your feet upon this and pack the remainder around the legs, so as to cover them over the calves. The bran ought to be as hot as it can be borne. Keep the feet in this bran-hat'i for half an hour. Checked sweating of the feet, followed by violent pains in the legs, has beer, cured by putting the soles of the feet upon hot bricks, sprinkled with table salt. If catarrh results from a cold, and the patient can neither smell nor taste, give Pulsatilla. For catarrh, with heat in the eyes and head, soreness of the nose, give Belladonna. If the nose is entirely stopped up, Nux vomica or Ipecacuanha. If northeast wind, blowing from the sea, causes a running OHAP. II. CONSEQUENCES OF COLDS. 11 cold in the head, worse at night and in the room, better in the open air, with headache, running of the eyes, heat and thirst, take Gepa. If a catarrh has been checked by fresh exposure to cold, the pa- tient is worse in the afternoon, or is dejected and fretful, give Pulsatilla', if he is worse at night or towards morning, or very cross, sensitive, and excited, China. If an eruption has been checked, give Ipecacuanha, and if that does not avail, Cuprum. In some cases, Byronia, Pulsa- tilla, Sulphur, or Nux moschata may be given, according to the symptoms. If the recovery from catarrh has been impeded by a &esh cold, attended with pain over the eyes, worse on the right side, the faae flushed, Belladonna; if the pain is worse on the left side and the face pale, Spigelia. Cough.—When catarrh is accompanied by cough, or when a dry cough remains after the first symptoms have disappeared under the action of other medicines, give Nux vomica. If the cough is dry and excites vomiting, Ipecacuanha ; if it is hollow and causes vomiting, Carbo vegetabilis; if accompanied with tough expectoration, particularly with children in winter, Cha- momilla ; if loose, Dulcamara or Pulsatilla; (see " Cough," in Part II.;) if the cough returns with every blast of cold air, give Phosphoric acid; if it returns every time that a foot or arm is exposed when in bed, aud is hollow and fatiguing, give Hepar ; if the cough becomes worse after going to bed, is always worse when getting warm in bed, Nux moschata. When the cough is caused by cold air, is dry and convulsive, with vomiting, or the expectoration is spotted or streaked with blood, if accompanied by a stitch in the side, or by headache, pain under the ribs, or if the cough is caused by a tickling in the throat, and the chest feels sore after it, and when the pulse is hard and quick, giveBryonia; but when the pulse is not very hard, if there is soreness in the chest after or during the cough, not stitches but more a burning sensation in the chest, oppression and palpitation, give Carbo vegetabilis. Difficulty of Breathing.—When, after taking cold, the 12 the most common causes of disease. patient appears as if suffocating, give Ipecacuanha, which may be repeated every half hour or hour if necessary. If not relieved by this, Arsenicum. Sometimes other remedies prescribed for asthma are preferable, viz., Nux vomica, Cuprum or Sambucus. Diarrhcea.—When immediately after taking cold diarrhoea appears, give Opium every time the bowels are moved. If this does no good, qr if the diarrhoea does not appear for a day or so afterwards, and is attended with pain in the bowels, or other symptoms, give Dulcamara. Iu diarrhoea without pain, and commencing during the day, or if worse in the day-time and better at night, give Ferrum; worse after midnight or towards morning, give Phosphoric acid, if produced by eating ice-cream, or drinking ice-water, compare Part I., Chapter IV. If, during warm weather, diarrhcea was caused by taking cold while in perspiration, or by cold bathing, with heat in the head,* slight pain in the bowels; or if the pit of the stomach and the abdomen are sensitive to pressure, or the stools contain undigested food, Bryonia. If discharges of undigested food follow the drinking of bad water, and Bryonia proves ineffectual, give China. For diarrhoea, with flatulency, cutting pains about the navel during the evacuation, straining and great weakness at the same time, discharges of mucus and blood, or if tne patient has drunk spirituous liquors, give Nux vomica. If there is much blood and mucus discharged, give the reme dies recommended for dysentery. If tedious, but not violent, Sulphur. Patn in the Bowels.—If the pain is violent, spasmodic, pressing, particularly before evacuations; if the latter are acrid, thin, brownish, and produce burning in the rectum, give China. For cramp-like pains under the ribs, moving from right to left completely prostrating diarrhoea; in chilly people with white coated tongue, bad smell from the mouth, always headache in the morning, dull and sleepy during the rest of the day, give Nux moschata. CHAP. II. CONSEQUENCES OF COLDS. 13 If violent, tearing, twitching, with a sensation as if the intes- tines were in motion, if the patient cannot remain quiet, but runs about; if it appears as if a large ball were in the side, or as if the whole abdomen were hollow, with vomiting and retch- ing, the diarrhcea watery, slimy or greenish, with a smell like bad eggs, give Ghamomilla. For diarrhoea from exposure to the night air, greenish and watery, with much pressure before the discbarge, a disposition to faint, the pains about the navel pressing, below the navel griping, with a constant uneasy sensation, as if to evacuate, rumbling in the belly, griping in the pit of the stomach, tear- ing pains in the abdomen, which feels cold to the hands, with nausea, shivering and chills, give Mercurius. If partly caused by a disordered stomach, after eating pork, rich pastry, and the like, worse in the afternoon, evening, or during the night, if the wind rolls about in the stomach, or if the belly is sensitive to pressure, give Pulsatilla. The same to pregnant women, when the pains resemble labor pains. For a disposition to cry, pains almost unbearable, great sensitiveness and sleeplessness, Coffea. When the pains are so violent as to drive the patient almost mad, give Chamomilla; if the pains are always worse in the open and cold air, but better in warm air, and the patient is very changeable, give Nux moschata. For Headache, from cold, with rush of blood to the head, increased by walking or going up stairs, at every step, or on stooping; worse in the open air, with a feeling as if .the head would burst, give Belladonna. If the headache is more a pressure on single small spots, with buzzing in the ears, or difficult hearing, give Dulcamara; if it feels as if the brain was loose, and as if it did strike against the- skull when shaking the head; headache after breakfast, or worse after every meal, with giddiness and sleepiness, give Nux moschata. If caused by a. draught of air, and merely external, give Nux vomica ; if internal, give Belladonna ; if caused by bathing, 3 14 THE MOST COMMON CAUSES OF DISEASE. and Belladonna does not cure it, if accompanied by nausea, giddiness, disordered stomach, worse when smoking tobacco, give Antimonium crudum, or, according to the symptoms, Bryonia. . Affections of the Eyes.—Compare what is recommended for " Diseases of the Eyes." Dulcamara will often relieve. For much pain, heat, inflammation, acrid tears, and inability to bear the light, give Belladonna, and if this does not cure it, Mercurius ; if this fails, Hepar. In dimness of vision, so that the patient is unable to read, and sees sparks before the eyes, or when the eyes are affected after every cold, give Dulcamara, Sulphur, or Calcarea. Affections of the Ear.—Constant buzzing in the earg and difficult hearing indicate Dulcamara ; if they return again and again, Sulphur or Bryonia. Tearing externally, shooting internally, the ear dry, indicate Ghamomilla. Tearing, shooting, aching pains, Nux vomica; great disposition to cry, the ear moist or running, or hot and red, and tearing, twitching pains into the face, Pulsatilla ; when it tears and shoots, with much buzzing, the ear not so hot and red, but excoriated by matter, or blood is discharged, the glands around the ears or of the throat are swelled, give Mercurius; and if the heat, redness, and pulsating pain remain, if there is shooting when blowing the nose, or buzzing and throbbing, give Hepar. Ear-ache of children, from a cold, is often relieved by Rhus. If a running, with buzzing and burning in the ears, still remain, give Sulphur. Toothache.—Toothache, from cold, usually yields to Gha- momilla, Rhus, or Nux moschata. See " Toothache," Part II. Patients subject to toothache whenever they take cold, should take a dose of China, and afterwards, Mercurius, or Sulphur. Soke Throat.—Affections of the throat, from cold, w-ill in most cases yield to Belladonna, Dulcamara, Mercurius, or Sul- phur. See Part II. When caused by drinking very cold water, or by exposure CHAP. IT. CONSEQUENCES OF COLDS. 15 of the throat, Belladonna is to be preferred ; when the cold is general, Dulcamara. When the throat is constantly dry and hot, with frequent efforts at swallowing, much saliva in the mouth, or the tonsils are swollen; if speaking and swallowing cause shooting pains; if the patient hawks much, swallows with difficulty, is in dread of suffocation, the throat seems too nar row, what he drinks regurgitates through the nose, if he is very hasty, give Belladonna ; and if this affords no relief, Sulphur. When the pains are less violent, the tongue appears paralyzed, there is much perspiration, sometimes offensive, without giving any relief, the patient is more quarrelsome, give Dulcamara; if this fails, Mercurius, or one of the other remedies prescribed under "Sore Throat," in Part II. Nausea and Vomiting.—When these symptoms appear after a cold, particularly when a rash or other eruption has been suppressed, the best is Ipecacuanha. If it does not answer, and the vomiting is sour or bitter, with many empty eructations, give Belladonna ; if nothing but tough phlegm is thrown up, Dulca mara; if it returns after exercise, eating, speaking, or when riding, or after sleep, Cocculus. If it returns from every motion of the body, and the patient is, notwithstanding, unable to keep quiet; very weak, thirsty, but every drink makes him worse, give Arsenicum. For spasms, with'nausea, Cuprum. See Chap- ter IV. Pains in the Limbs.—When the parts affected feel uneasy, so as to require constant change of position, every thing feeling as if too hard to rest upon, and the limbs as if benumbed or strained, the patient complains even when a person is walking across the room, or is approaching him, give Arnica. But if the pains are attended with fever, Aconite, until the fever abates; and then, after several hours, Arnica. In some cases it will be better to give Arnica and Aconite alternately, regulating the length of the intervals by the increase or decrease of the symp- toms. Should they not be sufficient refer to "Rheumatism," Part II. If the pains are w^rse when lying down, and at night, with 16 THE MOST COMMON CAUSES OF DISEASE. lameness or coldness of the limbs, with pale swelling or burning in the feet, or with redness and swelling of the big toe, with a stiff neck, the skin very dry, or offensive perspiration without relief, give Dulcamara or Mercurius. If the same symptoms return after every cold, with uneasi- ness at the approach of other persons, or when attempting to swallow; worse while sitting or lying, but better when walking about, with a swelling and rending, burning and throbbing pains in the great toe, give Phosphoric acid. For swelling of the knees, lumps on the joints of the hands and fingers, give Sulphur, and later, Calcarea. When taking cold causes fever, give Aconite. If, after two or three doses, the fever still increases, select one of the following: Nux vomica or Ghamomilla; Belladonna or Dulcamara; Ignatia or Pulsatilla. In general, the following medicines answer best in complaints from cold ; iu acute and inflammatory affections, Coffea, Aconitum, Chamomilla, Rhus, Nux vomica, Pulsatilla, Belladonna, Colcynthis. When less violent, Dulcamara and Ipecacvanha. "When tedious and often returning, and the patient has formerly taken too much mercury, Carbo vegetabilis, Sulphur, or China. If these do not relieve, Silicea or Hepar. If these affections result from bathing, Bryonia, Antimonium crudum, Sulphur, or Nux moschata, and after a few weeks, Carbo vegetabilis or Calcarea. When the patient cannot perspire, Chamomilla or China, Arsenicum or Silicea. When the perspiration is too copious, Mercurius, Phosphoric acid, Carbo vegetabilis, Sulpltur or Hepar. When a person takes cold very easily, he should abstain from the use of coffee and spirituous liquors ; use more cold drinks than warm ; wash himself frequently in cold water, and accustom himself more and more to the air in every, kind of weather; this custom will gradually diminish the disposition to take cold, and finally remove it entirely, particularly if the patient takes some of the following medicines : Coffea, Belladonna, Nux moschata, Nux vomica, China, Dulcamara; or Silicea, Carbo vegetabilis, Calcarea. The latter three must not be taken too frequently, but only at long intervals. If one is much afraid of the cold air, yet feels worse in the warm room, give Apium virus; if he has a great desire to go abroad, but takes cold every time he does so, Cepa. If, after using the means recommended above, there should still remain the same susceptibility, and the patient is chilled by every draught of cold air, let him take Nux vomica or Chamomilla. If exposure to cold produces pain, Arsenicum. If the patient has already chilblains, let him take the remedies prescribed under "Chilblains;" if affected by every blast of cold air, Bryonia or Rhus, Nux moschata, Veratrum, or Mercurius, and if they do not answer, Carbo vegetabilis or Calcarea, according to circumstances. If he cannot bear the wind, Carbo vegetabilis; if not a draught, Belladonni, Sul- phur, Silicea or Calcarea, one after the other, at intervals of a month or two. When the night air only is injurious, Mercurius will prove beneficial, and CHAP. III. CONSEQUENCES OF OVERHEATING, ETC. 17 after several days have elapsed, Sulphur; to be followed, if necessary, by Carbo vegetabilis. If a person feels ill in damp weather, give Dulcamara, Rhus or Veratrum, and later Carbo vegetabilis or Calcarea. If it affects the chest, Dulcimara or Carbo vegetabilis. One who is affected by a thunder-storm, should take Bryonia during the storm, and later, Silicea. Sulphur is also recommended. A popular practitioner has recommended the following : Let the person, who is either frightened during every thunder-storm or who complains of lameness of the limbs at the approach of every storm, drink a tumblerful of the rain which falls at the commencement of a thunder-storm. If every change of weather aggravates the complaint, give first, Mercurius or Rheum or Rhus ; later. Sulphur or Silicea. If the change from warm to cold affects most, give Dulcamara or Rhus toxicodendron ; if from cold to warm, Carbo vegetabilis or Lachesis. If damp- ness affects most, Nux moschata. For colds occurring in the spring, the remedies most indicated are, Vera- trum, Rhus and Carbo vegetabilis; in summer, Belladonna, Bryonia and Carbo vegetabilis; in autumn, Veratrum, Mercurius, and Rhus; in winter, during dry weather, Aconitum or Belladonna, Bryonia, Nux vomica, Chamo- milla or Sulphur ; sometimes Ipecacuanha ; but during damp weather, Cepa, Dulcamara, Nux moschata, Veratrum or Carbo vegetabilis. It is, however, necessary to examine closely under the»heads of the different complaints, as these general remarks are merely intended to guide the patient to the remedy to be preferred in doubtful cases. After cutting the hair bad results often follow, particularly with children, which are attributed to cold; for sudden faintness, jerkings or convulsions ; congestion, heat of the head, redness of the face, or fear with mistrust or anxiety, give Glonoine; for fear with inclination to weep or run away, Bella- donna ; to children, while cutting teeth, Chamomilla. For headache, Bella donna, Bryonia, Glonoine, or Pulsatilla, according to the symptoms. CHAPTER III. CONSEQUENCES OF OVERHEATING, IMMODERATE EXER? TION, AND GREAT EXHAUSTION. After immoderate exertion, great relief will be felt from takhag a warmi bath for half an hour, or a Russian bath, when that can be procured. If the limbs are very painful, or burn, they will be relieved by rubbing them, whilst in the bath, with soap, applied by means of a soft flannel. Overheating. When you have overheated yourself with work in summer, it is well to take a few drops of rum or brandy on sugar, or a small quantity of strong wine, such as port or sherry, and refrain from drinking cold waterjtill your breath is no longer warmer than usual. If you are much fatigued,.it. is advisable to, c 3* 18 THE MOST COMMON CAUSES OF DISEASE. take a cur of weak tea; if much fatigued in cold weather, and if you have to go out again in the open air, drink cold water or light beer; but if you can remain at home, drink warm mulled beer. Spirituous liquors, even in mode- rate quantities, when taken in cold weather, only render persons more sensi- tive to cald, they will produce a feeling of exhaustion and chilliness the next day. If a person is easily exhausted in warm weather, let him drink coffee occasionally, but no spirits. When a person, by remaining long in the cold, has brought upon himself a torpid feeling, or an irresistible propensity to sleep, let him take, or frequently smell, a small piece of camphor. Sun-Stroke.—During the hot weather of summer, adults as well as children, who work hard or exercise themselves too much in the open air, are sometimes so much affected by the heat, that they fall down suddenly as if struck by apoplexy, or that they first stagger, try to support themselves and then sink down. In such a case give Glonoine, and more particu- larly if the following symptoms are present: eyes fixed, without expression, glassjr; pupils contracted; pulse scarcely percepti- ble, or so quick that it can hardly be counted; loss of speech or at least disinclination to speak; sometimes retching, face pale, white or yellowish-red; cold sweat; body cold; head hot to the touch, particularly when the hand remains long on the head. In all cases of sun-stroke, with heat of the head internally as well as externally, cold water must be used, either by apply- ing to the head a cloth dipped in cold water, or by pouring the water upon the head. Application of ice is senseless, and blood-letting murderous. In some cases of sun-stroke, when the heat is not only about the Ijead, but also over the whole body; the pupils small, color of the face changing; pulse large, hard and full; when the patient shows now and then signs of distress and anxiety by different movements, as starting, putting the hands to the head, grinding of the teeth, rolling of the eyes, &c, give Aconitum in water. Belladonna must be given at once m cases with the following symptoms: eyes fixed, half open, or turned upwards; pupils large, or very small, or both of different size; face red ; head and whole body hot; involuntary escape of urine and fasces; pulse CHAP. III. CONSEQUENCES OF OVERHEATING, ETC. 19 full and hard ; occasional twitching or trembling of the limbs; putting of the hands to the head; bending backwards of the body; Jieavy sleep. To habitual drunkards, or if you smell that liquor had been drunk shortly before, and Belladonna had given no relief, give Nux vomica. The same symptoms may be caused by exposure of the bare head or nape of the neck to the rays of the sun, by sleeping in the sun, or falling asleep near a stove, or before a grate, which often happens to old people or children, while warming their feet in winter. The same remedies, or one of the follow- ing, will be required according to the kind of headache. Headache from Heat.—Fulness, as if the head would split, worse when stooping, a feeling about the forehead as if the brain were pressing out, increased when walking, and worse from every slight affection of the mind, combined with hot fever, thirst, vomiting and sleeplessness, give Belladonna or Bry- onia. If combined with anxiety, uneasiness, rage or great irri- tation, despondency, imaginary fears, lamentation, weeping, &c, give Belladonna. ■ If the patient is very peevish in the morning, cannot bear the pressure of his clothing, is more passionate and cross than plaintive and desponding, and apprehensive of .uture evil, give Bryonia. If one has headache from being overheated, especially if there be heaviness, throbbing and pressure over the eyes, and pains in the eyes, which are aggravated by looking fixedly at any- thing, give Carbo vegetabilis. When headache is caused by heat or great exertion, while exposed to the sun in summer, or by getting too warm before the fire, or by ironing; when the head feels too full, and there exists a want of appetite, particularly in the morning, with much thirst, fever, trembling, nausea and vomiting, or diarrhcea, give Bryonia. When the head feels too full, with the sensation of a pulsating rising, which threatens to burst the head ; painful beating and aching, worse when shaking the head, give Glonoine. Diarrikea.—In diarrhoea accompanied by fever, caused by 20 THE MOST COMMON CAUSES OF DISEASE. excessive heat in summer; and also in colicky pains occasioned by drinking milk, give Bryonia. To a person who cannot bear the heat of summer, or cannot work in the heat, particularly when troubled with night-sweats, who is very sleepy, or suffers from pain in the stomach and abdomen, and where Bryonia does not answer,, give Antimonium crudum. If nausea, which is caused by the heat, returns constantly, the remedies prescribed only giving temporary relief, give Silicea. Fatigue. The fatigue after walking a great distance, or after much labor, particu- larly in summer, is frequently so great that rest does not relieve, but, on the contrary seems to increase it. If possible, let the sufferer take a warm, or still better, a Russian bath; if that be impracticable, let him put his feet into warm water, in which a handful of salt has been thrown. If this does not relieve him, give Coffea. A cup of good black tea, not too strong, is also an excellent remedy. After any very weakening fatigue, or after all great exhaust- ing exertions, Arsenicum will give relief. If the exertion had been accompanied by much lifting and stretching, or if it had caused perspiration, and the body cooled too quickly by cold air or water, give Rhus toxicodendron. Should fatigue produce a sensation of faintness, or actual fainting, give Veratrum; if no food had been taken for a long time, Coffea. For great weakness, in consequence of profuse perspiration, give China. If there are symptoms of internal heat, such as hot breath and quick pulse, give Aconite, and if not relieved by this, Bryonia. If the accelerated circulation continues for several days, and the slightest exertion produces a tendency of blood to the head or chest, or if the face is flushed, give Mercurius. For soreness in all the limbs, particu- larly in the muscles, Arnica is the best remedy. If after fatigue, particularly in winter, with people other- wise easily affected, or such who cannot bear the cool air, there appear .weakness, pains in all parts on which they lie, particu- larly pains in the temples; a dull, sleepy disposition, they cannot recollect themselves; are sleepy without getting relief from CHAP. III. CONSEQUENCES OF OVERHEATING, ETC. 21 sleep ; some are afraid of going to sleep, on accouritof the beat- ing in the head : Nux moschata will give relief. If the feet have become sore from walking, and are blistered, Arnica will do no good; if you have to walk again on the fol- lowing day, apply tallow or suet, spread on a piece of linen or soft leather. In the evening take Cepa, and apply a wet cloth; in most cases you will be well the next morning. If the feet are much swollen, or painful from walking, take Arnica, or wash the feet in water with which some drops of Arnica tincture have been mixed. If the fatigue is so great that it causes internal pains and restlessness ; if sleep does not refresh ; every thing pains at the slightest touch; sitting down and standing up weakens very much; walking about relieves a little; the beating of the pulse is felt all over the body; give Natrum muriaticum. If every exertion or motion causes a prickling sensation all over, Apium virus; if it remains or returns again and again, Hepar. If the limbs are painful after carrying or lifting something heavy, particularly on moving them, or when at rest, give Rhus; or when there are shooting pains in the small of the back, espe- cially on moving, Bryonia; but if it is almost impossible to move the back, on account of excessive pains, give Sulphur. See the remedies for " Overlifting," Part I., Chapter IX. If a person, who is otherwise in good health, feels tired after the least exertion, even from talking, give Cocculus ; but if talk- ing makes him so tired in the throat, that it pains, Apium virus; and if this does not relieve, Veratrum; if this fails also, give Calcarea. When walking briskly causes loss of breath, or coughing, pain in the side or limbs, give Aconite; if the pain in the side continues, Arnica, and if this does not afford any relief in twelve hours, give Bryonia. If every quick motion causes an almost suffocating shortness of breath, with perspiration about the neck, Sambucus will give relief. If the shortness of Vreathing continues, or becomes worse 22 THE MOST COMMON CAUSES OF DISEASE. by ascending the stairs, attended with coughing and raising of phlegm, give Silicea. Sitting up at Night Is always debilitating, yet every one should be able to bear it in case of need. If it produces greater weakness than usual, if persons cannot deprive themselves of one hour's sleep, give Cocculus or Phosphoric acid. If sitting up occasions headache, or if a person has taken much coffee, wine or spirituous liquors to keep himself awake, give Nux vomica before going to bed; if the headache is not caused by spirituous liquors, and the pa- tient is unable to lie down, or has nausea, give Ipecacuanha. If the head had been bad at night, but a little better in the morning, or to women, Pulsatilla. If there is determination of blood to the head, or a sense of heaviness, more when moving the eyes, give Nux vomica or Pulsatilla; Nux vomica to mo:e passionate and energetic, Pulsatilla to mild persons; Nux vomica if worse in the morning, Pulsatilla if worse in the even- ing and better in the morning; worse in the open air, Nux vomica; better, Pulsatilla. If the headache is worse when walking, with a booming, shaking sensation, give Nux vomica; or if the head feels heavy, as if the patient were intoxicated, with buzzing and heaviness in the forehead, pale, haggard countenance, nausea, chilliness, weakness and crossness, Nux vomica. When the head feels as if empty and light, the patient cannot bear the light, worse when lying down, give Pulsatilla. When the head trembles, is light, the face flushed, blue circles around the eyes, the mouth perfectly dry without thirst loathing of food, nausea to fainting, fulness of the stomach, Oppressed breathing, if worse in the air, from speaking or drink- ing coffee, if the patient is very sad and troubled by f.ightful dreams, give Cocculus. If greatly excited in the evening" does not sleep well, is weary when rising, China; if complaining of feeling sore all over, Arnica. The effects of late hours and late suppers may be cou» CHAP. III. CONSEQUENCES OF OVERHEATING, ETC. 23 teracted by Pulsatilla or Nux vomica, according to the above indications, or by Carbo vegetabilis; see "Consequences of In- toxication." Confinement and much Mental Application. If the confinement produces symptoms of Dyspepsia, and if the patient has been accustomed to drink coffee or spirituous liquors, Nux vomica, taken in the evening, will often have a good effect; if after four or five days it gets worse again, give Sul- phur, which may be repeated in three or four weeks, if neces- sary. When the head is more affected, Nux vomica is a good remedy, and afterwards Belladonna, sometimes Pulsatilla. See "Headache." If all these medicines prove ineffectual, and if every exertion of the mind causes headache, give Calcarea If there is merely a sensation of giddiness, as if drunken, give, according to the temperament of the persons, Pulsatilla or Nux vomica. Toothache, cough, and other complaints caused by mental application, yield often to Nux vomica. Excesses Injure body and mind more than anything else. If they consist in intem- perance in eating or drinking, apply the remedies prescribed under " Dis- ordered Stomach." But if they are such as waste the very marrow and essence of the constitution, the greatest abstemiousness is a most absolute condition, together with which the following remedies may do much good: The principal remedy, and the one which should be given first, but which may be given repeatedly after other remedies, is China. Afterwards, and when the patient regrets much his vicious conduct, give Phosphoric acid. Look also under the head of the special complaint of the patient, and select in preference such remedies as China, Phosphoric acid, Slaphisagria, Nux vomica, or Sulphur and Dulcamara, the one or the other, which- ever may seem to suit best. The same treatment is recommended when the patient has lost his strength by self-abuse; give in the beginning China, or Sla- phisagria, or Nux vomica; later Phosphoric acid, Sulphur or Cal- carea. The patient should be persuaded to leave off his bad habits, 24 TnE MOST COMMON CAUSES OF DISEASE. and encouraged to constant occupation, or even hard work; he should eat sparingly, take little sleep, abstain from all spirituous liquors, avoid bad company, and abstain from reading books calculated to excite the passions. Should a morbid irritation trouble the patient, which is often the case with children, select in preference among the following medicines: China, Mercu- rius, Carbo vegetabilis, Nux vomica, Pulsatilla, Slaphisagria or Av.timonium crudum, Silicea, Platinum, Calcarea or Colocynth. Frequently, whey China and Carbo vegetabilis are insufficient, Mercurius will effect more ; if not, Sul- phur. Besides these, Coffea, Opium., Aconite, Ignatia, may be indicated. These remedies may all be given dry, or in water, and repeated according to circumstances. All those who have become so much debilitated by excesses, that they are easily affected by every little current of air, or cold, wet weather, or are very peevish and fickle, will be relieved by Nux moschata. If these vices have so weakened the constitution, that the effects appear even after marriage, although then living moderately, give, if the head is much affected, Calcarea, For great weakness and trembling of the legs, the same; for asthma, Slaphisagria; burning in the parts Mercurius or Carbo vegetabilis. Weakness in the feet, heaviness, and a feeling: of soreness in the limbs, dullness, ill-humor and relaxation, may be remedied by Cocculus. A good homoeopathic physician will restore almost all such cases. fjoss of Blood, or other Fluids. Loss of fluids by too much perspiration or purging, or long continued diarrhcea, too long suckling of children, through too great a flow of milk, bleeding by the lancet, or loss of blood by other means, often occasions long, lasting weakness; in all such cases give China. If any of the above causes, particularly im- proper bleeding, (or with children the bleeding after leech-bites, which may occur during the night without being perceived,) should produce fainting or convulsions, give immediately China, and do nothing else; as soon as the sick person recovers, and if his mouth is very dry, or if he moves the tongue, give him a little cold water; if he faints again, or has spasms, or if he does not recover entirely, give him a teaspoonful of good old wine; after a while repeat, if necessary, the China, and later, the wine. After this, give him as much cold water as he wishes to drink, but not too much at once. In some cases other medicines may be required ; if you cannot consult a physician of the right kind, compare the symptoms of the case with what is mentioned under the different heads, indicating Staphisagria or Sulphur, rery often Phosphoric acid, seldom Nux vomica, and afterwards Arseuicum. CHAP. IV. CONSEQUENCES OF tUttF-ITING, ETC. 25 CHAPTER IY. CONSEQUENCES OF SURFEITING AND DISORDERED STOMACH. When a person has eaten too much, or partaken of some- thing which is too heavy, and soon after feels that his stomach is out of order, give him a cup of strong coffee without milk; should severe headache and nausea follow, yet no vomiting, dip a very soft feather in oil, and tickle the throat with it until he vomits. If this does not produce vomiting, give some luke- warm water. If nothing will make him vomit, and he is retch- ing, feels very hot, particularly in the head, is tossing about, anxious and distressed, give Aconite. If he feels chilly, give Pulsatilla, which may be repeated every few hours till relief is obtained. If there remains pressure and heaviness in the sto- mach, and qualmishness, give Ghamomilla; if this fails, Nux vomica, two hours afterwards; if there is constant retching, give Ipecacuanha; great coldness and violent pain in the stomach, Veratrum; if the patient has thrown up bile, and there is a bit- ter taste remaining, let him drink a few glasses of cold water; if the pressure in the stomach continues, give him a cup of coffee without milk. If there is no improvement felt on the following morning, and if loathing, nausea, inclination to vomit, still continue, risings with a bad mouldy taste and smell, resembling the smell of the food which has been taken, give Antimonium crudum; if there is rising with a bitter taste, Bryonia; or when putrid, Nux vomica; or like rotten eggs, Arnica; greasy, Pulsatilla; and when acrid and bitter, Arsenicum. The patient ought to take no n mrishment but gruel, barley water, tea and toast, and lastly ;hin broth, for two or three days, to give the stomach time to recover its functions. A disordered stomach produced by eating pork, or other fat 4 26 THE MOST COMMON CAUSES OF DISEASE. meat, pastry, rancid butter, &c, will be relieved by Pulsatilla. If this does not suffice, by Carbo vegetabilis. A disordered stomach from other food, risings with a taste of what has been eaten, nausea, inclination to vomit, will yield to Antimonium crudum or Pulsatilla; in some cases they must be taken alternately. For a disordered stomach from eating fruit, Arsenicum or Pulsa- tilla ; nausea and belching, Pulsatilla; much retching and vomiting, Arsenicum,; dry mouth, without thirst, Pulsatilla; constant desire to drink a little at a time, Arsenicum ; to per- sons in the habit of drinking beer or malt liquors, Pulsatilla— spirituous liquors, Arsenicum,. Children of a mild disposition, shunning others, Pulsatilla; obstinate, cross, angry, afraid of being alone, Arsenicum. Con- stantly asking for different things, Pulsatilla; if not inclined to give any thing to others, or cross for being looked at, Arsenicum. Compare " Diarrhcea." For disordered stomach from bad, sour wine, particularly with much nausea, Antimonium crudum; from wine containing sulphur, Pulsatilla; from sour beer or vinegar, Aconite gives „ relief, particularly when there is a pressing pain in the stomach, nausea, inclination to vomit, and vomiting of phlegm or blood; but if the vomiting is sour, with burning in the throat, cutting pain in the bowels, and purging, Hepar. For vomiting of food, burning in the stomach and abdomen, cutting pain in the bow- els, with coldness, agitation and thirst, Arsenicum; if connected with great debility and sensitiveness to warm and cold, or damp and dry weather, Carbo vegetabilis. For disordered stomach, from stale fish or meat, give forth- with a small quantity of pulverised charcoal, to women and children in sugar and water, to men in whisky or brandy; and if this does not remove all the unpleasant symptoms, China; if there is a corrupt rising, and putrid taste, give Pulsatilla. Disordered stomach from salt victuals, Carbo vegetabilis. Lone lasting, bad effects from eating too much salt may be removed by Arsenicum, one dose, waiting weeks without giving any other CHAP. IV. CONSEQUENCES OF SURFEITING, STC. 27 medicine; or frequent smelling on a little vial containing sweet spirits of nitre. Drop doses of the latter would only weaken the nerves and effect no cure. For disordered stomach from eating cabbage, and sour crout especially, give Bryonia. To remove the symptoms from eating old cheese, sausages, old spoiled smoked beef, &c,—see under " Poisoning." Overfeeding of Children. -Children are not unfrequently made ill by overfeeding, or by giving them indigestible food, such as pap made of flour, crackers, bread not sufficiently baked, and the like; especially when they are rocked too much, and are, moreover, dosed with rhubarb, salts, castor oil, &c. All these things should be avoided. To check vomiting, give Ipecacuanha, particularly if the vomiting is accompanied by purging. If this does not give any relief after several doses, Pulsatilla. If there is only purg- ing, with a discharge of undigested food, China. If vomiting is accompanied by constipation, Nux vomica. The same kind of food ought not always to be given to little children: the milk should be brought to the boiling point, then allowed to stand till it cools, and the scum that forms on the top carefully removed ; thin gruel agrees better with some; if a more substantial fare is required, they should have grits, made of wheat, in preference to pap made of flour. Or fill a linen bag with wheat-flour as tightly as possible, then tie it up well and keep it in boiling water for three hours. After that take it out and let it get cold. Upon removing the bag, you will obtain a h^rd mass, from which the outer crust must be pealed off". Then grate as much of it as is required for a meal, and have it boiled in water, milk, or broth.—Dry rusks are also good for children, provided they are not too brown, which is a sign of their having been burnt. Pearl barley, boiled to a jelly and passed through a sieve, often agrees better than any other kind of food. Headache.—If headache with nausea follows a disordered stomach, and the whole head feels as if every thing inside were bruised, give Ipecacuanha. For oppressive headache, with heat in the brain, worse after walking, reading, eating, with putrid taste, Arnica. For throbbing, shooting headache, worse when talking, with much nausea, take Aconite; for dull, general head- ache, worse whilst going up stairs, and from smoking tobacco, without appetite, with a bitter taste, rising, hiccough, loathing and nausea, worse after drinking wine, Antimonium crudum. 28 THE MOST COMMON CAUSES OF DISEASE. For burning, pressing, bursting headache, worse when stoop- ing, as if all would fall through the forehead, throbbing or tearing when walking, or splashing as if from water, worse in the morning early, or with chills, give Bryonia. A rending, throbbing, jerking headache, worse in the evening when lying down, or one-sided, attended with a putrid, earthy taste in the mouth, and without thirst, is relieved by Pulsatilla, If there is heaviness in the head, and great soreness of the scalp when touched, with trembling in the jaws, a salty taste, and spasm in the stomach, give Carbo vegetabilis; especially to persons who have taken much mercury. See Part II. Vomiting.—If occasioned by a disordered stomach, give Ipe- cacuanha, if the tongue is coated; if it is clean, Tartar emetic; if produced by eating too much bread, and attended with great oppression about the pit of the stomach, Bryonia. If produced by overloading the stomach, and attended with bitter taste while chewing the food, or when accompanied by a burning sensation in the throat, Pulsatilla. Flatulency.—If it swells the belly, renders breathing diffi- cult and is caused by food, such as cabbage, sour crout, new beer and the like, and particularly when there is a painful tight- ness across the belly, with pains and pressure about the navel, and the patient is chilled after drinking, take China. If drink- ing gives rise to pains in the pit of the stomach, which obstruct breathing, the clothes round the ribs feel too tight, and there is a weight as from stones in the abdomen, Nux vomica. If caused by eating fat food, after which much water has been drunk, when the wind rolls in the bowels, the belly appearing too full and hard, worse in the evening, Pulsatilla. If oppression of the chest proceeds from an accumulation of wind, with jerking and shooting pains, a tension about the pit of the stomach—without exactly swelling the belly—causing a state of utter restlessness, Phosphorus will afford relief. Persons subject to flatulency may take as much of finely pul- verized wood-charcoal as will lie on the end of a dessert-knife, once or twice a day; but if Carbo vegetabilis in a few globules CHAP. IV. CONSEQUENCES OF SURFEITING, ETC. 29 will give relief, the improvement lasts much longer. Ail per- sons who pass winds with a bad smell ought not to eat eggs. Colic—Sudden attacks caused by eating too much, or by a foul stomach, are often cured by taking some coffee without milk ; or, if this fails, by Pulsatilla, Colocynthis, or some other remedy indicated under " Colic," in Part II. Colic from cucum- bers or salad, Ccpa. Diarrhcea.— If arising from a disordered stomach, is often cured by Pulsatilla; in children, when accompanied with nausea and vomiting, by Ipecacuanha; in children who are sleepless, excited, and too lively, by Coffea; if cutting pains in the bowels seem to go upwards and produce nausea, and there is weakness after each evacuation, by Nux vomica, or other medicines. See " Diarrhcea," in Part II. Sleeplessness.—If produced by overloading the stomach often yields to Coffea, particularly with children, or to Pulsatilla. If caused by strong coffee, to Nux vomica ; if by eating too much in the evening, drink a glass of cold water, sweetened with loaf sugar; if this occasions acidity, drink the water without the sugar. Nightmare.—From eating too much, can only be prevented by avoiding the cai^se; drinking sugar-water may sometimes remove it. A person who is subject to this complaint, should not eat much at night, and take the medicines recommended for "Nightmare." Fever with much chilliness and coldness, diarrhcea or consti- pation, in persons of a passionate, cross temper, may be removed by Bryonia; to phlegmatic, awkward, irritable persons, give Cap- sicum. If the fever returns every second day, Antimonium cru- dum or Ipecacuanha. On the days when the patient is clear of fever, give Ipecacuanha, four times ; on those when he has fever give it twice,—except during the paroxysms of heat or cold. On the seventh day let him take Nux vomica. Through this period he must abstain from eating fruit. Kash arising from a disordered stomach, with chills and low spirits, is often cured by Pulsatilla; with sickness of the 4* 30 THE MOST COMMON CAUSES OF DISEASE. stomach and difficulty of breathing, by Ipecacuanha; if thia proves useless, by Bryonia. If caused by noxious food, see "Poisoning." For other remedies, see "Eruptions." Indisposition from Cold Water or Ice.—If the drink- ing of water aggravates every complaint, confuses the head, pro- duces nausea and heat, take Cocculus. If it produces cough and headache, Aconite; if cough, vomiting, and chills, Arseni- cum; if bad taste, as if the water were impure, coldness in the belly, pain in the bowels and chills, China; if nausea and pain in the bowels, Pulsatilla, and if this does not give relief, Rhus. Continuous nausea from drinking water may sometimes be removed by taking a little table salt—as much as will lie on the end of a pen-knife. If drinking water produces hiccough, take Ignatia; oppres- sion at the stomach, Ferrum; if it causes swelling of the abdo- men, as from flatulency, with pressure in the pit of the stomach, difficulty of breathing, and chills, take Nux vomica ; if it causes constant inclination to go to stool, and purging, Capsicum; pain in the chest and shuddering, Veratrum. If it is followed by toothache, take Bryonia, Mercurius, or Sta- phisagria, according to circumstances. If merely irritability of the teeth, without pain, Mercurius or Sulphur. If a person habitually takes cold in the stomach from drink- ing cold water, and has, in consequence, accustomed himself to mix spirits with the water, and wishes to leave off this habit, let him try some of the medicines recommended above. If he does not succeed, let him take a drop of pure sulphuric acid, and mix it with a pint of water by pouring it for some time from one tumbler into another, and take a table-spoonful of this in the morning, fasting, once or twice. This will often warm the stomach, and gradually accustom it to pure water again. When drinking hastily, disorders the stomach, give Silicea. When merely cold drinking causes indisposition, Nux vomica or Slaphisagria may give relief; if not, Calcarea. Indisposition from ice or very cold water, during great heat, when sudden and dangerous, generally yields to Opium, or Glo- CHAP. IV. CONSEQUENCES OF SURFEITING, ETC. 31 noine ; See " Sunstroke;" especially if accompanied by a tendency of blood to the head, twitching in the face, unconsciousness and giddiness almost to reeling; persons in the habit of drinking spirituous liquors; require Nux vomica. If the countenance is pale, if there is a sensation of choking and drooping, a few drops of spirits of camphor, on sugar, or diluted with water, may be administered. Should any symptoms remain, such as headache, or rush of blood to the head, Belladonna or Glonoine will be beneficial; for very acute pains, Bryonia; for affections of the stomach, fever, &c, Carbo vegetabilis or Arsenicum. For long standing disorders of the stomach, caused by drink ing ice-water in the summer, attended with great weariness, little appetite •; if whatever food is taken lies like a weight on the stomach, or is thrown off again, sometimes with a sour taste, with soreness of the stomach upon pressure ; if the stomach and abdomen are distended by wind, the flatulency becoming very troublesome, the symptoms growing worse in the open air, Carbo vegetabilis will be serviceable. If there are pains in the stomach, or other symptoms arise in consequence of having swallowed pieces of ice, as children are apt to do, Arsenicum will be the remedy, or Pulsatilla. Arsenicum may be administered in cases of oppressive weight on the stomach, with a burning sensation confined to a small spot, or extending over the stomach or abdomen, with great anxiety and disquietude indicated by the countenance; tongue dry; continual thirst; every thing having a saltish taste ; nausea produced by motion, or after drinking, even to vomiting and throwing up of bile. Pulsatilla, if the affection in the stomach and the pit of the stomach is of a spasmodic nature, worse after eating, in some cases attended by vomiting; the countenance expressing rather a disposition to cry; the tongue slimy, taste insipid; no thirst; nausea after eating and driuking, worse in the afternoon and evening, with sour rising, sometimes of wind only, retaining the taste of what the patient has eaten. 32 THE MOST COMMON CAUSES OF DISEASE. The same remedies will answer in affections of the stomach, pn duced by eating cold fruit, ice-cream and the like. Every body should be able to drink milk, and if it does not agree, it is an indication that there is something wrong about the stomach. If ^produces a sour taste in the mouth or costiveness, give Nux vomica; if pains in the bowels and diarrhoea, #/7/o»tta; and if there is rising and vomiting of phlegm, Sulphur; if it produces long-lasting nausea, Calcarea. Persons who feel indisposed after drinking malt liquors, will do well, to refrain from them, at least from the stronger kinds, which sometimes owe their strength and bitterness to injurious drugs. But if the head should become too easily affected after drinking good beer, &c, take Rhus; if useless, take Belladonna. If the beer causes vomiting, take Jberrum; if nausea, Arsenicum; if colic, Colocynth. Whoever feels indisposed after drinking brandy, may congratulate himself: the best and most salutary advice we can give him is—to let it alone. CHAPTER V. CONSEQUENCES OP SPIRITUOUS LIQUORS, COFFEE, TEA, TOBACCO, ACIDS, &o. Intoxication. Habitual drunkenness is a ruin to individuals, a calamity to families, and ft serious loss to a nation, it is therefore no wonder, that benevolent minds have proposed remedies to prevent such great evils ; neither is it astonishing that many who are as ignorant of history, as of the laws of life of man and nations, should run mad with a most fanatic opposition to alcohol, bundling up with? it all kinds of malt liquors, and even the most noble of all the productions of nature, the wine. Ministers, as ignorant of the original language of the gospel, as of the most common laws of chemistry, told their flock, that the wine, mentioned in the New Testament, was only grape-juice, not fermented, and not "intoxicating." They do not know that the word used there for drunkenness is derived from the word meaning fermented wine.* The history of the human race proves most clearly, and without a single exception, that there never was in any nation a popular development of science, literature and the fine arts, until after the introduction of the culture, of the grape-vine, or (like in England or Sweden) after a facilitated importa- tion of wine. The latest chemical analyses have also proved, that wine contains combi- nations of phosphorus, which is a most important nourishment of the brain and upon which its highest development depends. * In the New Testament the word used for wine is oivoj, which means fer- mented wine; the word for unfermented grape-juice is yXfvxoj; the word for drunkenness is on-toatj, signifying that the drunkenness is from fermented wine. CHAP. V. CONSEQUENCES OF SPIRITUOUS LIQUORS, ETC. 33 For the individual, wine may not be a condition, without which no great works of the mind can be produced, but it is so with nations. No great minds can arise in a nation, in which thera is not a large number of men of great brains. Hence the religion of the Jews acknowledges the grape-vine as a gift of God after the flood, to prevent another sinking of the human race. Hence in the religion of the Christians, the wine is holy as an indispensable link between the Lord and mankind. Hence only Muhomedanism forbids the use of wine, of course without any good effect whatever, but introducing the use of opium, hemp-juice and other dangerous substitutes. Hence the natural want of wine promotes the dangerous use of alcohol and with it drunkenness. All intelligent travellers agree in allowing that drunkenness is by no means common, nay, that it is a rare thing in wine-producing countries. '1 hus the true remedy against a popular inclination to drunkenness would be with every wise law-giver to favor the consumption of wine by facilitating the home-pro- duction and the importation of wine. As all products, depending on sun. soil and the seasons, have, according to every experience, been injured by the, here erroneously called, protective tariff—so has it also injured the production of wine. Notwithstanding that it is a most important rule in political economy to protect what is produced by hand, and that tins protection is the only preven- tive and cure of the distress in trade and business, called " a crisis," and although a steadily increasing tariff on all the results of work by hand, (in- eluding coal and iron as brought to use by hands only,) is the main condition of a healthy national life—every tariff on any product, depending on sun. soil ar.d the seasons, has and will invariably injure both the producer and consumer. Wine, like wool, grain, fruits, meat, fish. Belladonna. For heat in the face, determination of blood to the head, much pain in the head, face and teeth, give Belladonna. For earache, Pulsatilla. For swelling of the feet Ferrum. For ulcers on the legs, dropsy, short cough and short" pess of breath, Arsenicum. For dropsy and other swellings, Rhus. If there are other complaints, look under the respective heads, and select the medicine accordingly; the following will in many cases be found pre- ferable : Sulphur, Calcarea, Carbo vegetabilis, China. Wb#» bark has been given in intermi'tent fever, and the disease has been CHAP. VI. EFFECTS OF THE MEDICINES HITHERTO, ETC. 41 bungled, another and worse complaint than the fever makes its appearance; or the fever remains, and is now more difficult to cure. If the fever has been suppressed, and earache, toothache, headache and pains in the limbs make their appearance, give Pulsatilla, and if this fails, Calcarea. For affections of the stomach give Ipecacuanha or Pulsatilla; lor swelling, Arnica, Arsenicum or Ferrum, and select, according to circumstances, one of the remedies recommended above. If the intermittent fever continues, as it often does, notwithstanding large quantities of bark or quinine may have been taken, give first Ipecacuanha, which will mostly prove efficacious: afterwards, if required, Arsenicum or Carbo vegetabilis ; sometimes China, Veratrum, Arnira: and sometimes Bel- ladonna, Mercurius, Sulphur and Calcarea will effect a cure. Other Drugs. When the mixtures which the unfortunate patient had to swallow, con- tained Conium or Cicuta, Digitalis, Laurocerasus or Acidum Hydrocyanicum, it is sometimes scarcely possible to save him, unless a good constitution throws it off, assisted by proper living, fresh air and the drinking of much water. After taking Digitalis, even in small doses, if continued for a time, danger- ous symptoms very often follow suddenly, which are generally relieved by repeated smelling of camphor, sometimes by vinegar or wine in drop doses. Smelling of ether or chloroform makes them worse. Later, according to circumstances, Glonoine, Opium, Nux vomica or Ignatia. Be careful not to give China. Persons who have swallowed much Assafoetida, or much Valerian and other drugs which enter largely into the composition of some quack pills, are generally in a very critical situation. China or Mercurius sometimes . oun- teracts the effects of Assafoetida ; Coffea, Nux vomica, Chamomilla or Sulphur those of Valerian; Pulsatilla and Nux vomica those of Colchicum ; the very dangerous diarrhoea from large doses of this so-called remedy for the gout, will be relieved by a few drops of the tincture of opium, one drop to be taken every half hour, five or six times. Belladonna, Bryonia and Arnica those of Senega ; Mercurius or Belladonna those of Sarsaparilla. If a person feels bad effects soon after the application of a blister of spurge- laurel (mezereum,) let him first smell camphor, and afterwards, if these effects appear in the mouth or in the bones, give Mercurius; and if they appear more in the limbs, Bryonia or Rhus. If the application of Spanish-flies produces bad symptoms, let the patient Bmell camphor frequently, and, if this does not counteract them, give Aconite or Pulsatilla. When children have taken much rhubarb, and are consequently troubled with much flatulency and slimy diarrhoea, give Nux vomica; if they have sour vomitings during the night, clayey stools and diarrhcea, Pulsaiilta ; if they have sour stools, green or mixed with blood, Mercurius; bad colic and green evacuations, Chamomilla; and if the colic does not get better, Colocynth. Effects of Magnesia. If a person has taken magnesia and feels poorly, particularly after calcined magnesia, let him smell sweet spirits of nitre; if he cannot sleep, give Coffea ; o i 42 THE MOST COMMON CAUSES OF DISEASE. if it. produces violent pains in the bowels, Chamomilla; and if they are very bad, without much or any evacuation, give Colocynth ; if no evacuation follows in twenty-four hours, give Nux vomica; if the patient has violent pains, and is burning with fever, give Arsenicum ; but if the magnesia has produced sour thin purging with colic, Rheum ; and if this fails, Pulsatilla. The same reme- dies should be given if similar effects are produced by Epsom salts. Effects of Sulphur and Iodine. The effects of sulphur are occasionally as bad as those of mercury, and the tedious complaints which it produces as difficult to cure. If a person feels unwell soon after having used it, he should smell camphor; if this does not relieve him and when the pains are violent, particularly in the head, accom- panied by heat, let him take Aconite; later, when the complaint has become tedious, Mercurius or Pulsatilla, and sometimes, according to circumstances, Silicea. For the bad effects of sulphurous vapors from the lighting of matches, from which children often get coughs, shortness of breath and pains in the throat and chest, Pulsatilla is the best remedy. If sulphur has been given to children, in conformity to a notion of its bene- ficial effects entertained by some parents, especially in the spring of the year, and it had occasioned fever, with cutting pains in the bowels ; or if eruptions, for which it was given, should have been suppressed, or when very painful boils ensue, Belladonna is very often efficient; care is, however, to be taken after- wards, to guard the children from taking cold, not by keeping them in warm rooms, but by preventing their being in draughts, or sitting on the ground, &c. When patients suffer from iodine or iodide of potassium, administered as it usually is, in large doses and for a long time, give Hepar, 3rd trit. Effects of Mercury. This is the universal elixir of the quacks in all diseases, who, whilst they pretend to restore their patients to health, destroy their constitutions. It is • administered as calomel in powders, or dissolved as corrosive sublimate, or in pills—those abominable blue pills. Beware of all prescriptions in which names like the following occur: Calomel, Merc. subl. corros., Merc. pra> cipit.. Hydrargyrum, Hydrarg. chloridum. Hydrarg. bicjilorid., Argent, viv. People are frequently imposed upon by being told that mercury can be expelled again by taking aperient medicines after it. Those who hold such language, close their eyes to the effects which ensue from taking mercury ; for, supposing it was as easy to remove the calomel as it was to swallow it, the effect produced upon the body will certainly remain : just as if you were to drive a nail into a man's leg and then pull it out again.—the hole will remain, it will heal after a while, but requires time and a rational mode of treatment, or the consequence may be very serious. To give aperient medicines then for the effects of mercury, is about as sensible as if I were to insert a wooden peg in the wound made by the nail, and imagine it to be all right again. Mercury in all its preparations, however, cannot be expelled again so easily, and least of all by purgatives, as it immediately penetrates every part of the system, the fluids, the glands, and even the bones. This is the reason why the slow poisoning by mercurial medicines is far more difficult to cure than a natural disease; it always requires much time, and in many cases mitigation of the sufferings is all that art can effect for the patient „ CHAP. VI. EFFECTS OF THE MEDICINES HITHERTO, ETC. 43 In most cases, immediately as well as long after taking mercury Hepar (3rd trit.) will be found of great service, particularly for the following symp- toms : headache during the night; loss of hair; painful lumps on the head; inflamed, red eyes ; pains in the nose when pressed ; eruption round the mouth ; phlegm deep in the throat; much saliva in the mouth ; ulcerated gums , swelled tonsils ; hard glands on the throat; a pricking pain when swallowing, coughing, breathing ; vertigo in the head ; inflamed suppurating boils in the groin or arm-pit, or small ones on the chest; thin evacuations, with a great effort, sometimes mixed with blood, slimy and green ; the urine dark red, hot and acrid ; coughing when a hand or foot gets cold, or after drinking, some- times accompanied by spitting of blood ; whitlow, or other red, inflamed swelling on the hands and fingers, also on the knee, like rheumatism ; the skin does not heal well; every little wound or scratch suppurates and spreads ; the skin of the hands and feet bursts; ulcers, which bleed easily, burn in the night, with throbbing and acute pain ; chilly in the air; in the night, chills and frequent pains in the limbs ; also fever, and afterwards clammy, sour per- spiration ; the patient very sensitive, the pains almost produce fainting. It is advisable, after continuing its use for six or eight days, to await the effect of Hepar for some days; if it produces slow improvement, wait a fort- night; if after this the improvement does not continue, repeat the same medicine ; if the improvement was but of short duration, and it was absolutely necessary to give something, Belladonna woidd be the best; the same will answer when Hepar has been given two or three times, once every fortnight, and has lost its efficacy. For complaints of the mouth and throat, for swelling of the tonsils, and deafness, give Hepar and Belladonna, and if they produce no change, Staphis- agriu. For great sensitiveness to the weather; violent pains, particularly during the night, worse when touched ; great weakness ; when the patient has been debilitated by much purging and salivation, give China; and if this, alter a week, has no further effect, Carbo vegetabilis, particularly if change of weather makes the patient worse. If, after taking some of the remedies reommended above, there still remain rending pains in the bones and gouty swellings, give Dulcamara, and after- wards Phosphoric acid; for swellings on the bones (nodes), Phosphoric acid, and afterwards Slaphisagria; and when this ceases to do good, Calcarea, If these medicines have been taken for a considerable time, and the com- plaint is not completely removed, try Sulphur, and some time after, one of the above remedies again. If Sulphur gives relief, take several weeks afterwards Calcana, and after that some other suitable medicine, for instance, Lachesis, If a person has taken much mercury, and afterwards sulphur, it will be well to give Mercurius, and then Belladonna or Pulsatilla. When a person has taken much mercury, but no sulphur after it, and He- par should not seem to be quite indicated, according to the foregoing descrip- tion, give Sulphur. In tedious complaints, caused or aggravated by Mercury, select from the following : Hepar. Belladonna, China, Phosphoric acid, Carbo vegetabilis, Dulc- amara, Slaphisagria, Lachesis. In many cases, where immediate relief is required, Opium, Pulsatilla, or the medicines prescribed under''Poisoning," will answer; in some few cases, Arsenicum, Ferrum, Rhus, or Silicea will be available 44 THE MOST COMMON CAUSES OF DISEASE. Effects of Lead. I^ad is often an ingredient in medicines, such as white ointment, plaste rs, Goulard's lotion, &c, which are used to dry up and cure eruptions ulcers, bruises, burns and wounds. It is almost as poisonous, when appbed exter- nally, as if it were used internally, and produces constipation, colic, cough, and complaints of the lungs. To remove these effects, give Opium, frequently repeated, Glonoine, followed by Nux vomica, or Belladonna, and afterwards, it necessary, Mercurius or Platinum. Effects of Arsenic. If the so-called medicines contain arsenic, as Fowler's solution, which are mostly given in fever and ague, when the quinine powders will not cure it, for many skin diseases, or for cancers, applied both internally and externally, and which generally aggravate the disease, give Ipecacuanha; and if this does not effect some improvement, give Nux vomica ;«if these remedies fail, or if, from the symptoms, Veratrum, Ferrum or China seem to suit better, give one of these. Effects of Iron. Iron is frequently given as steel drops, steel pills, &c, for intermittent fever, green-sickness and complaints of the lungs ; but instead of curing the evil, it generally makes it much worse. When the menses are not regular, and in general, when patients are weak and pale, there are some who imagine that if they be painted red inside, their outside will likewise become the more fascinating, or, that the iron will enter the system and make them strong. Iron, however, taken in large quantities, as a medicine, is injurious, as well as all the other metals, only it does not kill quite so rapidly. A proof of this assertion we find in springs which contain iron, and in which rust is formed ; neither man nor beast thrives upon this water; and even those who at last become accustomed to it, will sooner or later suffer from its effects. In cases where speedy relief must be afforded, give Pulsatilla or China, and if they do not avail, Hepart and after some time the former medicines again. In all cases of poisoning by medicine, it is necessary to look under the particular complaint, and to give in preference the medicines there recom- mended. He who has already taken different medicines, and has become worse and worse by their use, will do well to lay them all aside, no matter what they are called, and should his health not improve of itself, nor from the medicines which have been recommended here, let him apply to a comp»tent homoeopa- thic physician, and, in view of all the existing circumstances, not expect miracles It is often very difficult to give relief to the sufferer, and in most cases it takes a year or nrore, before he begins to improve, provided he has no hidden disease, which i either the old nor the new method can cure. CHAP. VII. ADULTERATIONS AND POISONS. 45 CHAPTER VII. ADULTERATIONS AND POISONS. Wilful murder and suicide by poison are but rare occurrences; most cases of poisoning originate in the carelessness with which poisonous things are handled, in the ignorance of their poisonous qualities, or in the wicked adul- teration of eatables and of liquors. With the necessary knowledge, we are frequently able to avoid this danger. As it is of importance to everybody v to be acquainted with the poisonous substances which threaten life, we will give some directions, how we may discover these adulterations and poisons, Wixes are most frequently adulterated, and here more than elsewhere; those imported into this country have either been adulterated already by the shipper, that they might keep, or it is done here when they are near spoiling, or to make them resemble wines of better quality, or for other purposes. We will give directions how to recognize adulterated wines, that the honest dealers and venders of wine may be able to examine the articles which tbey purchase, and that all who have to deal with rascals may first test the wine. All those who, by the directions given below, shall discover that wine has been adulterated, and who have a spark of feeling for their fellow-men, should expose, without the least hesitation or forbearance, the persons so offending, that this horrible practice may be checked in this country. It is true, that the venders may excuse themselves by saying that they have bought the. wine in that state. But the poison is there, and no one should deal in wine who does not know how to discover these adulterations, or who has not trust- worthy people from whom he orders his wines. At all events it ought to be made known that he had been deceived, and particularly by whom he had been deceived. Wines may be adulterated with harmless or noxious substances, and who- ever employs the former will employ the latter, for the distinction is but too easily overlooked. The chief harmless articles used for adulteration of wine, are water, sugar, brandy and various coloring matters; but as these are not fraught with mischief to the health, we may pass them over and proceed to point out some adulterations which operate as a slow poison, and which may be the cause of many diseases. ■a) Lime or Chalk is often used to restore wine that is spoiled, or to give new wine the appearance and taste of old ; this admixture is very injurious to all who drink it. It may be detected by taking a few grains of oxalate of potash, and dissolving them in two tablespoonfuls of distilled water, or in water obtnined by letting the steam from the spout of a teapot, filled with boiling water, pass into a cold vessel. This solution, itself a poison, drop into a glass of wine ; if you perceive in a few minutes a whitish cloud in it, and the next day a white sediment, there is lime or chalk in. the wine. Such wine drunk frequently, is apt to occasion gravel, hard glands, swellings, ulcers, sore eyes, tedious headache, diarrhcea^&c. b) Sulphur or Brims'one is often found in wine, and many pretend that wine cannot keep without it This, however, is erroneous, and much sulphur in wine ac s as a poison, particularly with persons of a consumptive habit, or who are subject to bowel or liver complaints ; in fact, it is injurious to every one who drinks it. The presence of sulphur may be easily detected by putting 46 THE MOST COMMON CAUSES OF DISEASE. a clean new-laid egg into a tumbler, and filling it with wine : if the wine contains sulphur the egg will be of a blackish color in a few hours, and well polished silver teaspoons will be blackened by the same process. Anolher test is, to drop a little lunar caustic, dissolved in water, into the wine; if a black or brownish black precipitate is formed, the wine contains sulphur. c) Alum is sometimes contained in wine, and renders it very injurious, when drank often ; a -ingle glass will not unfrequently prove hurtful to a person of delicate health. Dissolve potash in water, filter it through blotting paper, and pour some drops of this solution into the wine; if it foams and pre- cipitates a white powder, there is a probability of there being alum in the wine. If you desire a more decisive proof, apply to a chemist, or, dissolve the above mentioned white powder, in sulphuric acid diluted with water, adding a small portion of sulphate of potash. Let it evaporate on a stove and crystallize. Should pyramidal crystals appear, of the sweetish, astrin- gent taste of alum, the proof is positive. d) Lead, or some other metal, is often found in sweet wines, sometimes also iu other wines, and is indeed a slow poison, worse Jhan any other adultera- tion.—A nice taste will detect metallic^ poison in wine, the sweetness of which is disagreeable Dilute sulphuret of lime in water, and drop some of it into a glass of wine—if it turns brown or black, it contains metallic poison. Suspend a bit of polished zinc in the wine—delicate fibrils of lead will form upon it, if this metal is contained in the wine. Dissolve Glauber salts or sulphate of soda in lukewarm water till it becomes saturated, let it cool, then pour into a tumbler half filled with wine, as much of it as will fill the tumbler, let it stand over night, and there will remain a white sediment from the lead. If you put into a glass of wine a few drops of sulphuric acid, and the wine becomes turbid and leaves a white sediment, it contains this poison. e) Corrosive sublimate.—If you put a few drops of hartshorn into a tea- spoonful of water, and throw this mixture into a glass of wine and it leaves the least sediment, the wine contains corrosive sublimate. Another test is as follows : Put a gold coin on a piece of zinc, put both into a slit made in a small stick and hold the coin and zinc in a large tumbler full of wine. Should a gray dust immediately appear on the coin, there is corrosive sublimate in the wine. /') Arsenic.—Dissolve lime in water till the latter Ifecomes saturated, then pour off what is clear into a clean tumbler, and drop some wine into it; if the wine occasions white clouds, it is likely that it contains arsenic. To convince yourself more fully, dissolve sugar of lead in aquafortis, pour a wineglassful of this solution into a bottle of wine into which a little hartshorn has been previously put, and stir it. The next day pour off* what is clear, arid with the turbid part wash the sediment well out of the bottle, and strain it through blotting paper, till the liquid has passed off; then put the sediment after it has been dried on the paper, upon live coals; if it smells like garlic, arsenic is present. Other corroborative tests for arsenic in wine or any other fluid, are, 1, the ammonio-nitrate of silver, which throws down a rich yellow precipitate of arsenite of silver,.rapidly changing to a greenish-brown color.; 2, ammonio- eulphate cf copper which causes a rich green precipitate, which varies in tint according to the proportion of arsenic in the solution to the quantity of the test. It is not meant to imply that arsenic exists in the wine by the intention of the wine dealer or vender; but that vintners, who fumigate their casks with sulphur, are ignorant that the finest sulphur is apt to contain arsenic, which has remained in it from its original preparation. CHAP. VII. ADULTERATIONS AND POISONS. 47 We recommend these last tests most especially to clergymen and elders, because we know for certain, that adulterated wines have been sold for reli- gious purposes instead of genuine wines. Vinegar is often adulterated. If you cannot have self-made vinegar, use cider vinegar, which may always be had pure. Wine vinegar often retains the poison of the adulterated wine, from which it has been made. There is frequently sulphuric acid in it. This you can discover by means of a solution of sugar of lead, which causes a white sediment. Corroding vegetable poison is also frequently used. Such vinegar will burn on the lips, which pure vine- ger will not do; it leaves also an acrid taste in the mouth. You can ascer- tain it still more positively by dropping a solution of potash into the vinegar, until litmus paper dipped in it no longer turns red. Pure vinegar will then have lost its sharpness altogether, and only taste like salt or lye, while an adulterated article will remain of a sharp and acrid taste. Malt Liquors are frequently adulterated, but it is difficult to detect the poisonous ingredients, except by their pernicious effects. This is generally the case with the far-farned London brown stout or porter, which are occa- sionally adulterated with those deleterious substances, Nux vomica, Tobacco, and Cocculus iadieus. You may perceive this by a sudden intoxication and headache the next morning after drinking it, or by its producing nausea in a healthy person after drinking a tumblerful of it on an empty stomach. Any brewer who uses other substances in his beer than malt and hops, brews an injuriou?, even poisoning', drink; salt and sugar are allowable, but the effect? of other substances will sooner or later be felt by those who drink the beer It is an injurious deception to use bitter roots and herbs instead of sufficien bops and malt; but Cocculus indicus is nearly as bad as Arsenic. Alum and vitriol are sometimes used; how they may be detected we will show in the sequel, under "Bread." The adulteration with Nux vomica or Strychnine maybe detected by shaking half a gallon of the suspected liquor with two ounces of animal charcoal, filter- ing the liquor from the charcoal, boiling this latter for half an hour with four parts of alcohol, and proceeding with the filtered alcohol as will be stated under brandy and whisky. Brandy and other Liquors sometimes contain poison, with or without the fault of the distiller, particularly if the fermentation proceeds too rapidly or is continued too long. This you will perceive by boiling the brandy in a bottle put into a kettle full of water, over a slow fire, till all the spirituous parts are evaporated. An acrid, disagreeable taste proves the existence of poison; and experiments similar to those recommended for wines will show what it is. It is usually lead. It has lately been stated in most newspapers, that the manufacturers of whisky use strychnine to increase the quantity of the liquor; if this should be really the case, the strychnine can be detected in the following way: evapo- rate a quantity of the suspected liquor over a slow fire, until only a small quantity of fluid is left, which shake, first with a little caustic potash, and then with ether; evaporate the ether very slowly, put the residue on a piece of glass or porcelain, add a drop of strong sulphuric acid, and lastly a small crystal of bichromate of potassa, if now a deep violet tint appears, strych- nine is present. Sweet Oil is often adulterated with lead or copper. Dissolve liver of sul- 48 THE MOST COMMON CAUSES OF DISEASE. phurin water and mix the oil with an equal portion of this solution; if it turns brown or black upon being shaken, it is poisonous. Milk and Ice-Cream are sometimes mixed with potash or lime ; by putting some aquafortis into it, it will foam. When milk has been adulterated wbh starch, it will thicken in boiling; or if you strain it through fine linen, some- thing will remain behind, or a glassful of it will turn blue on the addition of a drop of the tincture of iodine. Adulteration with the brains of animals are quite frequent in large cities ; they may be detected by the microscope. Sour milk may contain zinc from being kept in vessels of that metal. _ Neu- tralize the whey by ammonia and add hydrosulphate of ammonia, a white set- tlement shows the presence of zinc. Butter often contains chalk, sand or dye-stuffs. Melt it in hot water, \ud the foreiun substance will be precipitated or mix with the water. Flour is often adulterated with sand, plaster, &c. Burn some of the flour or bread to ashes, and you will find the white grains in the ashes. Bread, a) By Potash or Soda.—A trifling admixture of potash or soda can affect only nervous, debilitated persons, but when there is much, it may prove injurious to the strongest—occasioning dyspepsia and other accidents. Pour hot water over the bread till it is quite covered, and let it get? cold ; then put a strip of litmus paper into it, which has previously been reddened by being drawn through weak vinegar. If it turns blue again, there is much potash in it: the quicker it changes the more potash there is in the bread. b) By Magnesia.— Magnesia is also used as an admixture to give to bread, baked of bad flour, the appearance of good bread. This is principally inju- rious to children and to people of weak stomachs : you may perceive it by its taste being more or less bitter. Burn a pound of such bre\d to ashes, and you will find the magnesia. c) By Alum.-—Alum is a very pernicious substance, and frequently used. In England the bakers made no secret of it, and mixtures of flour and alum, or alum and salt, are sold publicly, intended to make white bread out of inferior or spoiled flour, which is doubly detrimental to those who eat it, as spoiled flour is of itself unwholesome. Some bakers do it without knowing that they injure the health of their customers. To detect this adulteration, soak the bread in water, knead it till it dissolves, adding enough water to make it thin, let it remain over night, then strain it, boil it down and let it stand; the crystals of alum will be deposited and you can taste it. d) By Copper.— Copper is the worst of all adulterations, and thousands had been poisoned with it by the bakers of France and Belgium, before the physicians discovered the imposition. When a baker furnishes bread uncom- monly white, fine, large and heavy, you should be on your guard. When such bread is burned, the flame here and there burns green. To convince your- self perfectly, soak some pounds of it in water, and add enough to cover the whole completely, let it get sour and stand till it becomes clear. If you sus- pend a rod of polished iron in it, and this turns ever so little red, you may be sure that the bread is poisonous, and will seriously injure the health of any one who eats it. We will now call the attention of our readers to some other poisons, which ought to be known, that they may be guarded against. CHAP. VII. ADULTERATIONS AND POISONS. 49 Poisons in the Air. Old wells, caves, cellars vaults, and particularly old privies, frequently contain air that is deadly poisonous ; we should, therefore, not enter such places without proper caution, and previously purify the air by lighted straw or gunpowder, or by chloride of lime, or elilorideof zinc. The fumes of charcoal in a close room, or the exhalations arising from smouldering wood- work may cause the death of those who sleep exposed to these dangerous influences. The dry rot in a house, which gradually destroys the timber and walls, can cause dangerous diseases to its inhabitants. Buildings in this con- dition are not tenautable, and ought to be pulled down, unless the dry rot can be removed. The smell of walls, newly whitewashed, of paint in new build- ings, or whereever much painting or varnishing has been done, particularly with poisonous green or red colors, consumes the pure, and engenders a mephitic air. Nothing that has a strong odor ought to be suffered in sleep- ing rooms; no clothes to dry; no highly scented flowers, herbs, fermenting substances, fresh hay, vermin-poison, or quicksilver—all of which will prove injurious to the sleeping—and especially to children, and to females in confine- ment. For in sleep, man is more easily affected by noxious influences; and things which he would hardly notice when awake, or the injurious effects of which he would easily overcome, may affect him seriously, and even kill him when asleep. A person may become ill from sleeping on damp ground, exposed to a draught, in sunshine or moonlight, close to a hot stove, or in an atmosphere filled with odors of any kind. Bad air makes people sleepy. If small churches are not opened during the whole week, the whole assembly on Sunday will feel sleepy in spite of the best sermon. Persons who have just recovered from a disease are very apt to become there ill again, no matter with how good an intention they came to church. Water is often impure, and people get ill from using: it. Springs which are avoided by cattle, and have a reddish or brownish sediment, are injurious. Whoever considers the loss of time which a trifling indisposition may cause to a whole family, will not deem that time lost which is spent upon improving the water. Drink no water from rivers on which, a little higher up, there are manufac- tories, from which dye-stuffs and other noxious matters run into it. Spring' or well water is hard, or contains particles of lime or iron, if soap will not; dissolve in it; such water ought to be boiled before using it. You should, however, not drink too much, nor too often of it, but rather accustom your- self to rain water, if favorably situated for procuring it pure, and without the admixture of smoke and soot, it should be preserved in cisterns, or imcasks slightly covered. AVater containing sulphurous or salty particles, ought never to be used for drinking or culinary purposes, except in,cases of the greatest necessity; for water of this kind cannot be improved, by boilimr. Stagnant water from ponds, pools, mach as soon as possible, the stomach-pump must be applied. The principal remedies to lessen the effects of the poison, when it is unknown, are, if there is great pain, water and the white of eggs—if insensibility pre- dominates, coffee. As soon as it is ascertained whether the poison is an acid or a metal, give soap-suds; if an alkali, give vinegar. All other remedies are only applicable when you know what kind of poison you have to deal with. Treatment when the .Poison is ascertained. Generally, the beforementioned rules hold good; besides attending to the vomiting, however, administer immediately the remedies here recommended. The antidotes recommended against each particular poison have been ar- ranged according to their efficacy, the most efficacious being mentioned first. When these are not at hand, give what can be first procured. If a person, for instance, has swallowed sulphuric acid, it would be folly to wait until mag- nesia or white soap could be brought from the apothecary ; when these cannot be had on the spot, take a handful of wood ashes, stir them in water and let this be drunk immediately, although it will not answer as well. If this is not at hand use soda or potash. I. Poisoning by Inhaling Gases and by Substances introduced into the Stomach. 1. poisonous gases; antidotes and treatment. a) Gases produced in places deprived of a fresh current of air. In deep privies that have not been cleansed for a length of time; in places deprived of a fresh current of air, where offal of animals is suffered to decay, a poison- ous gas of a foetid, offensive smell resembling that of rotten eggs, and in which polished metal, particularly silver, turns black, is generated. Such gas inhaled will cause nausea, nervousness and difficulty of breathing ; the pulse becomes feeble, there is an expression of languor about the eye;°a coldness is felt in Iheears; the abdomen is contracted, and unless the suf- ferer is speedily reuoved from its influence, convulsions aud apparent death CHAP. VIII. POISONING. 61 ensue, which latter, if no medical aid is afforded, will terminate in actual death. The best remedy is chloride of lime, or chloride of zinc. Before persons expose themselves they should provide chloride of lime, some of which, diluted with water, will destroy the foetid gas, and enable them to work in such places without danger. The bad smell is also speedily re- moved by throwing in a few shovelfuls of quick lime. A person who has become insensible by inhaling this gas, should im- mediately be brought into the fresh air, undressed, and placed on his back, with the breast elevated, and cold water thrown plentifully on his face and breast. If you have a solution of chloride of lime in water at hand, dip a sponge in it, and hold it occasionally before his nose. The solution should be rather weak, so as not to excite cough in a healthy person who inhales it. Put a tablespoonful of the strong solution into a tumbler full of water, and put half a teaspooiiful of this into the mouth of the sufferer, repeat it every five or ten minutes until the patient begins to revive. If vinegar can be had sooner, mix this with an equal portion of water, and sprinkle the face with it—and hold a sponge dipt in vinegar before the nose and mouth. During this time the patient should be rubbed with hot flannel. If his face has been sprinkled with cold water or vinegar, wipe it dry after a little while ; then rub it with hot flannel, and repeat the sprinkling. The feet, abdomen, breast, and arms particularly, ought to be well rubbed. The soles of the feet and the back may be brushed a little with a stiff brush. Be not too hasty, but proceed gently and perseveringly. Life sometimes does not return in less than three or four hours. If the patient, apparently dead, does not breathe at all, it is useless to hold a sponge before his nose ; only try from time to time, by holding a light feather there, whether his breathing has recommenced. Occasionally blow breath into his mouth, which is best done by a person inhaling as much as he can, and then placing his mouth on that of the patient (whose nose should be closed), and blowing in the breath gradually. If this expands the chest, let the breath go out of itself, and repeat the operation. If the breath will not come out again of itself, place a towel around the chest, and after the breath has been blown in, tighten it gently. By thus producing an artificial respiration, a person apparently dead may often be restored again, but he who undertakes the operation should himself be healthy, and have a sweet breath, and either drink some vinegar, or rinse his mouth with it occasionally. As soon as the patient makes an attempt at drawing in his breath, or at exhaling it with a sigh, discontinue these efforts, and gently fan fresh air toward him, and when the breathing becomes stronger hold a sponge to his mouth, dipped in a very weak solution of chloride of lime, or vinegar. Care must be taken indeed, lest you extinguish the feeble life which is just returning. If the patient recovers, give him a few drops of a weak solution of chloride of lime or vinegar on his tongue. If he complains°of cold, inclina- tion to go to stool, of nausea, and vinegar will not remove these symptoms, or if he is getting tired of the vinegar, give him a little coffee without mijk. If he complains of heat and great weakness, giv# him a little good old wine. The smell of camphor too is often beneficial; in this respect consult the wishes of the patient; whatever is most agreeable to him, or affords him relief, deserves the preference. Another poisonous gas, which is suffocating, is generated in deep wells, vaults and lime furnaces. It has not the bad smell of the gas above men- tioned, but makes him who inhales it sleepy, giddy and at last senseless 7 62 THE MOST COMMON CAUSES OF DISEASE. Person? affected by it will usually revive in a short time, by bringing them speedily,into the open air, sprinkling them with cold water and vinegar, and pouring coffee into their mouths. Do not act with too much precipitation- delay is not dangerous in such a case. If respiration does not return, it will be necessary to inflate the lungs, by breathing into the mouth. b) Gas generated by charcoal.—The gas arising from charcoal is -a most dangerous poison, particularly to persons sleeping. Never sleep with lighted charcoal in a room which has not an open fire-place. The same applies to coal. Old woodwork too, has been known to smoulder for days, without any smoke being perceptible ; the inhabitants of the house, paying no attention to the somewhat smoky smell, have been found in the agonies of death, before the smouldering was at all perceptible. It is remarkable that all persons who are exposed to this gas, become so feeble as to be unable to go into the air, to open doors or windows, or to call for aid. They suffer much and know the danger, but cannot make the effort to move from the spot, in order to save themselves. A similar sensation seizes upon those who, in extremely cold weather, sit down in the open air to rest themselves, although they know the fate that is before them, they want energy to resist it. The symptoms of having been poisoned by gas produced from coal and charcoal, if animation is not yet suspended, are headache, with nausea, retching and vomiting—sometimes of blood ; a heavy burden seems to oppress the chest, the face becomes red, and at last purple and bloated, the patient is seized with involuntary and hysteric weeping, talks incoherently, falls down suddenly, is seized with fits and convulsions, and finally becomes perfectly unconscious, and is seized with apoplexy. Carry the patient into the fresh air, rub him with vinegar, and let him inhale the vapor of vinegar. If the face is already very red, and he begins to rave, throw ice-cold water on the head. In general, it is well to make cold applications to the head, and warm applications to the feet, and as soon as the patient can swallow, to give some coffee without sugar and milk. When the patient has somewhat recovered, it is well to give Opium, and to dispense with the vinegar. If Opium gives relief, but only for a short time, repeat it. After several hours, or earlier, if Opium does not seem very efficacious, give Belladonna, and allow it sufficient time to operate. If the patient is very much excited, talks much and rapidly, complains of shooting pains, or if it seems to him as if he were flying, and he feels giddy when lying down, give him a little coffee without milk, and continue it until the symp- toms require Belladonna or Nux vomica. c) Dry rot in old buildings.-—The effect produced by dry rot in old build- ings, is similar to that produced by charcoal fire, only it operates less sud- denly. It is better if possible to quit such houses, or to rebuild them ; but, if people have to live in them, they should try to destroy the dry rot by means of charcoal powder. Place as much of this as possible, above, below and around the spot where the dry rot appears. The spots themselves may, from time to time, be washed over with a strong solution of blue vitriol or sulphate of copper, or still better chloride of zinc. To guard against the effects of dry rot, take f^om time to time a little rain water, in a gallon of which a few drops of sulphuric acid have been mixed. d) Chlorine gas.—To obviate the bad effects of the gas produced by chlo- ride of lime, to which many persons are exposed, smoking tobacco is the best preventive; or you may drop some strong brandy, rum, or spirits of wine on a piece of loaf sugar, aud take it in your mouth. The first, how ever, is to be prefei red. CHAP. VIII. POISONING. 63 If so much rf tbia yoA has been breathed as to cause pain in the throat and chest, a sons'-; of saAocation and coughing, let the patient smell the bad air from a privy, a re den egg, or better that from the liver of sulphur, sold by druggists; it must be used cautiously, and only repeated as often as the pains return. ' e) Prussic and mineral, acids.—For the effects caused by inhaling the poi- sonous vapors of Prussic acid or mineral acids, the best remedy is spirits of hartshorn ; but by no means apply the vial containing such spirits close to the nose ; this would only increase the evil; rather move it slowly to and fro, at the distance of about six or eight inches from the nose and mouth, so as to smell it very faintly, and repeat this as often as necessary, or put a few drops upon paper, and introduce the paper into a large empty bottle, and smell the bo* tie from time to time. Whether the vapors are from acids or from alkali, may be discovered by litmus paper. Acids will turn it^red, alkali will turn that which has been turned red by acids, blue again. In cases of poisoning by acid vapors, you may put one drop of spirits of hartshorn into a tumblerful of water, and give of this mixture a teaspooiiful every ten minutes. In poisoning by vapor of alkali, give from time to time a teaspooiiful of vinegar. It is very injurious to sleep in rooms which have not been ventilated, or which have been shut up for a long time. The air has then become stagnant •and putrid—we may almost compare it to the water in standing pools—and produces nightmare, frightful dreams, visions, depression of spirits, and fear- fulness approaching to horror. The best preventive is proper ventilation, not by opening the windows merely, but by introducing a strong draught of air, increased by the waving of towels, or a blazing fire in the fireplace. Water placed in shallow vessels about the room will likewise answer. But, if the purification has been neglected, and the consequences mentioned ensue, give Aeon:t<-; for horror, Opium; for continual fear and shuddering, Vera- trum; for headache and other effects arising from sleeping in an apartment, where there were flowers emitting a strong scent, or fro* sleeping on new hay, fresh air and cold washing will be good, and also the administration of Nux vomica. In complaints caused by sleeping in rooms which have been recently white washed, or where clothes have been hung up for drying, or where a large quantity of clothes has been kept after being dried, or where many growing plants are standing in a confined place, and where fruits or vegetables are lying, Bryonia will generally be beueficial, sometimes Belladonna. See also " Headache." If the painting of houses, rooms and furniture, has produced complaints which do not altogether disappear upon going into the open air or after washing with cold water, Aconite, Bryonia or Sulphur,-will prove beneficial, and sometimes Opium ; if it has produced pains in the bowels, nausea and vomiting, worse when moving, give Mercurius. It is well to put a tub of cold water into the bedroom; the'water should be renewed every evening. It will absorb the poison. «Or a few dishes full of unslaked lime placed about the house, will soon remove the disagreeable smell. In general, painting ought to be done in autumn only, and when the weather is dry and cool; for the smell will then soonest disappear, the paint adhere best, become dry sooner, and be less liable to he spoiled by insects and dust. Most kinds of bad smell, which sometimes fill a room or even a whole 64 THE MOST COMMON CAUSES OF DISEASE. house and which cannot always be avoided, as for instance from a concealed dead rat, or from a sick person, are most readily aud surely destroyed tfy the vapors of roasting coffee. Heat a common fire-shovel over a fire, put upon it a few raw coffee beans, and as soon as you see vapors arise from the beans, carry the shovel about the room or whole house. The purifying effect of even a few beans is really surprising; the usual perfumeries, smelling-salts, &c, are of no use; they merely conceal the bad smell, but do not destroy it. Chloride of lime is not so effective and is besides injurious to most persons. You need not fear of interfering with the effects of the homoeopathic reme- dies by the vapors of coffee, if their effect is weakened, repeat the medicine The bad air is much the worse of the two. 2. poisoning by mineral and other strong acids—their antidotes and treatment. In cases of poisoning by sulphuric acid or oil of vitriol, muriatic acid or spirits of salt, nitric acid or aqua-fortis, aqua-regia, salts of wild sorrel, phos- phoric acid, acetic acid, wood-vinegar, or too much strong vinegar, the symptoms are a sour, burning taste and smell, a burning, acrid heat in the throat and the stomach, retching and vomiting, acute pains in the stomach and intestines ; drinking increases the pains—the breath soon becomes offen- sive ; what is vomited tastes very sour, ferments, and blue litmus paper dipped into it turns red ; frequently the inside of the mouth looks as if scalded and marbled. In this case give : 1. Tepid soapsuds in great abundance. 2. Magnesia—a spoonful in a cup of water—after every fit of vomiting, or repeated when the pains increase. Calcined magnesia is not so good as common magnesia. 3. Chalk powdered and mixed in a tumbler full of warm water. 4. Woodashes—a spoonful mixed in a tumblerful of warm water. 5. Potash or soda—dissolve as much as will lie upon the end of a knife in a large tumbler oLwarm water. Give Nos. 1 and 2 alternately; the others are intended merely as substi- tutes until the former can be procured. After the patient has vomited sufficiently, let him drink gruel or barley water, decoction of linseed or rice, or any thing else of a mucilaginous cha- racter that is at hand, and let him use nothing else for several days. When the worst is past, give after sulphuric acid, Pulsatilla ; after muriatic acid, Bryonia; after nitric acid, Hepar; after phosphoric acid, Coffea; after other acids or wood-vinegar, Aconite. When strong acids have got into the eye, oil of almonds or fresh unsalted butter should be freely applied to it; occasionally you may apply chalk, mixing it previously with water until the latter assumes a curdled appearance. Pure water is injurious, and should not be used to wash the eyes with until later. For an external scald or burn with strong acids, limewater is good, or a Balve made of limewater and sweet oil. 3. ALKALINE POISONS—THEIR ANTIDOTES AND TREATMENT. Pot and pearl ash, caustic potash, lye, carbonate of potash, soda, ammonia, hartshorn, salvolatile, smelling salts, burnt aud unslacked lime, may be known by their alkaline, urinous, acrid taste ; and in vomiting caused by them there is no fermentation of the substances ejected ; litmus paper which has been turned red by acids becomes blue agaiu by being dipped into them • CHAP. VIII. POISONING. 65 the symptoms are nearly the same as from acids, with the Jxceptions men- tioned above, and what is thrown up is not sour. 1. Stir two tablespoonfuls of vinegar in a glass of water, warm, if you can and give a wineglassful of it every five minutes. 2. Lemon juice or other acids, but greatly diluted—or sour fruit bruised in water. 3. Sour milk or butter-milk. 4. Mucilaginous drinks and injections. 5. Oil, particularly that of sweet almonds, 6. Lemonade made of cream of tartar. Emetics are dangerous, and vomiting should only be excited by tire above- mentioned drinks, and by tickling the throat with a feather. In poisoning with carbonate of baryta (a peculiar kind of heavy, white earth, which is sometimes sold as ratsbane,) pure vinegar is injurious; in this case give merely mucilaginous things and oil, and endeavor to excite vomiting, until you can procure Glauber's salts (sulphate of soda.) or Epsom salts, which should be dissolved in water and drunk freely, much diluted sulphuric acid will answer also. Afterwards let 'the patient occasionally smell of camphor, or if this is of no use, smell sweet spirits of nitre. After poisoning from potash, Carbo vegetabilis : after hartshorn, Hepar. 4. OTHER SUBSTANCES WHICH HAVE A POWERFUL EFFECT.--ANTIDOTES AND TREATMENT. a) Liver of Sulphur.—To counteract the effects of liver of sulphur, give mucilaginous drinks mixed with a weak solution of chloride of lime, as long as the breath exhales the odor of sulphureted hydrogen. If drinking warm water and tickling the throat does not produce vomiting, give a weak solu- tion of tartar emetic. After the patient has done vomiting, and the breath has no longer the sulphurous smell, give Belladonna. b) Iodine is often given as a medicine, although it sometimes produces sud- den and dangerous effects. To remove these effects, give,—1. Starch stirred in water; 2. Paste made out of starch ; 3. Wheat flour, and afterwards thin mucilaginous drinks ; 4. Vomiting should be promoted by drinking a weak solution of carbonate of soda, and tickling the throat with a feather. For the remaining symptoms, give Hepar; sometimes Belladonna. c) Phosphorus.—Oil and fat of all kinds, when given for the bad effects of phosphorus, are dangerous. Give merely mucilaginous or albuminous drinks, holding magnesia suspended, and excite vomiting as quickly as possible ; if you cannot succeed in doing this immediately, make use of tobacco or mus- tard, and afterwards give coffee without milk. Some hours after it, a spoon- ful of magnesia has frequently a good effect; it is best to use the magnesia, stirred into A weak solution of chloride of lime. If neither this nor the smelling of camphor gives relief, give Nux vomica. If the patient desires it, give a little good old wine or brandy, but only a few drops on sugar. d) Alcohol, or strong spirits of wine and ether, taken inadvertently, may produce dangerous consequences. Generally it suffices to give milk and; mucilaginous drinks. If these do not answer, give a drop of strong hartshorn in a glass of sugar-water, a teaspoonful at a time. Throw, also, cold water on the head, and place wet towels on the region of the stomach. If that does not give, relief in a short time, give Nux vomica, and, as long as the stomach can bear it, mucilaginous drinks. Afterwards, coffee-without miik. e) Prussic acid.—Known by the smell resembling that of bitter almouds. It operates so rapidly that you must lose no time in administering the proper remedies. In such a case there is no time to excite vomiting. Let the patient smell spirits of sal ammoniac, held at a little distance. Drop a little on a handkerchief, and hold it so that only a faint exhalation may, reach him. / 7* 66 #THE MOSff COMMON CAUSES OF DISEASE. Or, put a drop of it into a tumblerful of water, stir it, and give him a tea- spoonful of it every three to five minutes. Without loss of time, bare the patient's back and pour pitchers of cold water down his spine, continually, until he recovers his senses. As soon as you can, get coffee made, give plenty of it to drink, and also in injections. If no other remedies are near, let the patient smell camphor or vinegar, and inhale the vapor. Afterwards give Cffea or Ipecacuanha; and if this does not remove all the symptoms, give Nux vonlica. f) Alum.—Give soap-suds or sugar-water, mixed with calcined magnesia, until vomiting ensues ; afterwards, Pulsatilla or Veratrum. g) Vitriol, white, green and blw.—Give sugar and warm water, or the white of eggs dissolved in' cold water, until the patient has vomited several times; afterwards give gruel, &c. h) Saltpetre and Sal. Ammoniac.—Give tepid water or melted butter mixed with water, until the patient vomits copiously; then plenty of mucilaginous drink. i) Bichromate of Potash.—Beautiful red crystals, very poisonous. Acetate of lime or liver of sulphur are said to be the antidotes. 5. METALLIC SUBSTANCES--ANTIDOTES AND TREATMENT. a) Arsenic.—Arsenic is contained in ratsbane, fly-stone, cobalt, king's yellow and orpiment; in fever drops, salves and plasters for cancers, and numerous secret remedies, particularly in those for -lorses and cattle. In cases of poisoning with arsenic proceed as follows :—If vomiting is not already present, give mucilaginous drinks, such as linseed tea, milk, or albu- minous fluids. The be3t emetic is powdered mustard, one or two tea- spoonfuls in a glass of water. A soapy liquid, made with equal parts of oil and lime-water, should also be given. The stomach-pump should also be used. The "hydrated sesquioxide of iron, which had formerly a great repu- tation, seems to have no claims to be considered a chemical antidote, and has no advantages over mucilaginous or albuminous drinks. Fresh blood has been recommended, but it is not superior to the means above indicated. There is great danger, even when the whole of the poison has apparently been ejected from the stomach, especially if it has remained a considerable time in the stomach. Vinegar is of no use, and oil is injurious. After the poison has been got rid of, as far as that was practicable, give Ipecacuanha several times ; if the patient still feels very uneasy and irritable by night, is also feverish, China; if he is worse during the day, after sleep- ing—if he is constipated, or has slimy diarrhcea, Nux vomica. If Ipecacuanha leaves frequent nausea, vomiting, with heat or cold, and great weakness, Veratrum. The liquid which hatters use in the manufacture of fine hats contains arsenic. The wearing of such hats frequently causes eruptions on the fore- head, or sore eyes; and, perhaps the frequent baldness of young persons, said to prevail since the general use of silk in preference to beaver hats, may be attributed to the same cause. To prevent this, have the hat well lined with silk and leather, and for the bad effects, take Hepar. Green paint, green carpets frequently, and green wall papers most always, contain a com- pound of arsenic and copper which often occasions symptoms of arsenical poisoning, which will require Hepar for their removal. Some composition candles also, are prepared with arsenic, which renders them unwholesome. b) Corrosive sublimate.—For tl is poison give, 1, the white of eggs in water; CHAP. VIII. POISONING. 67 2, sugar-water; 3, milk; 4, starch made from wheat flour, dissolved or boiled in water ; 5, flour paste ; 6, endeavor to promote vomiting. White of eggs in water is the principal remedy; you may give it alter- nately with sugar-water. The remaining symptoms require the same treat- ment as those from poisoning by mercury. See " Mercury." c) Copper, Verdigris.—For these, or any other preparation of copper, give, 1, white of eggs; 2, sugar—both with or without water; 3, milk; 4, other slimy substances ; the protosulphuret of iron is said to act as an antidote to copper-poisoning ; it may be given, if at hand, in doses of a teaspoonful every half hour. If, however, it cannot be had immediately, a rude prepara- tion of it may be made in the following way, with a stick of brimstone. Take a flat piece of iron and make it red hot. Then, let the sulphur melt on it so that it runs along its surface, and let it drop into water. After that take thfe sulphur, grind it, and mix it with water, shaking it well. After the coarser particles have settled, let the patient drink the water quickly, a tablespoonful or even a teacupful at a time. This will also answer in cases of poisoning by other metals. But if it cannot be given immediately admin- ister the white of eggs forthwith. d) Lead.—In poisoning by lead give, 1, sulphuret of iron, prepared as above ; 2, epsom salts or sulphate of magnesia ; 3, Glauber's salts or sulphate of soda. The former is the best ; when it cannot be had take the latter. A tablespoonful should be dissolved in a pint of warm water, and drunk in abundance if much of the poison has been taken ; 4, white of eggs ; 5, soap; 6, milk. Vomiting should be excited as speedily as possible. After +he salts or soap give mucilaginous drinks and injections. For paius, Opium, Belladonna, Glonoine, or Nux vomica. For the chronic complainu c/wsed by lead in those who have anything to do with lead-paint, or of tho.e who live near lead-works, use, besides Opium and Belladonna, Platina. Smalt doses of alum are also useful. A good preventive for those who wo-k in lead-works, is lemonade made with sulphuric acid, one or two drops of it to a tumblerful of water. Poisoning by lead occurs very often, from sour victuals being left in tin vessels, for tin is nearly always mixed with lead. Things that are sour or sourish should uever be allowed to cool or to remain in metal vessels, nor should silver, tinned or tin spoons be left in victuals. Sour things should only be kept in stoneware, porcelain or glass. e) Nitrae of Silver, Lunar Caustic, Lapis Infernalis.—Give common salt dissolved in water in abundance ; endeavor to promote vomiting, and after- wards give mucilaginous drinks. _/') Antimony.—For poisoning by this, taken either as antimonial wine or tartar-emetic, give, 1, a decoction of gall-nuts, or oak bark, or the peel of pomegranates ; 2, strong black tea ; 3, coffee without milk, in large quanti- ties ; 4, mucilaginous drinks. For convulsions give Opium. If the vomiting does not cease soon, put the patient into a warm bath, or apply a hot cloth over the stomach aud abdomen, and give Opium and Ipecacuanha, alternately, every five to ten minutes; if not better soon, Lachesis; for nausea and other effecta^pecacu- anha or Nux vomica. g) Tin.—For poisoning by tin, give, 1, white of eggs; 2, sugar; 3, milk; with all these magnesia should be mixed, as it decomposes the salts of tiu. The chronic effects of tin, which occur so frequently, from the tiu being Bcraped off from the tin utensils, are mitigated by Pulsatilla. h) Chloride of tin.—1, milk ; 2, sugar; 3, white of eggs ; afterwards Hepar and Pulsatilla. 68 THE MOST COMMON C vUSES OF DISEASE. i) Zinc, sulphate of zinc.—Proceed as stated under antimony ; afterwards Hepar. 6. VEGETABLE POISONS, ANTIDOTES AND TREATMENT. a) Poisonous mushrooms.—These fungi do not generally produce any per ceptible effect until several hours after they have been taken. The abdomen then becomes enlarged, with a cutting pain in the region of the stomach ; vomiting and purging preceded by thirst, nausea, hiccough, agitation; cold- ness of the limbs, small pulse, numbness, incoherent talking and convulsions. If these symptoms appear, promote vomiting, and let the patient drink freely of cold water, as cold as it can be had ; from time to time give finely pow- dered charcoal, made into a sort of paste with sweet oil. Should this not afford sufficient relief, let the patient smell gently of spirits of hartshorn. The remaining symptoms may be removed by wine or coffee. b) Blighted corn, Ergot.—Blighted corn, or those thick, black grains in Indian corn, rice, wheat, rye or other grains ; also the sweet or black rusty taint in grain is very injurious to man and beast. The ill effects of it, how- ever, can be counteracted by the' common black nightshade, bruised in cold water, and then hot water poured on it. Inhale the vapor of this or wash the cattle with it. c) Intoxicating plants.—For plants which are intoxicating in their effects, making the person who takes them drunk, or depriving him of consciousness, making him delirious and raving, the principal antidote is coffee drunk in large quantities and given in injections. For some of these substances, such as opium, laudanum, or poppy heads and thorn-apple, vinegar answers very well. If the patient has a red face, red eyes, looks wild and stares, cold k water thrown over him is very useful. For parts of plants which smell of bitter almonds, and consequently con- tain that virulent poison Prussic acid, such as bitter almonds, peach kernels. and peach leaves; also for cordials prepared with them, such as cherry brandy, persico and noyau, and many medicinal compounds into whose com- position it enters, in all of which it is easily detected by the peculiar smell and bitter taste and by its effects : heaviness, giddiness, oppression, particu- larly on the chest, first a quick, afterwards a slow pulse, paralysis or a feeling as if paralysis were about to ensue : for all these coffee without milk is the chief remedy, and in very dangerous cases, spirits of hartshorn, of which the patient may smell gently from time to time, or mix a few drops in a tumbler t of water, and give every ten or fifteen minutes a teaspoonful. When the symptoms are very violent, the cold effusion on the spine described before will be requisite. d) Opium or laudanum.—For poisoning with opium or laudanum, the seeds of poppy, or a decoction of poppy heads, which are foolishly given to children to make them sleep, coffee is the best antidote; before this can be got ready give vinegar; if the patient lies insensible, drag him about the room between two persons, talk tc him and beat him hard on the back and hips until consciousness is restored. Emetics are useless, and if the drinking of coffee^oes not produce vomiting, try to force it with cold water and tick- ling the throat with a feather ; in very hard cases, the stomach-pump must be used. Sometimes a tea made with oats will answer (that is common oats such as are given to horses), wash well a large handful of these, and then pour two or three cups of boiling water on them ; give a tablespoonful at a time. Some time after, it is well to give Ipecacuanha, repeating it a couple of times, and if the pains remain, after some days, Mercurius. For, poisoning CHAP. VIII. POISONING. 69 with the Eeeds of Stramonium, called also thorn-apple, give also coffee and lemon juice, or vinegar in large quantities; if no vomiting ensues, tobacco is very applicable in this case; for the remaining symptoms give Nux vomica. e) Poison vine.—Poison vine is apt to cause a complaint similar to St. An- thony's fire (erysipelas.) Rubbing or scratching should be avoided as much as possible, and strong washes or unguents to drive in the eruption are also highly injurious. If careful washing with soap and water does not relieve the itching, try rubbing with wheaten bran, or dusting with hair-powder. Let the patient abstain from every thing that is heating and stimulating, and take Bryonia, to be repeated if the complaint gets worse. If the irritation is in the face, and Bryonia does not give relief, give Belladonna. A wash of a weak solution of copperas (sulphate of iron) is very useful. External injuries from plants which exude a pungent, milky juice, and which are very common in the country, are cured by washing with soap- water and afterwards with brandy. If some of the juice has got into the eye, apply the oil of almonds, unsalted butter or milk ; if it has got into the sto- mach, use soapsuds, milk, «.tc, but neither acids nor emetics. The same holds good of all acrid, burning, corrosive, vegetable substances, as gamboge, euphorbium, &c. f) Pink root.—In cases of poisoning by that noxious plant, Pink root, (Spigelia,) so frequently given for worms, let the patient smell camphor, give him coffee without milk, and if after the expiration of several days, palpita- tion of the heart, giddiness, &c, still remain, give Mercurius. g) Camphor and Saffron.—In cases of poisoning with camphor or saffron, give coffee without milk till it brings on vomiting, and if all the symptoms do not disappear, Opium every hour until they cease. h) Spirits of Turpentine.—Incases of poisoning with spirits of turpentine, Opium, Belladonna, or Bryonia will prove efficacious. If the kidneys are m ish irritated, Cantharis should be given. For poisoning by all other vegetable substances let the patient smell cam- phor, and give him coffee to drink if the camphor does not afford relief. If they produce a fueling of numbness, weak vinegaPmay also be given ; if very painful, soapsuds and milk. 7. ANIMAL POISONS. ANTIDOTES AND TREATMENT. a) Spanish jlies.—Spanish flies (cantharides,) or plasters made thereof, contain virulent poison, which not unfrequently produces very serious symp- toms, especially if it gets into the stomach or into the eyes. It causes vio- lent burning, which is aggravated by oil, fat, milk, &c. The best antidotes to be used, both inwardly and applied to the eyes, are the white of eggs and tepid, slimy substances, such as gruel, &c. Apply these plentifully to the eye, or if you have nothing else, use flour, and do not wash and rub too much. The poisonous substance may often be extracted with a narrow strip of linen or paper rolled into a point. For all bad consequences arising from taking cantharides, or from their application in blisters, and for similar poisoning from other insects, camphor is the chief remedy. Let the patient smell it every minute, and rub with spirits of camphor the parts most affected. For headache rub the temples ; for violent pains in the kidneys or bladder, rub the loins ; if camphor should afford no relief, omit it and give Apium virus. b) Poisonous honey.—For the injurious effects of poisonous honey, camphor 70 THE MOST COMMON CAUSES OF DISEASE. is also most to be recommended. It should be frequently smelt, and fric- tions with its solution in spirit performed. Inwardly give warm tea or coffee without milk. c) Hair of Caterpillars.—The hair of caterpillars is apt to cause violent inflammation. Do not rub, for it will only make it worse ; but apply hand- kerchiefs which have been moistened with spirits of camphor. d) Sf/ell-Jish and other poisonous fish, dV.—Among shell-fish, such as clams, muscles, cockles,