582. Emulsion, Purgative
Rub down six grains of scammony with six drachms of white sugar in a mortar, and gradually add four ounces of almond emulsion, and two drops of oil of cloves.
Dose
, as prepared, early in the morning.
583. To Prevent Pitting after Small Pox
Spread a sheet of thin leather with the ointment of ammoniacum with mercury, and cut out a place for the mouth, eyes, and nostrils. This forms what is called a mask, and, after anointing the eyelids with a little blue ointment, it should be applied to the face, and allowed to remain for three days for the distinct kind, and four days for the running variety.
Apply before
the spots fill with matter, although it will answer sometimes even after they have become pustulous. It may be applied to any part in the same way.
584. Another Method
Another method, and one more reliable, is that of touching every pustule, or poc, on the face or bosom with a camel-hair pencil dipped in a weak solution of lunar caustic (
nitrate of silver
), made in the proportion of two grains of nitrate of silver to one ounce of distilled water. The time for application is about the seventh day, while each pustule is filled with a limpid fluid, or before suppuration takes place, the lotion arresting that action, and by preventing the formation of matter, saving the skin from being pitted; a result that follows from the conversion of the adipose tissue into pus.
585. A Third Method
of effecting the same purpose is by passing a fine needle through each poc, when fully distended with lymph; the escape of the fluid averting, as in the other mode, the suppuration which would otherwise ensue.
A Fool or a Physician at Forty.
586. Another Method (4)
A fourth and much more simple method of preventing pitting from small-pox is to lightly touch every part of the face with a feather dipped in sweet oil. It also tends to prevent this disfigurement to cause the light in the patient's apartment by day to assume a yellow tinge or colour, which may be easily managed by fitting the room with yellow or brownish yellow linen blinds.
587. Mucilage of Gum Arabic
Rub one ounce of gum arabic in a mortar, with four ounces of warm water. Use for coughs, &c.
588. Mucilage of Starch
Rub one drachm of starch with a little water, and gradually add five ounces of water, then boil until it forms a mucilage. Use for enemas, topical applications, and demulcents.
589. Diseases
For the proper Remedies and their Doses see "Prescriptions" (par.
650
).
590. Seek Medical Advice
It should be clearly understood, that in all cases of disease, the advice of a skilful physician is of the first importance. It is not, therefore, intended by the following information to supersede the important and necessary practice of the medical man; but rather, by exhibiting the treatment required, to show in what degree his aid is imperative. In cases, however, where the disorder may be simple and transient, or in which remote residence, or other circumstances, may deny the privilege of medical attendance, the following particulars will be found of the utmost value. Moreover, the hints given upon what should be
avoided
will be of great service to the patient, since the
physiological
is no less important than the
medical
treatment of disease.
591. Apoplexy
Immediate and large bleeding from the arm, cupping at the back of the neck, leeches to the temples, aperients Nos.
1
and
7
, one or two drops of croton oil rubbed or dropped on the tongue. Avoid excesses, intemperance, animal food.
592. Bile, Bilious, or Liver Complaints
Abstinence from malt liquors, cool homœopathic cocoa for drink, no tea or coffee, few vegetables, no broths or soups; lean juicy meat not over-cooked for dinner, with stale bread occasionally and a slice of toasted bacon for breakfast. Nos.
44
and
45
.
593. Chicken Pox
Mild aperients, No.
4
, succeeded by No.
7
, and No.
8
, if much fever accompany the eruption.
594. Chilblains
Warm, dry woollen clothing to exposed parts in cold weather, as a preventive. In the first stage, friction with No.
48
, used cold. When ulcers form they should be poulticed with bread and water for a day or two, and then dressed with calamine cerate. Or, chilblains in every stage, whether of simple inflammation or open ulcer, may always he successfully treated by Goulard's extract, used pure or applied on lint twice a day.
595. Common Continued Fever
Aperients in the commencement, No.
1
, followed by No.
7
, then diaphoretics, No.
8
, and afterwards tonics, No.
13
, in the stage of weakness. Avoid all excesses.
596. Common Cough
The linctus, No.
42
or No.
43
, abstinence from malt liquor, and protection from cold damp air. Avoid cold, damp, and draughts.
597. Constipation
The observance of a regular period of evacuating the bowels, which is most proper in the morning after breakfast. The use of mild aperients, No.
47
, and brown bread instead of white. There should be an entire change in the dietary for a few days while taking opening medicine.
598. Consumption
The disease may be complicated with various morbid conditions of the lungs and heart, which require appropriate treatment. To allay the cough, No.
42
is an admirable remedy. Avoid cold, damp, excitement, and over exertion.
599. Convulsions (Children)
If during teething, free lancing of the gums, the warm bath, cold applications to the head, leeches to the temples, an emetic, and a laxative clyster, No.
20
.
600. Croup
Leeches to the throat, with hot fomentations as long as the attack lasts; the emetic, No.
16
, afterwards the aperient, No.
5
. Avoid cold and damp.
Despise School and Remain a Fool.
601. Dropsy
Evacuate the water by means of No.
10
, and by rubbing camphorated oil into the body night and morning.
602. Epilepsy
If accompanied or produced by fulness of the vessels of the head, leeches to the temples, blisters, and No.
1
and No.
7
. If from debility or confirmed epilepsy, the mixture, No.
18
. Avoid drinking and excitement.
603. Eruptions on the Face
The powder, No.
30
, internally, sponging the face with the lotion, No.
31
. Avoid excesses in diet.
604. Erysipelas
Aperients, if the patient be strong, No.
1
, followed by No.
7
, then tonics, No.
27
. No. 27 may be used from the commencement for weak subjects.
605. Faintness
Effusion of cold water on the face, stimulants to the nostrils, pure air, and the recumbent position; afterwards, avoidance of the exciting cause. Avoid excitement.
606. Frost-Bite and Frozen Limbs
No heating or stimulating liquors must be given. Rub the parts affected with ice, cold, or snow water, and lay the patient on a cold bed.
607. Gout
The aperients No.
1
, followed by No.
24
, bathing the parts with gin-and-water; for drink, weak tea or coffee. Warmth by flannels. Abstain from wines, spirits, and animal food.
608. Gravel
No.
5
, followed by No.
7
, the free use of magnesia as an aperient. The pill No.
22
. Abstain from fermented drinks and hard water. Another form of gravel must be treated by mineral acids, given three times a day.
609. Whooping Cough
Whooping cough may be complicated with congestion or inflammation of the lungs, or convulsions, and then becomes a serious disease. If uncomplicated, No.
43
.
610. Hysterics
The fit may be prevented by the administration of thirty drops of laudanum, and as many of ether. When it has taken place open the windows, loosen the tight parts of the dress, sprinkle cold water on the face, &c. A glass of wine or cold water when the patient can swallow. Avoid excitement and tight lacing.
611. Indigestion
The pills No.
2
, with the mixture No.
18
, at the same time abstinence from veal, pork, mackerel, salmon, pastry, and beer; for drink, homœopathic cocoa, a glass of cold spring water the first thing every morning. Avoid excesses.
612. Inflammation of the Bladder
Bleeding, aperients No.
5
and No.
7
, the warm bath, afterwards opium; the pill No.
11
, three times a day till relieved. Avoid fermented liquors, &c.
613. Inflammation of the Bowels
Leeches, blisters, fomentations, hot baths, iced drinks, the pills No.
19
; move the bowels with clysters, if necessary, No.
20
. Avoid cold, indigestible food, &c.
614. Inflammation of the Brain
Application of cold to the head, bleeding from the temples or back of the neck by leeches or cupping; aperients No.
1
, followed by No.
7
; mercury to salivation, No.
15
. Avoid excitement, study, intemperance.
615. Inflammation of the Kidneys
Bleeding from the arm, leeches over the seat of pain, aperients No.
5
, followed by No.
49
, the warm bath. Avoid violent exercise, rich living.
616. Inflammation of the Liver
Leeches over the right side, the seat of pain, blisters, aperients No.
1
, followed by No.
7
, afterwards the pills No.
19
, till the gums are slightly tender. Avoid cold, damp, intemperance, and anxiety.
617. Inflammation of the Lungs
Bleeding from the arm or over the painful part of the chest by leeches, succeeded by a blister; the demulcent mixture, No.
14
, to allay the cough, with the powders No.
15
. Avoid cold, damp, and draughts.
618. Inflammation of the Stomach
Leeches to the pit of the stomach, followed by fomentations, cold iced water for drink, bowels to be evacuated by clysters; abstinence from all food except cold gruel, milk and water, or tea. Avoid excesses, and condiments.
619. Inflammatory Sore Throat
Leeches and blisters externally, aperients No.
1
, followed by No.
7
, gargle to clear the throat, No.
17
. Avoid cold, damp, and draughts.
620. Inflamed Eyes
The bowels to be regulated by No.
5
, a small blister behind the ear or on the nape of the neck—the eye to be bathed with No.
35
.
621. Influenza
No
4
as an aperient and diaphoretic. No.
14
to allay fever and cough. No.
27
as a tonic, when weakness only remains. Avoid cold and damp, use clothing suited to the change of temperature.
622. Intermittent Fever, or Ague
Take No.
13
during the intermission of the paroxysm of the fever; keeping the bowels free with a wine-glass of No.
7
. Avoid bad air, stagnant pools, &c.
623. Itch
The ointment of No.
28
, or lotion No.
29
.