The homœopathic guide, for family use

Front matter

22900442056

Med j Now Ready , 27 th Edition , cloth, pp. 1,102, price 1 6s.,

HOMEOPATHIC DOMESTIC MEDICINE,

Contents

PAGE

Introduction I

How to avoid Disease 2

Part I. How To Treat Accidents

Importance of knowing what to do g

Abrasion or Rubbing off the Skin g

Bruises 1Q

Black-Eye I0

Cuts and Wounds IO

Limbs, position of, after deep cuts or bad wounds... n

VI

CONTENTS.

PAGE

Dressing Wounds j j

How to Stop Bleeding 12

» » ,, when copious and persistent 12

,, ,, „ from an Artery 12, 13

„ ,t „ in the Arm, Wrist, or Hand

(Illustrations) 14, 15

„ ,, „ in the Thigh, Leg, or Foot... 15

Illustrations of the Methods to be employed. ..14, 15, 16

Nose-Bleeding 17

Bleeding after Tooth Extraction 17

Bursting of a "Vein in the Leg 17

Stings of Bees and Wasps 18

Bites of Animals, Snakes, or Poisoned Wounds 18

Being Stunned 18

Concussion of the Brain 18

Dislocation of Shoulder, How to Treat (Illustration) 19, 20

Broken Bones or Fractures 21, 22

Bandages, How to Make and Use, with Illustrations 23

How to Roll up a Bandage 23

How to Make a Bandage 23

Plow to Bandage a Hand 24

,, ,, Wrist or Arm 24

,, „ Foot, Ankle, or Leg 25

Burns and Scalds 26

,, General Directions for the Management of 26, 29

Gunpowder Explosions, Scorching from 27

Burning Blouses or Rooms, how to escape from 28

CONTENTS.

Boiling Fluids, Drinking of, Scalding from,

Apparent Death

Dead, Drunk, or Fainting

Apparent Death from a Fall

„ Suffocation

,, Foul Gas

„ Hanging

,, Drowning

>1 >>

Fainting

Poisoning

Sprains

Strains

Rupture

Foreign Substances in the Eye ..

„ „ » Nose'

Being Over-heated

Sunstroke ....

Over-fatigued

... 29

... 30 ... 3° ... 3°

... 30

31. 32

32, 33 ••• 33 34—36

... 36 .... 36 37

.... 39

Part II. How To Treat Disease

General Directions for the Treatment of Disease ... 40

The Results of a Cold or Chill 40

Shivering 41 via

CONTENTS.

PAGE

' Thorough Wetting 41

Feverishness 41

Cold in the Head 42

Cough 43

Hoarseness 45

Loss of Voice 45

Inflammation of the Wind-pipe 46

Bronchitis 46

Asthma 47

Hay Asthma 48

Inflammation of the Lungs 48

Pleurisy!. 50

Affections of the Throat.

Sore Throat 50

Ulcerated Sore Throat 51

Clergyman’s Sore Throat 51

Quinsy 52

Waxen Kernels 53

Swollen Glands 53

Affections of the Mouth.

Canker 53

Canker, Aggravated 53

Scurvy in the Mouth and Gums 54

Cancrum Oris 54

Nursing Sore Mouth 55

CONTENTS.

ii

PAGE

Toothache 55

Neuralgia 56

Gum-boil 56

Swollen Face 57

Affections of the Ear.

Foreign Substances in 57

Wax Hardened 57

Ear-ache 58

Pain, Acute in the Ear 58

Deafness 58

Discharge from the Ear 59

Affections of the Eyes.

Inflammation of the Eyes 59

Ophthalmia 59

Bloodshot Eye 60

Stye 60

Importance of Treating Affections of the Eye 60

Epidemic and Infectious Diseases.

Some characteristics of 60

* Typhus or Brain Fever 61

Typhoid or Enteric Fever 63

Ague or Intermittent Fever 65

Scarlatina or Scarlet Fever 67

Measles 68

X

CONTENTS.

PAGE

Small-pox 69

Chicken-pock 70

Cautions to be observed in Contagious and Infectious

Diseases..., 71

Erysipelas 71

Nettle Rash 72

Mumps 72

Influenza 73

Diphtheria 74

Affections of the Digestive System.

Indigestion or Dyspepsia 75

Flatulence 75

Spasm, or Cramps at the Stomach 76

Water-brash or Sick-water 76

Heartburn and Acidity 77

Nausea and Vomiting 77

Sea-Sickness 7§

Offensive Breath 79

Sick Headache 79

Bilious Attacks 79

Colic or Griping Pain in the Bowels 80

Belly-ache 80

Lead Colic 81

Piles 82

Bowel, Lower, Coming Down of 83

Worms ^3

CONTENTS.

xi

PAGE

Round Worms 84

Tape- worm 84

Dysentery 85

English Cholera 85

Cholera 85

Bowels, Inflammation of 86

Liver Sluggish 87

Jaundice 87

Affections of the Urinary Organs.

Difficulty in Passing Water 88

Stoppage of the Water 88

Incontinence of the Water 89

Wetting the Bed 89

Constitutional Diseases.

Cancer 89

Consumption 9o

Blood Spitting or Raising 90

Sweating Feet 9I

Rheumatic Fever 9I

Rheumatism g2

Gout 92

Rheumatic Gout 92

Lumbago 92

Crick in the Neck — Stiff Neck 93

Mesenteric Disease Q,

Xll

CONTENTS,

PAGE

Consumption of the Bowels 94

Derbyshire Neck 94

Housemaid’s Knee 94

Diseases of the Nervous System.

Inflammation of the Brain 95

Water on the Brain 96

■Giddiness or Swimming in the Head 96

Apoplexy or Stroke 96

Paralysis 96

Headache 97

Sleeplessness 98

St. Vitus’s Dance 99

Epilepsy or Fits 99

Hysteria 100

Sciatica 100

Diseases of the Circulation.

Heart Disease 101

Palpitation 101

Diseases of the Skin.

Frequency and General Character of 102

Irritation and Inflammation 102

Erythema 102

Chafing 102

Eczema or Scald 102

Itch 103

CONTENTS,

Ringworm

Warts

Corns

Chilblains

Shingles

Ulcers or Sores

Boils

Whitlow

Abscess xiii

PAGE

Part III

HOW TO TREAT DISEASES OF FEMALES. Disorders of Menstruation.

First Menstruation 107

Stoppage of the Courses 108

Scanty or Deficient Menstruation 108

Too Plentiful „ 109

Painful „ 109

The Whites 109

Change of Life no

Affections of tpie Womb.

Their Frequency accounted for no

Congestion of the Womb in

XIV

CONTENTS,

PAGE

Ulceration of the Womb * m

Bearing Down of the Womb 112

Pregnancy.

Marriage, Right Age for 113

Miscarriage 1 13

The Disorders of Pregnancy.

Morning Sickness 114

Fainting and Hysterical Fits 1 15

Toothache and Neuralgia 1 15

Varicose or Swollen Veins 116

Pains in the Back and Loins 116

Longings or Fancies 1 16

• The Nipples, Management of 117

Nurse, Choice of 117

Doctor, Choice of 118

Lying-in Room, Requirements for 1 19

False Pains 120

Confinement or Labour.

Rules as to 12 1

Natural when 121

Child-birth, if before the arrival of Doctor 121

Delivery, Management of, after 121

After Pains '• I23

CONTENTS.

XV PAGE

Discharge after Labour 124

Flooding 124

The Coming of the Milk 124

Sore Nipples 125

Gathered Breast 126

Infant, Management of

General Directions for, fjorn the Birth 127

Disinclination to take the Breast 128

Bringing up by Hand 128

Weaning 13°

Suckling, Prolonged Weakness from 131

Nursing Sore Mouth X31

Part IV. How To Treat Diseases Of Infants And Children

Advantages of Homoeopathy in the Treatment of 132

Inflammation of the Eyes 133

Infantile Jaundice 133

Hiccup 134

Cold in the Head 134

Snuffles 134

Chafing 134

Excoriation 134

XVI

CONTENTS.

Crying

Wakefulness

Colic

Bowel Complaint

Teething

Feverishness of Children

Hooping-Cough

Croup

Spasm in the Windpipe

Child-Crowing

Convulsions

PART V. Materia Medica I42

Index and Dictionary of Medical Terms and Treatment

PAGE

Introduction

A belief in medicine is inherent in human nature. As to the precise kind and quantity, great diversity of opinion has always prevailed. The .advanced lights of medical science, as usually practised, affect to doubt the power of medicine altogether, and though they still call themselves physicians, pride themselves most on giving no physic at all. This is a reaction from the wholesale drugging, bleeding, and purging of the last generation, and arises also from the want of investigating a simpler, and more direct way of controlling disease without weakening or injuring your patient.

Such a simple and direct plan is set forth in these pages, so far, at least, as its mere outline and first principles are concerned. The work is both fragmentary and elementary. It simply tells you what to do. Why you are to do in a certain

way, and what you are to do if this fails, must be

B

* GUIDE TO HOMOEOPATHIC TREATMENT.

sought for in the "Epitome” and" Domestic Medicine,” written by the same author ; issued by the same publishers.

How to avoid Disease.

Live simply, eat sparingly, dress sensibly, take things quietly, have plenty of sleep at regular hours, take daily exercise, keep the pores of the skin in constant exercise, and the body clean by daily ablution.

Avoid chills and draughts of cold air ; should the clothes get wet, change them at once.

Never take purgatives, tonics, or quack medicines. If out of sorts, try to find out what is the matter, and take the medicines ordered here at once. You will not only be relieved, but strengthened, and less liable to a return.

Diet in Illness.

Avoid everything of an irritating nature, as pepper, spices, vinegar, and mustard. Leave off coffee, and all rich things with much gravy or butter ; also pastry, and paste puddings. Do not take mackerel, crab, lobster, eels, duck, or goose ; new bread, hot rolls, and hot-buttered toast.

INTRODUCTION.

Stimulants of all kinds are unnecessary in health, and injurious in disease.

If the diet be simple, the one directly acting medicine needs to be given in a comparatively small dose, and it at once begins to take effect.

We do not require to put one ingredient into a bottle for feverishness, one for acidity, one for the appetite, one for lowness of spirits, and one for headache, a dose of the mixture every three hours ; we can manage to control the whole by one medicine, as the action and sphere of all we employ are thoroughly known and recorded.

Batlis and Hydropathic Measures.

Temperature of baths : —

Warm bath . . . 920 to 98°

Tepid bath . . . 85° to 920

A thermometer should always be used; the hand itself is not to be depended upon.

The Hot Bath

Is useful in collapse, in quickening the breathing, and restoring circulation and warmth. It should not be prolonged after these objects are accomplished.

The Warm Bath

Has much the same uses, but is less violent, and longer in effecting its purpose. It causes languor and relaxation of the muscles generally, and induces sleep.

The Tepid Bath

Lowers the heat of the body, acts as a slight tonic to the system, and in other conditions, as those of fever and excitement, it calms and soothes.

Cold Sponging

•On rising in the morning is an appropriate tonic for all in health ; it cleanses the skin and keeps its pores in proper activity; it should be done •quickly, and a rough towel or flesh gloves used vigorously after.

If it is succeeded by a glow, it is doing good, but if chilliness follow, and the skin is blue, tepid water must be substituted for cold.

Tepid Sponging

is invaluable in fevers, especially in scarlatina

INTRODUCTION.

s and after confinement ; it soothes and refreshes. In severe illness it should often be used to the hands and face.

Tepid Sitz Bath

Is a mild derivative, as in headache, sore-throat, and neuralgia ; it soothes the organs of the abdomen, calms the nerves, and predisposes to sleep.

It should be taken from io to 20 minutes at bedtime, or at 11 or 4 o’clock. The warmer it is, the more it acts as a derivative, and it then stimulates the bowels and womb.

Tepid Packing

Of the whole or part of the body by wrapping it in a wet sheet, then enveloping in a waterproof sheet or three blankets, is invaluable in fever, and in feverishness from cold ; it reduces the pulse, calms the circulation, produces perspiration, and rids the body of injurious morbid matter. It must be continued for half or three-quarters of an hour, and afterwards a tepid bath or tepid dripping sheet. ?

Vapour Bath

Is best managed by one of Allen’s apparatus.

Light the lamps under water as hot as you can get it, place it under a Windsor chair, and then let the patient be seated on it, enveloped thoroughly in a swans’ -down cloak or large blanket.

Perspiration should begin to come in three or five minutes, and continued for twenty. The patient may sip wrarm tea or cold water, have his feet in hot mustard and water, and on his head a cloth wrung out of cold water. Remove the lamp if the patient feels faint or giddy. Invaluable in colds, in rheumatism, congestion of the liver, and dropsy resulting from it.

Hot Mustard Foot Bath.

Have sufficient hot water to reach up to the calves ; put a tablespoonful of mustard in, cover by a blanket, and continue for twenty minutes. It draws down the blood from the head, lungs, and chest, and thoroughly warms the feet and legs ; of great service in . cold, sore-throat, and headache.

Fomentations

Applied as hot as they can be borne, are useful to the chest and bowels in inflammation or severe pain, except when blood is being passed. Wring

INTRODUCTION.

a piece of flannel big enough to go across twice out of boiling water, wring it out in a dry piece of flannel and apply, having first drawn a small blanket under the patient long enough to wrap just over the front. Renew as often as it gets at all cool. Keep up the heat of your water, and have another flannel ready to apply as the first cools.

Compress

Is made of three folds of linen or calico, just long enough to go round, dipped in tepid or hot water, then well wrung out and applied; cover by gutta-percha tissue, or flannel of three thicknesses.

LIST OF MEDICINES.

1. Acid. Muriatic.

2. Acid. Phosphoric.

3. Acid. Sulphuric.

4. Aconite.

5. Antimonium Crudum.

6. Antimonium Tartari-

cum.

7. Apis.

8. Arnica.

9. Arsenic.

10. Baptisia.

11. Belladonna.

12. Bryonia.

13. Cactus.

14. Calcarea.

15. Cantharides.

16. Carbo Vegetabilis.

17. Causticum.

18. Chamomilla.

19. China.

20. ClMTCIFUGA.

21. ClNA\

22. Cocculus.

23. COFFAtA.

24. Colocynth.

25. Coniutn.

26. Cuprum.

27. Digitalis.

28. Drosera.

29. Dulcamara.

30. Gelseminum.

31. Graphites.

32. Hamamelis.

33. Hepar Sulphuris.

34. Hydrastis.

35. Hyoscyamus.

36. Ignatia.

37. Ipecacuanha.

38. Iris.

39. Kali Bichromicum.

40. Ledum.

41. Mercurius Corro-

sivus.

42. Mercurius Vivus.

43. Nux Vomica.

44. Opium.

45. Phosphorus.

46. Podophyllum.

47. Pulsatilla.

48. Rheum.

49. Rhus.

50. Sambucus.

51. Secale.

52. Sepia.

53. Spongia.

54. Sulphur.

55. Veratrum album.

56. Veratrum Viridr.