Part 2 (1/2)
The disease runs its course in from three to seven days, sometimes proves fatal in less than a day, and at others, a.s.sumes a typhoid form, and runs for weeks. Occasionally it sets in without any of the premonitory symptoms, the chill being first, the fever following, succeeded immediately by the black vomit, going through all the stages in a single day, or two days.
Again, it sometimes begins with the black vomit, the patient being immediately prostrated. In all cases, however it may begin, the peculiar head-ache and back-ache as described in the beginning, as well as the extreme heat of the head and face, redness of the eyes, the gnawing sensation at the stomach, and peculiar nausea are present. These seem to be characteristic symptoms that mark the Yellow Fever, and those which should guide in the search for the proper remedies.
TREATMENT.
The remedies that proved successful in arresting the disease during the early or forming stage, before the chill or fever had set in, while the symptoms were pain, fullness, and throbbing of the head, with more or less dizziness, rheumatic pains in the back, and redness of the eyes, were _Aconite_ and _Bell._, at low attenuations, once in two to four hours, according to the violence of the symptoms. For the fullness of the head, pressing outwards, as though it would split, with pains of a rheumatic character, _Macrotin_ 1st, given in one grain doses, every hour or two hours, proved specific.
These three remedies, _Aconite, Bell._ and _Macrotin_, would, in nearly all cases, arrest the disease in the forming stage, so that no chill or fever would occur, or, if fever did come on after this treatment, it was mild.
When the fever sets in, and the pain in the head and back increases, the eyes, forehead and face are extremely red, or purple and hot, the pulse frequent and full, the tongue coated white, _Aconite_, _Belladonna_ and _Macrotin_ are still to be relied upon, but they should be given every half hour, in rotation, at low attenuations. If the tongue is red, in the early stage, use _Bryonia_ in place of the _Belladonna_. In a later stage, when sickness or distress at the stomach had become prominent, with the quick pulse, and hot skin, _Ipecac_ and _Aconite_, both at the 1st attenuation, a dose given every half hour alternately, generally arrested the symptoms, and brought on perspiration of a healthful character, followed by subsidence of the fever and convalescence. Sponge baths, with half an ounce of _Tr. Ipecac_ in two quarts of tepid water, applied to the whole surface freely, under the bed clothes, so as not to expose him to the air, contributed much towards bringing on perspiration and subduing the fever, as well as allaying the nausea.
When called to patients in the stage of _Black Vomit_, whether that came on as an early symptom, or at a later stage, _Nit. acid_, _Veratrum virid._ and _Baptisia_, all at the first dilution, were administered every hour, in rotation, with great success, the symptoms yielding in a few hours. For the great oppression, as of a load, in the stomach, without vomiting, _Nux_ was found sufficient. In the later stage, when there seemed to be no secretion of urine, _Canabis_ and _Apis mel._, gave relief.
The remedies most successful for the cases that a.s.sumed a typhoid character, with dry, cracked tongue, sordes on the teeth, and low sluggish pulse, were _Baptisia_ and _Bryonia_, given every two hours, alternately. _Nitric acid_ given internally and injected into the r.e.c.t.u.m, when b.l.o.o.d.y discharges appear, is generally quite successful.
Good nursing is of the utmost importance, and the patient should be visited frequently by his Physician, as great changes may occur in a short time. Three times a day is none too often to see the patient. As soon as the fever comes on, the patient should be stripped of his clothes, and dressed in such garments as he is to wear in bed through the attack. He should be put to bed and lightly covered, but have sufficient to protect him from any sudden changes in the atmosphere, and the room should be well ventillated all the time. The baths should always be applied under the bed clothes.
The diet should be very spare and light, after the fever subsides, and while the fever exists no food should be taken. Thin gruel, in teaspoonful doses, once in half an hour, is best. After a day or two, the juice of beef steak may be given in small quant.i.ties but give none of the meat. No ”hearty food” should be allowed for eight or ten days after recovery. A relapse is most surely fatal.
As _Prophylactics_ (_preventives_) of the fever, _Macrotin_, _Bell._ and _Aconite_ should be taken, a dose every eight to twelve hours, by every one that is exposed. These will, no doubt, often prevent an attack, and if they do not, they will so modify it, that it will be very mild, of short duration, and very easily arrested.
Pregnant females, and young children were sure to die if attacked, when treated by the Allopathic medication; but, by the use of these remedies as _preventives_, their attacks were rendered so mild as to be amenable to remedies, and all recovered.
Pleurisy--Pleuritis.
This is inflammation of the Pleura of one or both lungs, generally confined to one side. It is known by sharp pain in the side of the chest, increased by taking a long breath, or coughing, or by pressing between the ribs. The cough is dry and painful, the patient makes an effort to suppress it, from the pain it gives him; the fever is of a high grade, the pulse full, hard and frequent, with more or less pain in the head.
TREATMENT.
_Aconite_ is a sovereign remedy. It should be given at intervals proportionate to the severity of the disease, once in half an hour, for about three doses, then every hour until the patient is easy and perspires freely. This is the course I have generally pursued, and scarce ever failed of relieving in a few hours. Other means may often be used with advantage at the same time, and not interfere with the action of the medicine. Put the feet and _hands_ into water as hot as it can be endured, and apply to the affected side very hot cloths, hot bags of salt, or mustard. There is no harm in this, and it relieves the pain.
Let the patient drink freely of _hot_ water, into which you may put milk and sugar to render it palatable. If the case seems to linger, and perspiration is tardy in appearing, give, in alternation with _Aconite_, _Eupatorium arom._ This will soon relieve.
Inflammation of the Lungs--Pneumonia.
This disease is often connected with Pleurisy, and consists of inflammation of the substance of the lungs. As in the former case, it may attack only one, but may exist in both sides at the same time. If the pleura is also affected, there will be all the symptoms of pleurisy, together with those peculiar to inflammation of the lungs proper. They are, pain in the lungs, oppressed breathing, cough, causing great distress on account of the soreness of the affected parts: at first, expectoration from the lungs is nearly wanting, the cough being dry, but after a time, there is a rattling sound on coughing, and more or less mucous substance is with difficulty raised. This is, at first, white or brownish, but soon becomes reddish and frothy, tinged with blood. The patient lies on the affected side, and cannot rest on the sound side.
The pulse is full, hard and frequent, the fever high, pain in the head, and sometimes delirium. If the disease is not arrested, the patient generally dies from suffocation, by the lungs filling up, hepatized, or abscess and ulceration come on, and then what is called ”quick Consumption” carries him off.
TREATMENT.
In the early stage, _Aconite_ and _Phosphorus_ should be used at intervals of from half an hour to one hour, in alternation, until the fever abates, and the oppression in the chest is relieved. If, however, there is b.l.o.o.d.y expectoration, _Bryonia_ may be used in place _of Phosphorus_, though I prefer to use it in rotation with the two others.
These will soon, in all ordinary cases, subdue the most distressing symptoms, and effect a perfect cure in a day or two. _Belladonna_ should be used, when there is much delirium, or great pain in the head.
Occasionally, the cough from the beginning, is apparently loose; there being a rattling sound, but the expectoration is difficult, the fever high, with some chilly sensations, or at least, coldness of the knees, feet and hands, a white or brownish fur upon the tongue, and pain in the bowels, For such symptoms, especially with the pain in the bowels, as though a diarrhoea would come on, give _Tartar emet._ It is often one of the best remedies in this disease, affording relief when others have failed.