An Epitome of Homeopathic Healing Art.

by B. L. Hill.

Introduction.

This work contains in a _condensed form_ a very large portion of all that is practically useful in the treatment of the diseases ordinarily occurring in this country. The symptoms are given with sufficient minuteness and detail to enable any one of ordinary capacities of observation to distinguish the complaint; and the treatment is so _plainly_ laid down, that no one need make a mistake. If strictly followed, it will, in a very large proportion of cases, effect cures, even when administered by those unacquainted with the medical sciences generally. It has been written from necessity, to meet the demands of community for a more definite work in a concise form, that should contain remedies of the most reliable character, with such directions for their use as can be followed by the _traveler on his journey_, or by families at home, when no physician is at hand. It might seem to some preposterous to speak of a _demand_ for another _domestic_ h.o.m.oeopathic Practice, when half a score or more of such works are now extant, some having come out within a very short time. The demand arises, not from the want of Books, but from the defects of those that exist. There is in most of them, too little point and definiteness in the prescriptions, and a kind of vague doubting recommendation noticeable to all, which carries the impression at once to every reader, of a want of _confidence_ by the author in his own directions.

Again, in some of the works there is too much confusion, the symptoms not being laid down with sufficient clearness to indicate the best remedy. Some of the works are unnecessarily large and c.u.mbersome, while the real amount of valuable practical matter is comparatively meager, obliging the reader to pay for paper and binding without the contained value of his money. I do not claim entire perfection for this work, yet I do claim it to be several steps in advance of the books now extant.

This work is my own, being the result of my practical experience and observation. I have introduced several remedies that, though they are familiar to me, and have been used in my practice for many years, are, nevertheless, comparatively strange and new to most of the profession.

Of some we have no extensive provings yet published, still the provings have been made, both upon the healthy and the sick. Their use, as directed in this work, is in strict accordance with their h.o.m.oeopathic relation to the symptoms for which they are prescribed.

Some may object to my practice of giving several remedies in alternation or rotation and in quick succession. To such I would say, When you try this mode of practice and on comparing it with the opposite one of giving only one remedy, and that at long intervals between the doses, find my mode to be less successful than yours, _then_ it will be time for you to make your objections. _You_ may rely upon the vague hypotheses of the books, and give your high dilutions singly, at long intervals, and let your patients die for want of _real_ treatment, while I will use lower dilutions and give two or more remedies in quick succession and cure mine. I only speak what is in accordance with universal observation, where the two modes are compared on equal footing, when I affirm that, while the former _may_ effect some cures, _most_ of the recoveries under it, are spontaneous and unaided, the latter _does_ cure; the disease being arrested by the medicine, and the proportion of unfavorable terminations is much less under the latter than the former course. I know many learned and successful pract.i.tioners who have subst.i.tuted low dilutions and the giving of several remedies in quick succession for the old mode of high attenuations and long intervals of single remedies, all of whom still adhere to the low, while I have yet to hear of the man who has gone _back_ to high single remedies and long intervals. My reason then, for the course here laid down, is, that it will _cure_ with more promptness and certainty. If others are so prejudiced as not to _try it_, they will still remain in ignorance of the _best practice_, and their patients will be the sufferers.

In reference to the fear that is expressed that if one medicine is given too soon after another, it will antidote the former, I have simply to say, I have no confidence in the hypothetic antidotal powers of the medicines one over another, as laid down in the books. It has not been verified by experience, and has no foundation in truth. It is true that one medicine will remove morbid symptoms that might be produced by an overdose of another; but both being given in the ordinary medicinal doses, neither of them to such an extent as to produce sensible symptoms, if given alone, would not, if given in quick succession, prevent each other from acting to remove their own peculiar symptoms that exist in the system at the time. So if we have the symptoms that are found in two or more different remedies present in the same attack, as is often the ease, we may give these several remedies one after another, with confidence in their curative effects for the symptoms they represent.

This has been my practice, and it has been _eminently successful_, and therefore I commend it to others, treating with pity the infirmity of those who ignorantly condemn it, as "They know not what they do."

ADMINISTRATION OF REMEDIES.

The remedies are either in the form of tinctures saturated, more or less dilute, in Pellets or Powders. The _Pellets_ may be taken dry upon the tongue, allowed to dissolve and swallowed. The dose for an adult is from 4 to 7; for an infant, from birth to one year old, 1 to 3; from one to three years, 2 to 4; from three to ten years, 3 to 5 pellets; after ten, same as an adult. 15 or 20 pellets may be dissolved in a gill of water, and a tea-spoonful dose given at a time, being particular to stir it until all are perfectly dissolved, stirring it each dose.

_Powders_ may be taken in the same manner, upon the tongue, a dose when dry, being about the same bulk as of the pellets as nearly as practicable. If put into water, to a gill of water add of the powder about what would lie on a three cent piece. If the liquid medicine is used, add 1 drop to a gill of water, and use tea-spoonful doses as above directed. The length of time between the doses should be, in Dysentery and Diarrhoea, regulated by the frequency of the discharges, giving a dose as often as the evacuations occur. In acute and violent diseases, the doses should be repeated oftener than in milder cases--about once an hour as a general rule is often enough, though in some cases they should be given in half an hour or oftener. In mild cases, once in two or three hours is often enough, and in chronic cases, once or twice a day.

Bathing.

The surface of the body should be kept clean, as far as possible, and to this end, in summer, should be well bathed at least once a day. In winter, though useful, it is not so indispensable; still no one should neglect the bath more than a week, and all ought to bathe at least twice a week, if not oftener, even in winter.

The bath should be of a temperature that is agreeable, and the room warm, especially for a feeble person. It should be so applied as not to give a general chill, as such shocks are always hurtful.

The _teeth_ should be kept clean and free from tartar. They should be cleaned every morning and after each meal. The feet, legs and arms should be warmly clothed, especially the _arms_, as an exposure of them to cold is liable to induce affections of the lungs, and to aggravate any existing disease of those organs.

By exposure of the feet and legs to cold, diseases and derangements of the female organs, even in young girls, are induced; and one prolific cause of female weakness is to be found in improper dressing of the feet and legs, while the _lung affections_ of females, now so fearfully prevalent, are traceable in a great degree to the fashion that has prevailed for a few years, of exposing the arms to cold.

Diet.

The diet of the sick should he nutricious, but at all times simple, free from greasy substances, and from all stimulating condiments whatsoever, as well as from vinegar, or food in which vinegar is used.

In short, let the food be nutritious, easily digested, small or moderate in quant.i.ty, and free from all "seasoning," except salt or sugar; and if salt is used at all, let the quant.i.ty be very small, much less than would be used in health.

Diarrhoea.

This disease consists in a looseness of the bowels, generally accompanied with pain in the abdomen, more or less severe. It sometimes occurs without pain, but is _then_ attended with a sense of weakness, and a general feeling of uneasiness. It prevails mostly in the warm seasons, but may occur at any time. It is not usually considered a very dangerous affection, except during the prevalence of _Cholera_, or in children during hot weather.

TREATMENT.

_Veratrum_ and _Phos. acid_, given alternately, at intervals, as frequently as the discharges from the bowels occur, will generally be sufficient. If there is nausea or vomiting, or cramping pains in the bowels, give _Ipecac_ in alternation with one or both the former. If thirst and a burning of the stomach or bowels exist, use _a.r.s.enic.u.m._ This last medicine may be given in alternation with either of the others, but is most frequently indicated in connection with _Veratrum._ The intervals between the doses should be regulated by the frequency of the evacuations in all cases, lengthening them as the evacuations become less frequent, until they cease. In _children_, where the discharges are greenish or slimy, and contain undigested food, give _Chamomilla_ and _Ipecac_ alternately, as above directed. If the discharges are dark, or yellow, with distress in the stomach, give _Podophyllin._ The dose is from 3 to 6 pellets. In all cases of diarrhoea, adults should abstain from all kinds of food until cured, if possible, and eat but little at first, when food is taken. Children should be fed carefully, and but a small quant.i.ty at a time, being particular both for adults and children to use as little _liquid_ as possible; drink water in _small_ quant.i.ties, not very cold. Avoid exercise, and lie on the back quietly, when that is practicable. In a large majority of cases, _Veratrum_, if given in the early stages of the disease, will arrest it at once, and in many chronic diarrhoeas of weeks or months standing, it is the surest remedy. In chronic diarrhoea of females, _Podophyllin_ should be used in alternation with _Veratrum_.

Dysentery.

This disease is caused by inflammation of the mucous membrane of the colon and r.e.c.t.u.m, (the large intestine) generally confined to the lower part of the bowel. It is always painful. There is griping and straining in the lower part of the abdomen, and generally great bearing down when at stool, with a peculiar distress after the evacuation, called tormina.

The discharges often commence like a common diarrhoea, with copious liquid evacuations, but there is more or less griping pain, low down, from the beginning. The evacuations sooner or later become lessened, slimy or b.l.o.o.d.y, or both, the pain increasing accompanied with more or less fever, often quite severe. Sometimes the patient is costive, and has been so for several days, the dysentery coming on without being preceded by looseness. At others, especially in summer, when fevers are prevailing, the dysentery begins with a severe chill, followed by fever and the dysenteric symptoms above described.

TREATMENT.

If it begins with looseness without blood, give _a.r.s.enic.u.m_ and _Veratrum_ alternately, once an hour, or oftener if the evacuations are more frequent. If the discharges are b.l.o.o.d.y, use _Mercurius cor._ in place of the _a.r.s.enic.u.m_. If there is any sickness of the stomach, or the discharges are dark or yellow, use _Podophyllin_ with _Mercurius cor._ If there are colic pains in the bowels, use _Colocynthis_ alternately with the others, giving it between them. If the patient was costive previous to the attack, and the dysentery came on without much looseness, _Nux Vomica_ should be given alternately with _Mercurius cor._ If the disease comes on with a chill, or a chill occurs at any time during the attack, followed by fever, _Aconite_, _Baptisia_ and _Podophyllin_ should be used in rotation half an hour apart until a free perspiration is produced, and the pain diminishes; or if b.l.o.o.d.y stools appear, use _Mercurius cor_, with the _Aconite_ and _Baptisia_. A large proportion of the dysenteries of hot weather in miasmatic regions, will be arrested in a few hours by these three or four remedies, especially if the patient keeps still, and generally even if he keeps about his business. In very bad cases, much benefit will be derived from injections of Gum Arabic water, or mucillage of Slippery Elm thrown into the bowel in quant.i.ties of a pint or more at a time, as warm as can possibly be endured. I have often relieved patients immediately with injections of a strong solution of Borax in Rice water, as hot as bearable. _Never apply cold water_ to _any_ inflamed surface, much less a _mucous_ surface. All food should be withheld as far as practicable and not starve, until the symptoms abate.

Colic.

The symptoms of this are cramping pains in the abdomen, without fever or looseness of the bowels. The colic sometimes occurs after the cessation of a diarrhoea that had been induced by severe cathartics. The pains are cutting and straining, drawing the bowels into knots, relieved temporarily by pressure.

TREATMENT.

For a male, _Nux Vom._, and for a female, _Pulsatilla_ will generally afford immediate relief. In children, especially, where diarrhoea exists, _Chamomilla_ should be used. If it is the result of severe cathartics, or if there is a soreness or a bruised feeling, _Colocynth_ is the remedy. Hot injections into the r.e.c.t.u.m, and large quant.i.ties of warm water taken into the stomach, will often _cure colic_.

Bilious Colic.

This disease, in addition to the symptoms of cutting, cramping pains in the bowels, as in common colic, has great distress in the stomach, with nausea and vomiting, the bowels being costive, the feet and hands cold, sometimes cold sweats occur. There is also considerable fever, and frequently headache is present. The substance vomited is at first dark bilious matter, but if the case continues a long time, stercoraceous (fecal) matter will be thrown up.

TREATMENT.

_Colocynth_ is the most important remedy, and should be given early and constantly. _Podophyllin_ is next in importance, and it should be given in alternation with the former, the dose to be repeated as often as every half hour at first, and as the patient becomes easy, at longer intervals. In this, as in the former case, great benefit will be derived from large injections of quite warm water, and let it be taken into the stomach freely, as hot as can be safely swallowed. I have given a gallon of hot water in the course of two hours, to a patient suffering under this disease, the first half pint being rejected, but the balance remaining, perfect relief having been experienced. If fever continues after the colic and nausea cease, _Baptisia_ and _Aconite_ should be given alternately every hour until the fever subsides. If the patient is, and has been, for some time, costive, _Nux Vomica_ should be given once in six or eight hours until the bowels move. Injections may also be used.

Cholera Morbus.

This disease generally comes on at night, in hot weather, and is, in many cases, induced by over eating while the patient is suffering from diarrhoea and a deranged state of the liver. It is essentially of a bilious character. It sets in with great pain in the bowels, sickness at the stomach, and vomiting of large quant.i.ties of dark greenish bitter tasting substance. At first, the vomiting will seem to afford relief, but sooner or later the stomach and bowels cramp, and the cramping may extend to other parts of the body, the feet, hands, calves of the legs, and the arms, cold sweats come on, and death terminates his sufferings.

TREATMENT.