An Epitome of the Homeopathic Healing Art Part 10

Conium

is valuable as a _palliative_ upon cancerous tumors. As a _curative remedy_ it is useful in chronic ophthalmia, especially the purulent of children; useful also for _indurated_ swellings.

Thuya

is a specific when locally used for _Sycosis_, also for fungoid cancerous tumors. I have cured well-marked cases of _Fungus Haematodes_ with the tinct. Thuya applied to the surface of the tumor.

The _Thuja Cerate_ is a valuable application for malignant ulcers.

Cornus Sericea

will often cure malignant ulcers both of the breast and uterus, used as a wash.

a.r.s.enic.u.m

acts favorably on cancers, and is a specific when applied to the surface of _carbuncle_.

Ipecac

acts very beneficially when applied to the surface where there is high fever, with nausea and vomiting. Half an ounce of _tr._ Ipecac to two quarts of tepid water, applied with a sponge to the whole surface, acts like magic in yellow fever, allaying the nausea, producing free and health-restoring perspiration.

Rhus Tox,

applied, with water at the strength of thirty drops of the _tr._ to a gill, to parts affected with _Rheumatism_, acts very beneficially. It is also a most valuable application at half the above strength upon parts affected with Erysipelas, when the surface is swollen, and there are vessicles filled with fluid like a blister in burns.

It is also useful for sores that exist as the chronic effects of burns when the proper treatment had not been used in the beginning, and the healing process was never perfected.

_Rhus Cerate_ is a very useful application to irritable ulcers.

Hepar Sulphur

is a specific for _Itch and Scald Head,_ applied in form of a wash with twenty to thirty drops of _tr. Hepar Sul._ to a gill of water. Also for ill-conditioned scrofulous ulcers, generally.

Cuprum Acetic.u.m.

(_Acetate of Copper Verdigris_) applied to _Cancerous_ ulcers of the face, _Lupus_ or _Noli-me-tangere_, in the early stage, will in most cases effect a perfect cure, especially if for a week previously the part has been wet daily with _tr. Thuja_. The best mode of applying the _acetate_ is to mix the impalpable powder, as prepared for paint, with some substance to form a cerate, as equal parts of bees-wax and mutton suet, with 1-50 to 1-100 part of the pure _acetate_ as found in the bottom of the can, when prepared in oil for paint; heat all together and stir until cool. This forms a good plaster for covering and s.h.i.+elding the sore while its medicinal property is in the _Cuprum Acetic.u.m_ diluted as above. It is quite useful for any ill conditioned ulcer.

Acetic Acid

is a most efficient remedy applied to old irritable _varicose ulcers_ on the limbs of females who have suffered from _Phlegmasia Dolens_, (milk leg.)

It may be applied as a wash to the part once or twice a day at the strength of 1-20th of the acid with water, or in the form of good cider vinegar.

The manufactured vinegar of the cities does _not_ usually contain acetic acid.

ARUM TRIPHYLLUM is a specific to allay the inflammation and excessive pain in _scrofulous swellings_ of the neck, (_Kings Evil_.) The pure drug in powder, wet with warm water, or the green root bruised so as to form a poultice, is to be applied over the swelling. It soon discusses the swelling, or if pus has already formed, allays the the pain, and brings the pus to the surface, and if continued, disposes it to heal rapidly.

BAPTISIA TINCTORIA applied as a poultice either in the powdered drug, or with some other substance wet with the infusion or _tr._, _arrests gangrene_ in a short time. It is especially useful for threatened or actual gangrene arising from _lacerated_ wounds or scalds with wounds, as in accidents connected with the explosion of steam boilers; when we often have scalds and lacerations in the same wound.

HYDRASTUS CANADENSIS used as a gargler in a putrid state of the throat in malignant _Scarlet fever_, arrests the destructive process _at once_.

It is also a most excellent application for inflamed eyes in the second or sub-acute stage.

PROPHYLACTICS.

(_Preventives of Disease._)

TO PREVENT SCARLET FEVER

Give Belladonna at the 3d attenuation, three to six pellets, according to the age of the child, every morning, during the prevalence of the epidemic. This is for the common or mild form of the disease. If the prevailing epidemic is of the _malignant_ kind, producing fatal ulcerations of the throat, give _Bell._ once in two days and _Mercurius Corrosivus_ at the 3d attenuation on the alternate day.

While _Bell._ is a very certain preventive of the common eruptive Scarlatina, it is not as certain to prevent the _malignant_ form. Though it renders the latter much more mild, the _Merc. Cor._ is necessary to ward it off entirely, or so modify as to divest it of the dangerous features.

TO PREVENT YELLOW FEVER

Take _Aconite_, _Belladonna_ and _Macrotin_, 1st in rotation one dose a day. If there is any headache, or pains occur in other parts of the body, or a languid feeling, take a dose twice or three times a day in rotation.

TO PREVENT BILIOUS FEVER OR AGUE

Take _Podophyllin_, _Baptisia_ and _Gelseminum_ 1st in rotation, one dose at night, and if symptoms of fever, as headache and loss of appet.i.te, or bad taste in the mouth in the morning appear, take a dose three times a day, and refrain entirely from food for one or two days.

TO PREVENT TYPHOID FEVER

When exposed, as in nursing the sick, take _Baptisia_ 2d, and _Macrotin_ 2d, a dose three times a day.

TO PREVENT SMALL-POX

Use _Macrotin_ 1st night and morning, and if nursing or exposed frequently, use it every four hours.

TO PREVENT CHOLERA.