Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

In draining a pond, we do not begin at the edge of the water. We go to a point where there is room to receive the water. From that point we run our ditch up to and tap the pond. The liberated water then flows out naturally, and if more flows in it passes on out. You may regard a congested Pelvis, as a pond to be drained. In relieving congestion by movement we must prepare a place, to receive and to pass on the out-flowing blood. It must be beyond the congested parts. We must approach the Pelvis or congested organs as we did the pond. You remember, that every movement brings blood into the parts moved. It is thus, we prepare a place to receive the blood, sent out from the congested parts, or organs. If now, the feet are systematically and properly moved, the whole foot becomes warm. More blood has passed, rapidly, through all its parts. This increased volume must have come down from above the ankle, filling the feet and toes. That emptied other vessels above and created a new demand for blood. Blood from still further up the limb moves down to supply this new demand. These parts must be now supplied from still nearer the trunk, and so on until the pond, the congested Pelvis is reached. Its over-loaded capillaries are now drained to meet the demands created in the feet and limbs, by their movement, as we approached the Pelvis. In this way, demand and supply are interchanged and when this is perfect there can be no congestion or engorgement anywhere, supply and demand being equal.

If movement is properly administered, each muscle is so moved, that every cell in it, is made to act, is compressed, shortened and elongated alternately. Under such movement, all the blood vessels are quickly emptied and refilled. In this case there has been a constant, natural draft upon the blood vessels nearer to the congested Pelvic organs, as we have approached them in our manipulations. The blood has been gradually drawn, not forced, into the parts moved. And now the capillaries. unaided, begin their functions.

The principal effects of movement, so far as set forth in the foregoing, are of universal application, as to the manner and amount of movement given. Well chosen and correctly administered movements are physiological in their action, nutritive and permanent in their results. They are capable o

reaching, effectively, every part of the body, and so far as human means can do it, restore its health and strength by restoring, everywhere, the normal circulation of its fluids, thereby imparting to it vitality and vigor, through natural nourishment, which is the source of all life and health.

LUTHER J. INGERSOLL, M. D.

MATERIA MEDICA.*

BARYTA CARBONICA.

By C. W. Enos, M. D., Denver, Colo.

Baryta Carbonica is a very long, deep acting remedy, said by Hahnemann to act fifty days. Antidote for large doses is Sulphate of Soda or Magnesia; of small dose-Belladonna, Camphora, Dulcamara and Mercury.

Brain. The first action of Baryta is upon the brain, whence it extends to the peripheral nerves. Dr. T. S. Hynes gives the following characteristics (U. S. Medical and Surgical Journal, July, 1873.) "Mental or physical weakness. Fear or dread of the presence of others. Imagines himself criticised or laughed at, which causes great unhappiness. Suddenly overwhelmed. with apprehension of evil, cries out that his family or friends are ill, which caused great distress. Anxious about the most trivial affairs. Forgets what was just said, just done, or what he was going to do or get. Sensation as if brain was looseseems to move to and fro on motion of body. Feels stupefied as if benumbed. Right side of the head feels burning hot-in reality it is cold to touch. Formication of the scalp, sensation as if hair stood on end. Losing hair from crown of head. Cannot bear to look at one object for any length of time-sparks before the eyes in the dark. Sounds in ears, as echoes-cracklings, reports, etc. Diseased condition in the region of posterior nares, especially if the patient be troubled with epistaxis. Formation of scabs in the posterior nares, and behind the base of the uvala. Chronic induration of the tonsils. Prevents suppuration in tonsilitis. The throat looks pale, is sore, with pu

* Read before the State Medical Society, May 25, 1897.

trid breath. Sore throat, etc., with difficulty in moving the lower jaw. Painful swelling of submaxillary gland. The passage of food to stomach is painful, as if it passed over a sore spot. Sore feeling at the stomach, even when at rest. Diarrhoea, with pain in small of back. When convalescing from pneumonia, sensation as if the lungs were filled with smoke— she smells pine smoke. The soles of the feet are painful when walking, on account of callosities (Cal. C.) Fetid sweat of the feet (Sil.). Scarlet fever with enlargement and induration of the neck, and much pain in ears and head. Fatty tumors, especially of hard drinkers. Constantly weak and weary; wishes to lean on something, to sit or lie down, and still feels weak and weary. Very well adapted to persons who take cold easily, resulting in sore throat. Prespiration on one side, as, one hand, one foot, one side of face, etc. Suitable to scrofulous children who do not grow. Especially suitable to dwarfish women, with scanty menstruation and troublesome weight about the pubes in any position."

The foregoing has been given as the characteristics of Baryta Carbonica. They are good as far as they go, but the Dr. did not go far enough, as many of the symptoms and conditions may be met by various remedies. What we, as students of Materia Medica need to know and have fixed in our minds is the picture of a remedy. What does this or that remedy look like? As there are no two individuals alike, there are no two diseases alike, neither are there two remedies alike. I grant you there may be individuals similar, diseases similar, and remedies similar in action, but not alike. Now in the first place in learning a remedy, we want to get its nature fixed in our minds. There are guide-posts or finger-boards to point us in the right direction.

First. Is it a short or long acting remedy? Is it deep or superficial? Is it acute or chronic in its nature? Is it AntiPsoric, Anti-Sycotic or Anti-Syphilitic? Is it a hot or cold remedy? Also, what time of day its action is most violent, etc?

Baryta C. is antipsoric; it is long and deep in its action. Patient is worse in cold, damp weather. Its action looks like the complaints of old people, and those who are emaciated and prematurely aged. Debilitated, body emaciated, except abdo

men and glandular structures, which may be distended and indurated. Children unable to learn to walk; mental state approximates imbecility; bashful children-afraid of strangers, will hide behind furniture when strangers come into the house. Oversensitiveness to pain. Better when alone. Generally aggravated when in company. Baryta C. is suitable for affections of infants, but more particularly those of old age. Tendency to enlargement and induration of glands, with flabbiness of the muscles.

Under head.--We see big headed children. A kind of nondescript headache, relieved by pressure. Old people have a rush of blood to the head. Threatened with apoplexy-Capill ary vessels largely dilated. Timid, fearful; threatened with catalepsy. Pressure on the brain, followed by numbness.

Scalp.-Eruptions, falling of the hair, eczema, (usually moist.) If the generals of the remedy apply, Bayta C. will cure such conditions.

Ear.-Ear trouble ends with inflammation in parotid glands, hardness of hearing in old people when the drum withers and shrivels and almost breaks, it is so dry. Dry catarrh of the nose. Dryness in eustachian tubes, and middle ear. This dryness extends to auditory canal. If generals apply, remedy will cure in curable cases.

Eyes.--Thickening of the tissues in and about the eyes, trachoma (granulation), ophthalmia, goiter, associated with palpitation of heart. There is alternate dilation and contraction of pupils, often a forerunner of apoplexy.

Nose.-Dry nasal catarrh; post nasal catarrh. Crusted formation back of soft palate. Thickening of all the nasal mucous membranes; scabs around wings of nose, on the outside. Coryza, with swollen nose and upper lip.

Mouth.-Awakens in the morning with dry mouth, seemsas though it would crack with motion. (Nux moschata has similar condition, only it occurs in the evening). Foul breath, with thick, tough mucus in mouth, (almost impossible to swallow.) Dryness extends into air passages, causing difficult breathing, so much so that patient cannot lie down. is obliged to sleep sitting or semi-sitting. Tonsils enlarged and indurated. Great remedy in quinsy, if the generals of the remedy apply. If they

do not remedy will not help the case. The remedy is never useful after suppuration has set in. Remedies like Hepar or Silicea will hasten suppuration and relieve the pain. Silicea and Baryta have many symptoms in common. Both take cold easily; both worse in damp weather; both have sweating feet; both more or less feeble minded, but Baryta C. will not hasten or produce suppuration.

Chest.-Asthmatic affections, especially in old people worse in damp, cold air or weather, etc. Dreadful wheezing, with mucus in the chest; unable to contract the muscles of the chest to expel the mucus. Aggravation of breathing from least motion, from walking, going up stairs.

Stomach.-Hunger without ability to eat. Generally worse after meals. Disgust for food; patient will sit down and eat for a minute or two and suddenly gag. Worse after warm food Abdomen large. General engorgement of all the glandular structures throughout the body, while there is general emaciation of the muscles, with a debilitated and old look of the patient. Stool.-Usually hard and insufficient.

Menstruation.--Scanty, lasting a single day, largely due to the debilitated and shriveled condition of the patient. Nothing is so striking in this remedy as the premature old age. I again repeat the picture of the remedy as it will appear before you when indicated.

List of Generals.-Slow, long and deep acting; for complaints of old people and those who are emaciated and prematurely aged, debilitated; body emaciated except abdomen; great timidity and weakness throughout; children unable to walk; mental state approximates imbecility; kind of idiotic look; cowardly; bashful; children will run and hide; easily frightened; oversensitive, tearful disposition. Patient sweats very easily from the whole body; motion causes sweating. Patient is inclined to be lazy. Tendency to enlargement of glands and induration (hardening) while there is emaciation of the whole body. The muscles are flabby, patient worse in cold, damp air. Big-headed, and big-bellied children.

« AnteriorContinuar »