TEN REMEDIES IN MEASLES


With all due deference to the illustrious founder of homoeopathy, it seems questionable to us whether a cure always and necessarily depends upon a perceptible aggravation of the symptoms. Indeed, we believe it to be within the experience of every careful observer to meet with cases where relief and nothing but relief has promptly succeeded the administration of the well-selected homoeopathic remedy, relief so speedy that it seemed almost like magic.


In order to apply the ten homoeopathic remedies in measles, let me review this disease generally.

Measles is still a very prevalent highly contagious disease. It is sporadic or epidemic in form as viewed from the reports of the state board of health. It is one of the quarantine diseases which medical authorities try to check with all their power. This disease usually occurs in children, although persons of all ages are susceptible; but it is a well known fact that children at the breast usually escape infection probably due to acquiring immunity from the mother. The home is still the harbor where the majority of cases are treated with very few exceptions in isolation hospitals whence they were transferred by developing complications.

The stages of this disease are invasive, eruptive, and the stage of desquamation.

The conveyance of this disease is usually direct and the incubation period varies somewhat from seven to twenty-one days.

Most often measles commences like an ordinary cold, having a

high fever and catarrhal symptoms of profuse, watery discharge from eyes and nose, photophobia, short, dry and distressing cough. The patient appear very ill, the eyes being very sensitive to light; at times there are complaints of pain in the limbs, and headache. As the disease progresses, the cough becomes more violent. There is hoarseness, sneezing, and soreness of the throat, higher fever, difficulty in breathing and sometimes vomiting and diarrhoea.

Several days before the appearance of the eruption, the diagnosis can be made by the Koplik spots. About the fourth or fifth day from the commencement of the disease, the eruption makes its appearance, first on the forehead and face, then neck and chest and lastly on the extremities. It consists of small irregular shaped red spots resembling flea bites, slightly raised above the surface. About forty-eight hours after the appearance of the rash it arrives at its height and soon after begins to die away, disappearing in the same order in which it arrived. When the eruption subsides, the cuticle comes off in the form of small bran-like scales, accompanied by a troublesome itching of the parts. In this stage the patient is exposed to more or less danger, which may lead to complications, as pneumonia, enlarged lymph nodes, bronchopneumonia, endocarditis, ileocolitis and otitis media or purulent conjunctivitis. In scrofulous subjects it may terminate in consumption.

Treatment: Measles in its simple form requires but little treatment apart from careful nursing and the indicated homoeopathic remedy.

Aconite is usually the remedy first thought of in the initial stage of this dreadful disease. This remedy is applied before the development of the rash, and by reason of the high fever accompanied by restlessness, coryza and lachrymation and photophobia; but Ferrum phosphoricum must be substituted in the absence of restlessness. Aconite, however, is usually first thought of in the list of ten remedies.

Gelsemium is also indicated with above mentioned symptoms, provided restlessness is also absent. The following symptoms as noticed in this remedy are profuse excoriation with watery discharge, accompanied by drowsiness and great prostration. The patient is in a state of stupor and there is absence of thirst. At times Gelsemium is a good remedy to follow Aconite, and it may be indicated even after the rash has developed.

Belladonna, on the other hand, is the third of the group to be remembered as a remedy for the initial stage, being indicated by an exceedingly high fever, at times ranging to 105 degrees, but with symptoms of moistened skin, flushed face, dilated pupils, very hard, bounding pulse and delirium. This patient also complains of violent headache and sore throat, due to cerebral congestion. Cuprum may be thought of when convulsions are present with cerebral manifestations.

Pulsatilla is one of the remedies indicated after the subsidence of the fever and respiratory symptoms, when the nasal discharge is thick and greenish-yellow in character. The cough is loose during the day but very dry at night. It is one of the remedies to be thought of in otitis media. It is also given where the patient has but little fever, and in mild cases.

Kali bichromicum may be given when the respiratory symptoms are complicated with acute bronchitis or bronchopneumonia. This remedy is found to be one of the best. It has been proven and found to be well indicated in severe cases presenting conjunctivitis with phlyctenules, ulceration of the Meibomian glands, purulent discharge from the eyes, or coughing of a croupous type with expectorations of a stringy mucus, accompanied by membranous laryngitis.

For my sixth remedy I have chosen Bryonia, which is often indicated in cases when the rash is slow, or running a balky course. There are prominent catarrhal symptoms and inflammation involving the finer tubes. The cough is dry, hard and painful, with but little expectoration. There are stitching pains in sides of the chest and labored breathing due to the oppression in the chest.

Apis mellifica, my seventh remedy, is indicated in confluent eruption and oedematous swellings of the skin accompanied by cough, soreness in the chest and feeling of bruised oppression of chest. There is an inability to remain in a warm room; diarrhoea is present, especially in the morning, with greenish-yellow stools.

Mercury is well indicated in swelling of the glands of the throat with difficulty in swallowing. Soreness in the pharynx with ulcerations of the mucous membranes and tonsils, accompanying profuse salivary secretion and very foul breath. The patient complains of great sensitiveness of stomach, with perspiration which gives no relief. The diarrhoea is greenish, shiny or bloody, with severe tenesmus.

Arsenicum is a remedy which may be indicated in very severe cases. There is intense burning and great dryness and itching of the skin. The eruption appears too suddenly. There is bloating of the face and dry, parched lips. There is great restlessness and anxiety and fear of death. He continually craves much cold water, drinking often but little each time. This Arsenicum patient is very ill and is aggravated about midnight.

For the tenth and last remedy of my group I have chosen Phosphorus. It is indicated when the disease is complicated by pneumonia. There are complaints of tightness across the chest with a violent and exhausting cough, and he expectorates freely a rust colored sputum. The pains in the chest are sticking, < deep breathing and coughing. This patient has a loss of voice due to laryngitis and hoarseness.

HARTFORD, CONN.

With all due deference to the illustrious founder of homoeopathy, it seems questionable to us whether a cure always and necessarily depends upon a perceptible aggravation of the symptoms. Indeed, we believe it to be within the experience of every careful observer to meet with cases where relief and nothing but relief has promptly succeeded the administration of the well-selected homoeopathic remedy, relief so speedy that it seemed almost like magic.

We often get aggravation, to be sure, and are taught to regard the aggravation as an indication that the remedy has been well- chosen, but has either been given in too low a potency or else has been repeated too often. Some of our friends assert that aggravations are more likely to follow the injudicious use of the highest rather than of the lower potencies. I am not yet convinced of the truth of this assertion.

In discussing the law of dose, Dr. Wells has told us that “Explanation is found in the degree of susceptibility of the patient to the action of the drug, and this in the direct ratio of the similarity of the characteristics of the drug and the disease”. Dr. Fincke gives us the same idea in different language: “The relation of the remedy to the life-force demands its proper selection according to similarity of symptoms and dose.” In further elucidation of this subject, Dr. Fincke asks and replies to the following question:.

“Which will be the appropriate potency in the given case?” Answer: “That one which will be proportionate to the degree of susceptibility of the patient.” A.R. MORGAN, M.D., 1892.

John C. Wienski