The remedies most useful, and those which will, in almost all ordinary cases, remove this affection at once, are Arum tri. and Copaiva, to be taken a dose every three hours in alternation.
If there is present a dry hacking cough, it will be well to take Bell. in the interval between the other medicines, for a day, or until the cough is relieved, or changed to a moist condition.
Inflammation of the Brain.
Brain Fever.
Though this affection is not strictly what is called "brain fever," it is attended with more or less general fever, while in what is called "Brain fever," there is great irritation of the brain, requiring in many respects similar treatment. As the treatment proper for inflammation of the brain, with some slight modifications in relation to the existing fever, will be applicable to both, I shall treat of them under one head.
Some of the principal symptoms are delirium and drowsiness, fullness of the blood vessels of the head, beating of the temporal arteries, redness and fullness of the face, the pupils dilated, (though in the very early stage they may be contracted.) If the membranes of the brain be the seat of the disease, the pain is more intense, and frequently the limbs are in a palsied state. The patient sometimes vomits immoderately, and the pulse is slow and irregular, but full. The breathing becomes stertorous. The fever is very considerable, and the head hot.
TREATMENT.
Aconite, Belladonna and Bryonia should be given in rotation, one dose every hour in a violent case, lengthening the intervals as the symptoms abate. Applying hot cloths to the head, removing them occasionally to let the water evaporate, will greatly palliate and will not in the least, interrupt the action of the medicines. Never apply cold to the head of any person, when hot or inflamed, much less to that of a child. Children are often killed by the application of ice to the head, producing congestion and paralysis of the brain. Hot applications are Homœopathic to the state then existing, and always beneficial. The feet may also be placed in hot water, but children should never be put into a hot or warm bath when sick, so as to cover more than the lower extremities.
Convulsions of Children—Fits.
These generally occur, either from the irritation of worms, or as precursors of ague, or they may arise from diarrhœal irritation, affecting the brain. They sometimes occur in hooping cough.