If convulsions occur from worms, the child appearing to be choked, give at once some salt and water, and as soon as the first paroxysm is over, give a dose of Bell., and after an hour a dose of Santonine. If they come on at the commencement of an ague chill, give Aconite and Bell. every half hour for three or four doses alternately, then leave off the Bell. and give Baptisia. If diarrhœa is the cause, give Bell. and Cham omilla. If from hooping cough, Bell. alone should be used.
Measles.
This is a contagious disease, and always begins with symptoms like a cold, with high fever, and a severe dry cough, thirst and restlessness. Pulsatilla is the proper medicine to palliate and regulate the symptoms. If the fever is high, Aconite should be used every two hours alternately with Puls. Should the eruption subside suddenly, give Bryonia with Pulsatilla until it reappears.
Let the child drink freely of cold water, and avoid stimulants of every kind. If the eruption is tardy in its appearance, a hot bath may be administered, being careful to have the room quite warm, and to rub the patient dry, very suddenly after the bath. Frictions by the healthy hand over the surface, will do much towards bringing out measles. After the eruption is out, quiet, freedom from sudden exposure to cold, cold water and light diet is all that is necessary. In some of the most obstinate cases, where the eruptions failed to appear in the proper time, as well as where they had receded too soon, I have been able to bring them out in a short time with an infusion of Sassafras root, sweetened and taken quite warm, in doses of half an ounce in fifteen to thirty minutes. It is a remedy for measles well worth attention.
Mumps.
This is a contagious disease, consisting in an inflammation of the Parotid gland. There is, at first, a sense of stiffness and soreness on moving the jaw, soon after the gland begins to swell, and continues to be sore and painful, with more or less headache, and general fever for from six to eight days. It is not ordinarily a dangerous disease, unless translated to some other part. It may remove from the original seat to the brain, the testicles, or in females to the breasts.
TREATMENT.
Mercurius should be given three times a day during the attack. If the brain becomes affected, use Bell. and Apis mel. in alternation. Should it recede to the testicles, or to the female breasts, Apis mel. is the remedy. Mercurius may be used in connection with the Apis as soon as the violent symptoms have subsided, in order to prevent permanent glandular swellings.
Stings of Insects.
The effect produced by the sting of Bees, Wasps, and Hornets of all kinds, is so nearly, if not quite identical, that I shall make no distinction between them. There are very few, if any persons, who do not know the symptoms, at least the local effects of the Bee sting. Pungent, stinging, aching pain, redness and swelling of the part. The wound has at first, and for some time, a white spot or point where the sting entered, surrounded by an areola of bright scarlet, growing fainter and paler as it recedes. The swelling is not pointed, but a rounded elevation, with a feeling of hardness. If upon the face, it not unfrequently causes the whole face to swell so as to nearly if not entirely close the eyes. In some instances, the brain becomes affected and death ensues.