Delirium Tremens.
To relieve sleeplessness and anxiety, give Opium and Camphor (283), or better still, Bromide of Potassium, as advised in Sleeplessness in Head Affections. See that article. Try also the Mustard Foot Bath (248, 249), or the Wet Sheet (397b). To support the strength, give Brandy Mixture (427*) and a nourishing diet.
Diabetes.
Vapour Baths (396) in the early stages, Alum Whey (27) and Lime Water (226) internally, with Opium (288), at bedtime, prove occasionally useful as palliatives. Their operation is assisted by a full animal diet, with a diminished quantity of rice and other farinaceous food, and by warm clothing. Use Lemonade as a drink (232).
Diarrhœa.
In the early stages, especially if attended with heat of skin, &c., give Country Ipecacuanha (369) and Ispaghúl seeds (304), with a mild aperient, as Castor Oil, if there is reason to think that the attack arises from crude, undigested food in the intestines. The Acetate of Lead and Opium Pills advised for Cholera are often very successful in these cases. One may be given every two or three hours, or oftener, according to the urgency of the symptoms; they are especially useful in Epidemic Diarrhœa. In the advanced stages or in Chronic Diarrhœa try Sulphate of Copper (110), Catechu (88), Alum (26), or one of the following: Decoction of Babúl Bark (9), Infusion of Sweet Flag (12), Bael (44), Butea Gum (62), Galls (146), Decoction of Pomegranate (312), and Omum Water (317), with or without the addition, in each case, of a small portion of Opium (289). Turpentine Stupes (363) to the abdomen are useful if much pain is present. When the disease is apparently of malarious origin or connected with periodic Fevers of any kind, Quinine (three to five grains twice or thrice daily) should be associated with whatever other remedies are being employed. Try also Warm Water Enemas (393). When connected with Acidity of the Stomach, give Lime Water (222). When caused by Over-eating or by Indigestible Food, follow up an emetic of Mustard (246) or Country Ipecacuanha (368), to unload the stomach, by Omum Water (318), and subsequently by a dose of Castor Oil. Capsicum (79) is thought to be specially useful in Diarrhœa arising from the use of putrid food, e.g., fish. The Diarrhœa of Children often yields to a dose of Castor Oil, if given early; if not, one of the following may be tried: Acorus or Sweet Flag (13*), Bael (44), Catechu (88), Sulphate of Copper (110), Sulphate of Iron (181*), Saccharated Solution of Lime (220), or Ispaghúl Seeds (304). Omum Water (318) may be advantageously combined with any of the above. The Diarrhœa which precedes Cholera. See Cholera. N.B.—In all cases of diarrhœa the food should be mild and unirritating, thick Arrowroot (423) being the best suited for the purpose, and, in every obstinate or chronic case, a flannel bandage should always be worn round the abdomen.
Dropsy.
Occurring in the young and vigorous is best treated at the outset by strong purgatives, as Croton Pills (120) or Croton Oil (121), or Kaladana (187), followed by medicines which increase the flow of urine, as Decoction of Asteracantha (39), Infusion of Moringa (237), Mustard Whey (250), or Infusion of Pedalium (297), with which Nitre (269) or Sal Ammoniac (331) may be combined, as circumstances require. The Vapour Bath (396) twice a week proves useful in recent cases, where the patient is strong enough to bear it. Where the patient is very debilitated and anæmic, Sulphate of Iron (174, 178) should be tried.