Tetanus (Lock-jaw).
Try Datura (131). The treatment of Tetanus by smoking Gunjah (Indian Hemp), introduced by Assistant-Surgeon A. C. Khastagir (Indian Medical Gazette, August 1878), promises to supersede all others in India if it were only from the fact that the remedy is procurable at a trifling cost in every bazaar throughout the country, and that its application is simple in the extreme. A pipe, hookah, or Indian hubble-bubble, charged with about 15 grains of dried Gunjah leaves, alone or mixed with twice as much tobacco leaves, is to be kept in readiness, and immediately on the indication of a spasm coming on it is to be lighted and handed to the patient with directions to smoke. By the time this is finished, or even before, the spasm relaxes, the eyes close, and the patient falls into a kind of slumber. The pipe is again charged, and kept in readiness for the approach of the next spasm, when the process is repeated with similar results. In this way the drug is administered day and night uninterruptedly, during which the irritation of the nervous system slowly but steadily yields to its influence. Mr. K. details five cases successfully treated in this manner. No auxiliary medicine, beyond an occasional purgative if required; no solid food allowed; milk and soup the only nutriments. This treatment is further advocated by Dr. J. C. Lucas, of the Bombay Medical Service (Med. Times and Gaz., February 21, 1880). The advantages which he claims for it are—(1) the spasms are cut short; (2) they reappear gradually at longer and longer intervals; (3) they gradually become not only less frequent, but less severe; this (4) saves the patient's vital powers, and thus, by prolonging life and preventing death, life, which would otherwise have succumbed, may eventually be saved. He places the dose at from eight to thirty grains, commencing with the smaller dose, and gradually increasing it as tolerance is established. He insists, properly, on the vast importance of quiet, perfect quiet, in a pure air (without too much breeze or draught), and he directs that the patient should on no account be disturbed to take his food or for any other reason, for which opportunity is to be taken when the patient awakes of his own accord, or from the recurrence of spasm. In the case of very young children, this mode of treatment cannot, of course, be carried out, but in all others it seems well worthy of a fair trial.
Throat, Dry and Irritable States of, giving rise to Cough.
Inhale the vapour of Hot Decoction of Abelmoschus (3) or of Hot Water (390). In Inflammatory States of, without Ulceration, use the same inhalations, and allow a piece of Nitre to dissolve in the mouth (266). Relaxed or Ulcerated Sore Throat. Use gargles of Alum (29), Capsicum (78), Moringa (238), Black Pepper (300), or Pomegranate Rind (313), Catechu (89), Ginger (158), and Omum Seeds (316), used in substance, prove useful in some cases, as do inhalations of the vapour of Hot Vinegar (377), or simple Hot Water (390).
Tic Douloureux.
See Face Ache and Neuralgia.
Tongue, Fissures or Cracks of, in the advanced stages of Fever, &c.
Use Borax (55) or Alum (29).