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Dysentery

Categories: ADMINISTRATION OF REMEDIES.
Sources: An Epitome Of Homeopathic Healing Art

This disease is caused by inflammation of the mucous membrane of the

colon and rectum, (the large intestine) generally confined to the lower

part of the bowel. It is always painful. There is griping and straining

in the lower part of the abdomen, and generally great bearing down when

at stool, with a peculiar distress after the evacuation, called tormina.



The discharges often commence like a common diarrhoea, with cop
ous

liquid evacuations, but there is more or less griping pain, low down,

from the beginning. The evacuations sooner or later become lessened,

slimy or bloody, or both, the pain increasing accompanied with more or

less fever, often quite severe. Sometimes the patient is costive, and

has been so for several days, the dysentery coming on without being

preceded by looseness. At others, especially in summer, when fevers are

prevailing, the dysentery begins with a severe chill, followed by fever

and the dysenteric symptoms above described.





TREATMENT.



If it begins with looseness without blood, give _Arsenicum_ and

_Veratrum_ alternately, once an hour, or oftener if the evacuations are

more frequent. If the discharges are bloody, use _Mercurius cor._ in

place of the _Arsenicum_. If there is any sickness of the stomach, or

the discharges are dark or yellow, use _Podophyllin_ with _Mercurius

cor._ If there are colic pains in the bowels, use _Colocynthis_

alternately with the others, giving it between them. If the patient was

costive previous to the attack, and the dysentery came on without much

looseness, _Nux Vomica_ should be given alternately with _Mercurius

cor._ If the disease comes on with a chill, or a chill occurs at any

time during the attack, followed by fever, _Aconite_, _Baptisia_ and

_Podophyllin_ should be used in rotation half an hour apart until a free

perspiration is produced, and the pain diminishes; or if bloody stools

appear, use _Mercurius cor_, with the _Aconite_ and _Baptisia_. A large

proportion of the dysenteries of hot weather in miasmatic regions, will

be arrested in a few hours by these three or four remedies, especially

if the patient keeps still, and generally even if he keeps about his

business. In very bad cases, much benefit will be derived from

injections of Gum Arabic water, or mucillage of Slippery Elm thrown into

the bowel in quantities of a pint or more at a time, as warm as can

possibly be endured. I have often relieved patients immediately with

injections of a strong solution of Borax in Rice water, as hot as

bearable. _Never apply cold water_ to _any_ inflamed surface, much less

a _mucous_ surface. All food should be withheld as far as practicable

and not starve, until the symptoms abate.



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