Erysipelas

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

This is a disease of the skin, producing redness, burning and itching

pains, appearing in patches, in adults, most apt to appear about the

head and face, but in children, upon the limbs, or in very young

children, beginning at the umbilicus. It sometimes begins at one point,

and continues to spread for a time, then suddenly disappears, and

reappears at some other point.



_Simple Erysipelas_ only affects th surface, with redness and smarting.

_Vessicular_, produces vessicular eruption, or blisters filled with a

limpid fluid, somewhat like the blisters from a burn.



The _Phlegmonous Erysipelas_ affects the whole thickness of the skin and

cellular tissues beneath it, producing swelling, and not unfrequently,

resulting in suppuration, ulceration or gangrene and sloughing of the

parts. It is a dangerous disease, especially when on the head.





TREATMENT.



For the simple kind, _Bell._ is all that will be needed, unless there

should be considerable fever, when _Aconite_ should be alternated with

the _Bell._ For the _vessicular_ kind, where there are blisters, _Rhus

tox._ should be used with _Bell_. For the _Phlegmonous_, with deep

seated swellings, _Apis mel_ is the most important remedy. I prefer to

use three of these remedies, giving them in rotation, beginning with the

_Bell._, followed with _Rhus_, and then by _Apis mel._ giving them one

hour apart. In a mild case, or after the patient begins to recover, give

them at longer intervals. The _Apis_ alone will often be sufficient.

During the whole time, the affected parts should be kept covered with

dry, superfine flour, some say Buckwheat flour acts most favorably. The

diet should be very spare. Eat as little as possible, until the disease

begins to subside.



A very important part of the treatment of this affection is to keep the

patient in a room that is comfortably warm, say at a temperature of from

65 to 75 deg., and keep the temperature _uniformly the same_, as nearly as

possible, night and day. Do not, by any means, expose him suddenly to

cold air, or a cold breeze, as on going into a cold room, going out into

cold air, or undressing or dressing in a cold room. Uniformly warm

temperature is of great importance.