Report on the yellow fever of 1867 : made by request to the American Institute of Homoeopathy / by William H. Holcombe.

  • Holcombe, William H. (William Henry), 1825-1893.
Date:
1869
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Report on the yellow fever of 1867 : made by request to the American Institute of Homoeopathy / by William H. Holcombe. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    between these remedies, which future observation will enable us to verify and utilize. I employed them from the first to the sixth attenuations, — alternating- sometimes one with another, sometimes one of them with Lachesis.30 The violent pains, especially of the head and back, are some- times not relieved by any of these remedies. If the hot foot- bath and hot cup of tea bring on perspiration, the patient will generally experience partial relief. Mustard plasters some- times are of temporary service. I discovered one remedy which, in many cases last year, had a prompt and delightful effect in alleviating these atrocious pains. It was Colchicum of the first attenuation. I was led to try it from its known efficacy in the terrible sufferings of gout, and from the fact that the constitutional type of the epidemic was eminently rheu- matic or neuralgic. Iris versicolor gave similar good results in a few cases. The vomiting of this stage, when excessive, is quieted by Ipecac6 or 30; or by Tartar, emet. 2nd centes. trituration. There are many other remedies and measures useful for this symptom, not now necessary to enumerate. With — or, in mild cases, without — this course of treat- ment, the fever will subside in two or three days; and then comes the real danger of yellow fever (in one form), from the occurrence of exhaustion, haemorrhage, jaundice, suppression of urine, and black vomit. Unless the cerebral congestions, which occasionally occur in the first stage of the bad and so frequently fatal cases, still continue, one would hardly think the patient in the least danger. His skin is moist, tongue clean, pulse soft and quick. He has little or no pain, and professes himself per- fectly easy and satisfied. There must be no relaxing of care in the nursing, the diet, or the medical attention. The whole scene may be sadly changed in a few hours. The approaching storm will be heralded by the appearance of nervous restless- 3