Measles & its homoeopathic treatment.

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1838 Hering, Constantine (father of American Homeopathy)

http://www.homeoinf o.com/02_ history/people/ hering.php (about Hering)

 

Homeopathic Domestic Physician

Part 1 in 1835 and Part 2 in 1838

 

Measles

Measles are usually preceded by catarrhal

symptoms, such as profuse watery flow from the

eyes and nose; short, dry and distressing cough;

the eyes have a peculiar watery appearance, and become more or less inflamed.

 

The fever at times becomes very high; nausea

and vomiting often set in, and there is pain n

the pit of the stomach on pressure. The eyes are

more sensitive to light; the cough more violent

and accompanied by hoarseness and difficulty of

breathing, and a feeling of tightness across the chest.

 

In from two to five days the eruption appears

as small red spots, of an irregular shape, the

size of a lentil and slightly raised above the

surface. The eruption makes its appearance n the

throat about twenty-four hours before it is seen

externally on the skin; here it is usually first

seen about the head, near the borders of the

hair, and on the temples; then on the forehead,

face and neck, from whence it spread to the trunk and limbs.

 

If you press your finger upon a single spot,

the redness will disappear, but after taking off

the finger, the redness will return, first, in

the middle and thence spread to the margin; in

other similar diseases, the redness returns in

the reverse order, first on the margin and then in the middle.

 

The red spots generally run together in

patches; in about five days from its first

appearance it begins to die away, and gradually

disappears in the same order as it advanced. The

cuticle (thin skin) sometimes comes off in small

bran-like scales, and the cough and other catarrhal symptoms yield.

 

Aconitum, the chief medicine in this complaint,

is especially indicated when the fever is

violent, with hot, dry skin; heat in the head;

giddiness; redness of the eyes and dread of light, and great weakness.

 

Pulsatilla, when the catarrhal symptoms

predominate, - when the eruption is tardy in

coming out; if it fails to produce an abatement,

Sulphur should be given, and afterwards Aconitum again.

 

Belladonna, when the throat becomes sore,

attended with thirst, difficulty of swallowing,

shooting and pricking pains in the throat; and

also when there is dry, barking or spasmodic

cough, worse at night, with rattling of mucus;

likewise in those cases where the eruption does

not appear, but there is headache and great

inflammation of the eyes; congestion towards the head.

 

Euphrasia, when the catarrhal symptoms, cough

and inflammation of the eyes, with great watering, are very prominent.

Ipecacuanha is most serviceable in arresting

the vomiting; also when there is oppression of the chest.

 

Bryonia, when the eruption is imperfectly

developed, or when there is congestion to the

chest, with shooting pains or stitches, increased

by taking a deep inspiration; and violent dry

cough. Sulphur in cases of congestion or

inflammation of the lungs. Arsenicum will be

required if the sickness or vomiting and

oppression of the chest remain after the use of

Ipecacuanha. In the severe cases, with typhoid

symptoms, Arsenicum, Bryonia, Phosphorus and Rhus will be useful.

 

Measles frequently leave behind diseases more

dangerous than themselves; consequently great

care is required in the after treatment.

 

In scrofulous children, troublesome swelling

and inflammation of the glands, especially those

of the neck, are apt to occur; or the eyes may be

affected with diseases, difficult to cure, and

the foundation be laid for consumption of the lungs.

 

A form of disease known as German measles has

been somewhat prevalent in this country during

the past few years. The affection is not serious,

and requires according to the symptoms the same

remedies as the true measles. It is to be

distinguished from measles by the appearance of

the eruption, which is frequently somewhat

similar to that occurring in scarlet fever. The

absence too of bronchitis is notable, and the

mildness of the entire attack is conspicuous.

 

From scarlet fever an attack of German measles

is recognized by the slight degree of fever and

particularly by the presence of catarrhal

symptoms, which are absent in the former disease.

 

For the cough which frequently remains after

measles, Bryonia, Sulphur, Causticum, Hyoscyamus,

Drosera, and other remedies, recommended under

?Cough?, are serviceable. Swelling of the glands

in the neck requires Arnica, Dulcamara or

Mercurius. Burning and itching of the skin, Nux

vomica, Sulphur and Arsenicum. Tenderness of the skin, Mercurius.

 

When measles are prevailing as an epidemic, the

administration of Pulsatilla, every two or three

days, on the first appearance of catarrhal

symptoms, should be disease be taken, may render it milder.

 

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