The Therapeutics of Fevers

Ledum Palustre led.

Allen (1879)In every bookSave

Characteristic

Adapted to the rheumatic gouty diathesis; constitutions abused by alcohol (Colch., Crot.).

Hemorrhage into anterior chamber after iridectomy.

Contusions of eye and lids especially if much extravasation of blood; ecchymosis of lids and conjunctiva.

Rheumatism and rheumatic gout; begins in lower limbs and ascends (descends, Kalmia); especially if brought to a low asthenic condition by abuse of Colchicum; joints become the seat of nodosities and “goutstones” which are painful; arthritis.

Affects left shoulder and right hip-joint (Agar., Ant. t., Stram.).

Emaciation of affected parts (Graph.).

Pains: are sticking, tearing, throbbing, and pains in joints are < by motion; < at night, by warmth of bed and bed-covering (Mer.), > only when holding feet in ice water (Sec.).

Complaints of people who are cold all the time; always feel cold and chilly; lack of animal or vital heat (Sep., Sil.); the wounded parts especially are cold to touch.

Parts cold to touch, but not cold subjectively to patient.

In some affections, warmth of bed intolerable on account of heat and burning of limbs.

Swelling : of feet, up to knees ; of ankle with unbearable pain when walking, as from a sprain or false step ; ball of great toe swollen, painful ; in heels as if bruised.

Intense itching of feet and ankles, < from scratching and warmth of bed (Puls., Rhus).

Easy spraining of ankles and feet (Carbo an.).

Punctured wounds by sharp-pointed instruments, rat bites (Hyper.) ; as awls, nails, stings of insects, especially mosquitoes.

Red pimples or tubercles on forehead and cheeks, as in brandy drinkers, stinging when touched.

Long-remaining discoloration after injuries ; “ black and blue ” places become green.

Aggravation

Heat ; cannot bear heat of bed; becomes intolerable by midnight, compelling to throw off the bedclothes (rev. of Sil.). Motion (joints only): misstep; alcohol.

Amelioration

Uncovering, relieves the terrible burning at night in the gouty nodosities of joints.

Type

Double quotidian. Arthritic fever.

Time

9:45 A. M., 2:30 P. M , same day. Generally only a forenoon paroxysm.

Cause

Exposure to cold. Diseases arising from cold and debility.

Chill

With thirst. Chilliness of single parts, as if cold water were poured over the parts (chill over whole body as if dashed with cold water, Rhus). Chilliness mornings and forenoons; want of natural heat (Mar. v.). Shaking all over, with little chilliness (Eup. purp.), without heat, but with thirst for cold water. Shaking chill over the whole back, with hot cheeks and hot forehead, without redness of face or thirst, hands cold. Shivering and chilliness with goose-flesh, without external coldness. Cold- ness of the back between the shoulders and in lumbar region. (See Caps.—sensation as if a piece of ice were lying on the back between the shoulders, followed by coldness over the whole body with gooseflesh; relieved by hot irons, Lachn.). General coldness with heat and redness of the face. Chill, with colic every evening.

" Violent chills and horripilation with cold limbs."—HAHNEMANN.

Heat

All over*, without thirst; on waking the body is covered with perspiration, accompanied by itching of the whole body. The warmth of the bed is intolerable on account of the heat and burning of the limbs (external warmth is unbearable, Puls.). Heat in the hands and feet in the evening*, with much distended veins of hands (veins of face and neck distended, Bell., Cinch.—veins in forearms and hands, Puls.).

Sweat

Perspires, and cannot bear the bed covers (must be uncovered as soon as sweat begins, Acon.). Slight sweat all over, with itching of the whole body, provoking scratching. Warm sweat on the hands and feet, long continuing. Sour, offensive sweat on the forehead if he perspires when walking.

Pulse

Hard, full and rapid; often can be felt on one arm only.

"Intermittent fevers with malignant rheumatism or gouty complications."

"The fever consists almost entirely of coldness, shivering, here and there a little heat, of the cheeks or forehead, while the limbs are very cold, and a sour-smelling sweat especially on the forehead; the sweat is often interspersed with shivering."—DUNHAM.

Analysis

Chill; severe; of single parts as if cold water were poured over them, with colic every evening.

Heat; warmth of bed is intolerable from heat and burning of limbs.

Sweat; sour-smelling on the forehead.

Fever with rheumatic and gouty ailments.