Ipecacuanha

ASTHMA.

Ipecac. Spasmodic form of asthma, violent contraction, with rattling or wheezing in the bronchial tubes, seems as if would suffocate from constriction, < on motion, and often accompanied with nausea or vomiting.

These have been the two great remedies from “way back.” I used to alternate them, and often with marked relief, but think it is better to give the Ipecac first and hold the Arsenicum in reserve to follow if necessary, if indicated of course.

PERTUSSIS (Whooping Cough).

This affection, now classed among the infectious diseases, is to be treated homœopathically just as it was before the Bacillus pertussis eppendorf was discovered. In the first stage, when it can hardly be distinguished from a common cold, Belladonna is as often indicated as any other remedy. Of course, other remedies may supercede it according to indications. After the whooping stage begins, if there is considerable wheezing and spasmodic coughing with blueness of the face during the paroxysm, also gagging and vomiting, ipecac comes in.

PNEUMONIA.

Ipecac., which also has great accumulation of mucus, is again useful in children, but the oppression of breathing is accompanied with squeaky wheezing breathing instead of the coarse rattling of Ant. tart.

PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS.

Ipecac is indicated when the hæmorrhage is profuse, comes up easily, or is vomited, blood bright red, preceded by a sense of bubbling in the chest. Cough with spitting of blood on the least effort. Nausea and wheezing or rattling in the chest.

COUGH.

Character—Sometimes dry, at others loose. Spasmodic often.

Aggravation—< motion, and open air.

Amelioration—> warmth, and quiet.

Concomitants—Fine rattling or rather wheezing in bronchial tubes, from large accumulation of mucus. Violent dyspnœa, with wheezing; accumulation of mucus threatens to suffocate; loses breath with the cough, turns pale and stiffens; nausea, retching, or vomiting with cough; whooping cough with nosebleed; blue face; rigidity during paroxysm; phlegm rattling everywhere on chest; hæmorrhage profuse, bright red.

Any one who can interpret symptoms can see how useful this remedy might become in asthma, whooping cough or catarrhal pneumonia of children. And so it is, and especially so if the persistent nausea so characteristic of the remedy is present. The wheezing breathing may find a similar remedy in Arsenicum and Cuprum. If the mucus becomes looser and with coarse rattling, we would prefer Antimonium tart., China, Dulcam., Kali sulph., Lycopod. or Pulsatilla or Carbo veg., and each one has symptoms enabling us to choose. There is not room here to differentiate. It is very interesting and entertaining for each physician to do this for himself, and thus, after practice, which makes perfect, become an expert in the art of prescribing.