97. Diseases of the Heart and its Membranes.
DISEASES of the heart command much attention in the present day, not only on account of the frequency of their occurrence, and the serious consequences they often involve, but also as the result of our more perfect acquaintance with the organ both in its healthy and morbid conditions.
CAUSES- The most common causes of Heart-disease are Rheumatic fever in the young (see Section on Rheumatic fever); over-work of mind and body, anxiety, and too little rest in middle life, are to be ranked as pre-disposing rather than immediate causes; Influenza and Kidney-disease and Atheroma in older persons. The potency and frequency of the second class of causes are obvious. The demands thus made on the over-active organ lessen its nutrition, impair its structure, and imperil its action.
Touching diseases of the heart, we may at once state that all affections so characterized are not organic, but often merely functional, and due to temporary causes, as Palpitation from debility, Indigestion, etc.
TREATMENT- Organic affections of the heart may be greatly relieved and life considerably prolonged by judicious treatment. Professional judgment and experience are, however, specially necessary. Remedies have been suggested for heart affections from Rheumatic fever. For affections of the heart consequent on over- exertion and insufficient rest, Arnica is an excellent remedy. Other remedies, for affections from other causes, are pointed out in the following Sections, which deal with prominent symptoms rather than with diseases. Expert advice is always desirable for any form of heart disease.
98. Angina Pectoris Breast Pang.
DEFINITION- Sudden, severe paroxysms of pain, or Spasm of an enfeebled or diseased heart, with a constricted, burning sensation, and intense anxiety, chiefly occurring in elderly persons, or past the middle period of life.
SYMPTOMS- The patient is seized with a sudden dreadful pain, which centres in the heart, and extends over more or less of the anterior portion of the chest, up the shoulder and down the arm. There is an agonizing sense of anxiety, faintness, fear of instant death, Palpitation and dyspnoea, so that if walking he is compelled to stop and to fix on the first object that offers support, and so remains, pale and covered with a clammy perspiration. The paroxysms may terminate in a few minutes, or last for hours, and are liable to recur with increased severity. till at length one proves fatal.
CAUSES- Diseases of the heart, or obstruction of the coronary arteries, in consequence of which the muscular fibres of the heart become impaired. Under such conditions a paroxysm may be brought on by over exertion, flatulent distention of the stomach, mental excitement, or even a terrifying dream.
EPITOME OF TREATMENT-
1. For the diseased condition- Arsenicum, Digitalis, Aurum.
2. For the Paroxysm- Inhalation of Nitrite of Amyl or administration of Trinitrin; Ac. Hydrocy., Aconite, Cact., Spigelia, Sambucus
LEADING INDICATIONS-
Aconitum- Recent cases, and for plethoric patients, when there is great sense of suffocation, anxiety, and throbbing.
Digitalis- Cases in an advanced stage, the paroxysms recurring frequently and suddenly.
Veratrum- Slow, intermittent pulse, cold extremities, cold perspirations.
Arsenicum- Extreme dyspnoea, increased by the slightest movement, marked debility, pale and haggard face, feeble and irregular pulse, and dread of immediate death. Arsenicum is also valuable as an agent for warding off the paroxysms of this painful disease.
Aurum- Great mental depression; general Atheroma (also Barium).
Cactus Grand- When there is a feeling as if the heart were grasped and compressed as with an iron hand (i.e. Spasm); Rheumatism.
Sambucus- Violent dyspnoea, awaking from sleep with a suffocative sensation, and dreadful anguish about the heart.
Cuprum Acet- The late Dr. Bayes and Dr. Holland have both reported cases of Angina cured by this remedy. Although we have had no personal experience with the remedy in Angina, it is doubtless of great value in this terrible affection.
Nux Vomica- Indigestion, the attacks being attended or followed by flatulence.
Nitrite of Amyl- Useful as a palliative one or two drops on cotton wool may be inhaled. It is conveniently sold in capsules holding the exact amount required.
ACCESSORY TREATMENT- Brandy or some other diffusible stimulant, ( Dr. Anstie, in Reynold’s System of Medicine, recommends Sulphuric Ether in the purely nervous form of Angina Pectoris, and mentions a case under his care, which he is sure would have long since ended fatally in one of the agonizing attacks of spasmodic heart-pain, but for the discovery that by taking a spoonful of ether immediately on its commencement, the patient can greatly mitigate the attack, and has continued to do so with undiminished effect for some years.) in frequent small doses; a large hot bran-poultice over the region of the heart; and warmth to the extremities.
99. Syncope Fainting Fit Swooning.
DEFINITION- A loss of volition and muscular power with partial or complete loss of consciousness, due to defective nervous power, from failure of brain circulation.
CAUSES- Debility from constitutional causes, or from loss of blood or other animal fluids; emotional disturbances fright, sudden joy, grief, etc. Hysteria, etc. Many persons faint on seeing blood or a wound, or from the sight of operations, etc.
EPITOME OF TREATMENT-
1. For the fit- Camph., Mosch., Ammon-Carb., or Aconite If the patient be unable to swallow any of the above remedies in strong tincture, especially the first two, they may be administered by olfaction. At the same time, all tight clothing should be loosened, the patient exposed to cool air, and cold water dashed on the face. The invariable tendency to the horizontal posture is a conservative one, and should not, therefore, be interfered with.
2. For the debility- China, Arsenicum, Iodium, Ver-Vir.
3. Fainting from affections of the heart- Mosch., Digitalis, Ver-Vir.
4. Hysteric fainting- See Section on Hysteria.
PREVENTIVE- Reference must be had to the constitutional state which causes fainting from trifling circumstances, in order to correct the tendency.
100. Palpitation and Irregularity of the Action of the Heart.
In a healthy condition we are scarcely sensible of the heart’s beat; the perfection of action, therefore, is indicated by entire unconsciousness that such action exists at all. Palpitation is evidence of a want of balance between the blood to be driven and the power of the heart to drive it. It is not, then, evidence of excessive power, but that the muscular power has been taxed and found unequal to the demand. It is laboriousness, not excessive power, that is indicated by Palpitation (Fothergill). When, however, the pulsations of the heart become much increased in force, or frequency, or both, the unpleasant sensation known as Palpitation is experienced.
PALPITATION AND DISEASES OF THE HEART- We infer Palpitation to be the consequence of functional disorder, as of Indigestion, when it occurs only occasionally, and when the action of the heart is uniform during the intervals. In medical practice the fact is often observed that patients with serious organic disease of the heart rarely suspect anything radically wrong until the disease has made considerable advances; while patients with mere functional disorder of that organ frequently entertain the gravest apprehensions. Most cases of Palpitation are from functional disorder and not from structural disease, and are consequently quite curable. Sometimes, from nervous irritability, some of the great arteries, particularly the abdominal aorta, take on an inordinate pulsation, which might be mistaken for Aneurism.
CAUSES- Predisposing. A nervous temperament; Hysteria; a full habit and Disease of the heart. Exciting. Excessive joy, grief, fear, and other mental emotions; severe or prolonged exertions; profuse discharges; menstrual derangements; a disordered especially an overloaded stomach; flatulence, etc. Whenever the heart is acting under disadvantageous circumstances, Palpitation is never long absent. Thus any cause which, by pressure on the diaphragm, diminishes the space for the heart and impedes its beat, places the heart at a disadvantage, and Palpitation takes the place of the normal quiet contraction. The excessive use of tea is one of the common causes of irregularities of the heart’s action in weak or nervous women; in some persons Palpitation follows tobacco smoking, as it may also result from the administration of other deleterious agents. In such cases, of course, a cure can only be expected after the discontinuance of the noxious substances.
TREATMENT- The subjoined has reference to simple Palpitation, unconnected with any organic disease.
EPITOME OF TREATMENT-
1. Palpitation from Emotional Causes- Aconite (from excitement); Ignatia (from grief); Coffea (from joy, with wakefulness); Chamomilla (from passion); Opi. or Verbascum (from fright or fear).
LICENTIATE OF THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS; MEMBER OF THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF SURGEONS; LICENTIATE IN MIDWIFERY, LONDON AND EDINBURGH, ETC. PHYSICIAN TO THE READING AND BERKSHIRE HOMOEOPATHIC DISPENSARY.
Author of "The Stepping Stone to Homeopathy and Health,"
"Manual of Homoeopathic Treatment". Editor of "The Homoeopathic World."