Nervous diseases


E.H.Ruddock in his book Homeopathic Vade mecum described various diseases of Nervous system like all forms of meningitis, hemiplagia, peraplagia, neurasthenia etc….


Meningitis.

DEFINITION.- Inflammation of the membranes covering the surface of the brain and lining the brain cavity.

The meninges may be inflamed as a result of injury to the skull or by extension from middle ear disease. Apart from these conditions the important forms of the disease are Tubercular Meningitis and Epidemic Cerebro-spinal Meningitis and other acute Cerebral-spinal Meningitis. Encephalitis or inflammation of the brain substance may accompany meningitis, but is best considered separately, and when both conditions are present it is difficult and relatively unimportant to distinguish the precise degree of each.

Meningitis is a very serious disease, and a physician’s aid should be sought. The paragraphs that follow are to be taken as guides for such treatment as can be undertaken when skilled help is unavailable.

TUBERCULAR MENINGITIS.- This disease has also been called acute hydrocephalus, or water on the brain. It is much more common in children than in adults. In the latter it is usually a sequel to marked Tuberculosis elsewhere; in children it may be the first obvious sign of tubercle, although the actual source of meningeal infection in these cases, is virtually always elsewhere in the body, e.g., a causating gland infecting the blood stream, or tuberculosis of bone, middle ear, etc.

It may occur in the first year of life, but the most common time of attack is from the second to the fifth year. The membranes at the base of the brain are usually those most affected. Pus is exuded, tubercules are present and the lateral ventricles are dilated and full of a turbid fluid. Some encephalitis usual.

SYMPTOMS.- Premonitory symptoms are common, restlessness, loss of appetite, peevishness and loss of flesh. Measles or whooping cough may be precedent conditions. The actual disease generally sets in suddenly with a convulsion, or with violent headache, vomiting and fever. The pain is intense and the short, sudden cry which it causes the child to utter is characteristic. Vomiting is independent of food-taking. Constipation is the rule. The fever rises gradually to 102 degree or 103 degree. The pulse, at first quick, becomes irregular and slow; muscles twitch and the pupils are generally contracted.

After a day or two this stage of irritation give way to one of dullness and apathy with periods of delirium. The abdomen is retracted and the constipation obstinate. The head is drawn back and the neck rigid. Squint is common and the pupils now dilate. This stage deepens into coma with convulsions, relaxed sphincters and a final typhoid state. The temperature tends to be subnormal, but may rise very high just before death. The pulse quickens again at this period of the disease. Optic neuritis is often present. The whole duration of the disease may be from two three weeks, but in adults when meningitis is a terminal lesion, and occasionally in children, it is very rapid and kills in a few days.

DIAGNOSIS.- Typical cases are fairly easy to diagnose. Lumbar puncture by an expert drawn off the cerebrospinal fluid and in it tubercle bacilli may be found. Tubercular disease elsewhere naturally helps to the realization of the condition.

TREATMENT.- Very few cases of Tubercular meningitis recover and treatment is correspondingly hopeless. In the early stages Calcarea is the most hopeful remedy, especially in fat, chilly children with poor digestion. Bryonia may help the symptoms of onset. Iodoform and Oxalic Acid are both to be considered in the second stage, and Hellebore particularly when effusion may be held to have taken place into the ventricles. Tuberculin in relatively low potencies (Tuberculinum Bovista 6 to 30) has now and then seemed to help.

It is usual to apply ice to the head, but very often hot applications, will be found much more soothing to the delirium and convulsions, and Belladonna or Hyoscyamus may control these symptoms, though neither will cure the disease. Light diet, mostly fluid, should be given and in the rare event of the disease taking a favourable turn, great care is essential during convalescence.

77. Epidemic Cerebro-Spinal Meningitis.

This is a disease due to a specific diplococcus and characterized by inflammation of the membranes of brain and spinal cord. When if occurs in epidemics it is easily recognized. Sporadic cases may be mistaken for Tubercular Meningitis. The symptoms generally resemble those described above. Herpes is common, and erythema. Headache is very marked with retraction of the head, and spasm of various groups of muscles, and sometimes violent delirium is present. The expert can draw fluid from the spinal canal and examine for the characteristic organism. The treatment in general is as described above. The remedies most likely to help are Gelsemium, Apis., Lachesis, Tarentula, Hellebore, Veratr.-Vir.

The organism of this disease enters and leaves the body by the mucous membrane of the naso-pharynx. Therefore great care is needed to guard against infection by coughing and sneezing, and a disinfectant gargle and nose wash should be used. Apparently healthy people can be carriers of the disease, and a bacteriologist may be required to identify them.

The anti-meningococcic serum of Flexner seems to have had great success in certain epidemics, though reports vary as to its efficacy. It is claimed that whereas before its use seventy-five per cent. of cases died, with its help seventy-five per cent. recover. It requires an expert, for it is given (up to 400-600 c.c.) intravenously or (up to 100 c.c.) into the spinal canal in severe cases but for the latter meningeal fluid must be drawn off thirst, and it is possible that to this operation of lumbar puncture and drainage is due part of the efficacy of the treatment. The seem should be made from many strains of the germ (polyvalent serum). Recently in America, wonderful results were obtained by homoeopathists, using the indicated remedy (after Gelsemium) in low to medium potency intra-spinally, as the serum is given. This method requires an expert, but should be tried, and it is possible that even in Tubercular Meningitis the pain might succeed.

78.- Acute Cerebro-Spinal Lepto-Meningitis.

DEFINITION.- Inflammation of the membranes of brain and spinal cord, due to other organisms than those of Tubercular and Epidemic Cerebro-spinal Meningitis. These cases are associated with (a) acute fevers (pneumonia, erysipelas, small pox, enteric, measles, influenza, etc.); (b) injury or disease of bones of the skull (generally middle ear disease, or disease of nasal bones); (c) the terminal stages of chronic nephritis, heart disease, etc. The causal organism vary with the associated conditions and may be pneumo-cocci, streptococci, typhoid germs, etc.

The symptoms are those already described under Tubercular Meningitis, except the squint, ptosis, or other nerve-muscle affections are common. Great general hyperaesthesia also, is to be noted, which suggests serpent poisons as remedies. In any form of meningitis is to be seen Kernig’s sign, as inability to flex completely the extended leg on the abdomen. Lumbar puncture by an expert, and examination of the fluid is very helpful.

TREATMENT.- The remedies already mentioned are likely to be the most useful, and the intra-spinal method may be tried with them.

79.- Hydrocephalus.

DEFINITION-A local dropsy, consisting of a collection of watery fluid within the cranium, which may be congenital or acquired.

The congenital form is generally noticed within the first year, before the sutures and fontanelles are closed, so that the bones yield to pressure from within. Infants are sometimes born hydrocephalic, when it is an occasional cause of difficult labour. It is due to obstruction of outflow of cerebro-spinal fluid from the brain ventricles, or to decreased absorption from the sub-arachnoid space.

SYMPTOMS-The premonitory indications of this disease not very distinctive; there may be squinting or rolling of the eyes if the disease be congenital, followed by convulsions and enlargement of the head.

The most marked features area disproportion between the size of the skull and that of the face, e the fontanelles are wider than usual, and the bones feel thin under pressure for he fingers. Emaciation is generally present through non-nutrition; in some cases there is an unnatural fat condition. If an infant, he sucks well, even voraciously, and et he does not grow; his bowels are constipated, and his motions unhealthy. The gradually increasing head soon attracts Notice the anterior fontanelles pulsates, there is heat of the head; and he child becomes very restless. Fluctuation may felt by applying the hand tot he top of the head; the hair ceases to grow as usual; the face appears small and triangular; the countenance is full, having an aged appearance and the a patient is continually wishing to lie down. Unfavorable cases the senses become impaired; Paralysis sets in and the patient dies from exhaustion, Convulsions, or Spasmodic Coup, to which such children are liable.

Edward Harris Ruddock
Ruddock, E. H. (Edward Harris), 1822-1875. M.D.
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."