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| Cough |
Description of Disorder. -Sudden expulsion of air from the lungs, accompanied with more or less noise. It may be either dry or with expectoration, and may exist alone or accompany some disorder of the lungs or air passages, as Whooping-cough, Bronchitis, etc., or be produced by Indigestion, or when of a short, dry character, with sneezing, may mark the first stage of Catarrhal Fever, or the precursor of Measles and other eruptive diseases, etc.
Dry cough
Medicinal treatment
Belladonna
If the cough is violent and spasmodic, or almost without intermission, or if it is renewed by the least movement.
Dose. -Two drops in a dessertspoonful of water every two to four or six hours, according to the severity of the cough – a teaspoonful may be given to a child.
Bryonia alba
If there are stitches or pains in the sides or head on coughing, or the cough is spasmodic or suffocating.
Dose. -As Belladonna.
Ipecacuanha
If there is a suffocating feeling as from accumulation of mucus.
Dose. -As Belladonna.
Nux vomica
When there is an accumulation of tenacious mucus in the throat, which will not be detached, or if there is a feeling of rawness in the throat, or bruised feeling in the stomach on coughing, or if the cough is rough, dry, and deep.
Dose. -As Belladonna.
Phosphorus
When the cough arises from tickling in the throat, or if there are stitches in the throat, or pains or soreness in the chest.
Dose. -As Belladonna.
Accessory treatment
Simple demulcent or mucilaginous drinks, as linseed-tea, either alone or sweetened and with liquorice dissolved in it; preparations of gum Arabic dissolved in barley water (1/4 oz. to a pint), with half an ounce of sugar and the same of sweet almonds pounded, the whole to be rubbed together and strained; black currant jam or jelly with hot water poured over them, or honey and treacle mixed together and a little vinegar added, or the various preparations of liquorice. The application of warm water to the chest will frequently relieve. The best means of preventing cough and cold are to sponge freely the chest and shoulders with cold water daily, rubbing them afterwards with a rough towel, and if otherwise strong, to avoid too much clothing, too hot rooms, and to enjoy plenty of fresh air. -See Bronchitis and Catarrhal Fever.
Cough with expectoration
Medicinal treatment
Antimonium tartaricum
With sense of oppression in the chest, short, difficult breathing relieved by expectoration.
Dose. -Two grains every four or six hours
Arsenicum album
If there is acrid, bitter, frothy, difficult, mucous or salty expectoration.
Dose. -Two drops in a dessertspoonful of water every four or six hours – a teaspoonful for a child.
Kalium bichromicum
With difficult expectoration of tough, stringy mucus, the digestive organs being at the same time involved.
Dose. -As Arsenicum.
Mercurius solubilis
If the expectoration is of an acrid or watery character.
Dose. -Two grains repeated as Arsenicum.
Phosphorus
If there is frothy, mucous, purulent, sour, or sweetish expectoration.
Dose. -As Arsenicum.
Pulsatilla pratensis
If there is disgusting, frothy, mucous, thick or profuse expectoration.
Dose. -As Arsenicum.
Sulphur
In chronic cases, or where the expectoration is thick or profuse.
Dose. -As Mercurius, or in chronic cases, to be repeated night and morning.
Accessory treatment
See under Dry Cough. Warm water to the chest, and steaming the throat will sometimes relieve.
Cough with hoarseness:
Medicinal treatment
Mercurius solubilis
In simple catarrhal coughs with hoarseness.
Dose. -Two grains every six hours.
Phosphorus
In more severe cases than Mercurius Sol., where there is great hoarseness and violent cough, or where there is much pain in the chest with the cough.
Dose. -Two drops in a dessertspoonful of water every four hours.
Spongia tosta
When there is cough and cold with hoarseness, and when Mercurius Sol. does not seem to relieve.
Dose. -Two drops in a dessertspoonful of water every six hours.
Accessory treatment
See under Dry Cough. A wet bandage round the throat will give relief. See Hoarseness.
Cough with pains or soreness in the chest or side:
Medicinal treatment
Bryonia alba
If there are stitches in the side, or soreness in the pit of the stomach when coughing.
Dose. -As Belladonna, under Dry Cough.
Phosphorus
If there is great soreness in the chest on coughing.
Dose. -As Bryonia.
Sulphur
In chronic cases, especially when there is pain in the chest or a sensation of rawness.
Dose. -Two grains repeated night and morning.
Accessory treatment
See under Dry Cough.
Cough with pains in the head:
Medicinal treatment
Bryonia alba
If there is the sensation when coughing as if the head and chest would split.
Dose. As Belladonna, under Dry Cough.
Nux vomica
When there is violent headache during coughing.
Dose. -As Bryonia.
Accessory treatment
See under Dry Cough.
Hyland’s Cough Syrup with Honey, 4-Ounce (120 ml) (Pack of 3)
Stomach cough:
Medicinal treatment
Bryonia alba
If the cough comes on after eating and drinking, and is of a spasmodic character.
Dose. -Two drops in a dessertspoonful of water three times a day.
Nux vomica
If the cough is accompanied with a bruised pain in the stomach, and is of a rough, dry, deep character. See under Indigestion.
Dose. -As Bryonia.
Accessory treatment
See under Indigestion. Active exercise in the fresh air is indispensable.
