-C.Hering
This disease, so common, and so often fatal, is most prevalent during the summer, and usually commences with nausea and vomiting, followed by diarrhoea. The matters ejected consist at first of food and afterwards of mucus; or there may be mere retching and fruitless efforts to vomit. The evacuations from the bowels are very frequent and may assume various appearances, sometimes they are greenish, thin and watery, or yellowish, at others whitish or slimy and mixed with blood. Often the food is passed undigested, and the odor is occasionally very offensive.
If the disease continues for any length of time the child loses its appetite, the flesh becomes soft, and the emaciation frequently so great that the skin hangs in folds about the person, fever with evening aggravation sets in, the eyes are sunken and but half closed during sleep. The thirst for cold water is usually very great, and drinks of all kinds are immediately rejected by the stomach. The head and abdomen are hot and the latter generally distended, while the feet and hands are cold.
The most common exciting causes are, improper diet, either on the part of the mother or child, great changes of temperature, improper clothing, want of fresh air, and teething. The latter is probably the most frequent cause, as children are more liable to this disease during their second summer.
At the season in which children are most subject to cholera infantum strict attention should be given to diet, exercise and clothing, both by mother and child. In regard to the diet, exercise and clothing, both by mother and child. In regard to the diet, everything stimulating, as such as vinous and fermented drinks, acids, all highly seasoned food, and most vegetables, should be dispensed with. And in general, the homoeopathic regimen as recommended in the beginning of this work, should be closely adhered to. The clothing should be adapted to the season, and changed to suit the changes of temperature, care being taken not to clothe the child too warmly. The rooms should be kept cool and well aired, and the children frequently taken out into the open air.
Children living in large cities will be much benefited by a ride out into the country, or on the water by steamboat.
Cool, fresh, air, daily bathing in cold water, cannot be too much recommended.
Antimonium crudum, when the tongue is coated white or yellow; dryness of the mouth, with thirst; nausea with vomiting, or retching and cough; distension of the abdomen with flatulency; offensive, slimy stools; and frequent passages of water.
Arsenicum, if the child is very weak, pale and emaciated; inflation of the abdomen; cold extremities; loss of appetite; nausea and vomiting; intense thirst; yellow and watery, white or brownish offensive diarrhoea, which is worse after midnight, towards morning, and after eating or drinking.
Bryonia, when the diarrhoea comes on in hot weather, and is accompanied by much thirst; vomiting of food; nausea and vomiting after eating; diarrhoea with colic; the stools have a putrid smell, are white or brownish and lumpy.