Guide to Herbal Remedies

When an insect has found its way into the ear, place the patient upon the opposite side, and pour sweet-oil into the ear, until the insect becomes visible; then take it out with a small roll of paper or a pair of delicate forceps.
Extraneous bodies, such as gravel, shot, beads, cherry-stones, pieces of wood, peas, pins, etc., are often put into the ear by children. If attended to before they excite inflammation and swelling, they can generally be removed by very slender forceps or buy a hair-pin, the curved end of which has been bent so as to form an obtuse angle, like the heel of a spoon, and to which a handle has been made by sticking the points of the pin into a cork.
Place yourself behind the ear, draw it upwards and backwards with one hand, and at the same time away from the head, that you may look into it as far as possible; dip the instrument into sweet-oil, and pressing the bent part against the back part of the internal ear, push it in till it passes behind and around the object; then lift a little, and the end of the pin will take hold of it from behind, like a spoon, and bring it out. If you cannot succeed in passing the hair-pin behind the object, you may sometimes be able to remove it by means of a small syringe, with a slender nozzle; fill it with warm water, pass the point of the nozzle alongside the object and inject the fluid with moderate force.
If with children, particularly if there is a round object in the ear, it is better to push the hair-pin along the back part of the internal ear; with grown persons it is generally better along the upper surface. When the object is visible it can be seen where best to insert the instrument; but if not visible carefully feel for it. If anything has been wedged into the ear, it may sometimes be removed by a second hair-pin, prepared as above, inserted opposite to the first and both drawn out together. In all the manipulations great gentleness and care must be used, lest the object be pushed further into the canal.
If pain and inflammation of the ear remain, give Arnica, and after a few hours, Pulsatilla. If the inflammation is already very considerable, and the ear-canal so much swelled that nothing can be got out, Pulsatilla is also of service. In some cases, when the children are in great pain, have much fever, speak incoherently, or are delirious, give, if Pulsatilla does not suffice, Belladonna, and afterwards if there is still some pain left, Sulphur

If a foreign substance lodges in the throat, endeavor to make the patient throw it up, by beating him between the shoulders; let him open his mouth, press down his tongue with a spoon and look into the throat, in order to ascertain whether there be anything that can be seized and brought out with the fingers. Blowing into the ears is said to produce reflex action in the throat or gullet, and so the foreign object is forced out.
If, after the object has been removed, the sensation as if it were still there remains, particularly after pointed substances, it shows that a wound has been made, and all acrid or highly seasoned things must be avoided in food and drink.
If a large piece of food remains fast in the throat on account of its size and hardness, it is advisable to excite vomiting, particularly if upon retching, you perceive the obstruction move upward. Tickling the throat will sometimes affect this, if not, put snuff on the tongue, or give an injection of tobacco. When it can be felt on the outside of the throat, a gentle pressure upward may force it out. At first you ought to endeavor to make the sufferer throw up again whatever has been swallowed, but do not proceed with too much violence. If the substance has already descended so far that it cannot be felt in the throat, and it seems as if it were sticking fast in the chest, it must be forced down into the stomach, particularly if it is soft, smooth and soluble, and is only arrested on account of its size. If the sufferer feels that at times it slips down, it should be allowed to glide of itself into the stomach, or be assisted by occasionally swallowing a little water, provided it is a substance which will not swell; otherwise a little melted butter or sweet-oil. If the symptoms, however, become too troublesome, endeavor to push it down. For this purpose take a smooth, twig and tie to the end of it a bit of sponge. To be able to fasten it on well, cut a few notches in the stick, and use waxed thread or silk. Rub some sweet-oil on this instrument, and introduce it cautiously into the throat, pushing gently against the back of the throat.
If a contraction of the gullet takes place, which prevents the substance from being moved, or if pains, difficulty of breathing, and other symptoms make their appearance, give Ignatia; and if this fails to relieve, Chamomilla; then sweet-oil or butter; and after this, try again to push the substance down; if the face is pale, if there is nausea, worse after speaking, give Cocculus; if the face is red and if there is a constant inclination to swallow, Belladonna.

Dislocations, Luxations. The removal of the head of a bone from its corresponding articular cavity is termed a dislocation or luxation.
It is characterized by violent pain, loss of motion, swelling and alteration in the shape, length and direction of the limb. An unnatural depression or prominence can generally be felt in the vicinity of the injured joint; and there will be also a peculiar rigidity of the limb, and fever. By comparing the injured with the sound limb, the deformity with at “once be apparent. The first thing to be done is to give Arnica; or, if there is already redness and inflammation, Aconitum, and to apply cold water. By these means some relief may be obtained unit a surgeon can be called, which should be done at once. It is not necessary to do anything more after the dislocation has been reduced • all poultices, salves, bleeding, etc., are injurious. A proper bandage must be applied, and as soon as the inflammation abates, which, after taking Arnica and perhaps, Aconite, will soon take place, the limb should be moved often, but carefully, lest it grow stiff.
Fractures. The most certain sign of fracture is crepitation, a peculiar grating noise or sensation, produced by the rubbing together of two broken surfaces of bone. When on moving an injured limb, you can perceive this sensation; it is a pretty sure indication that it is fractured. In addition to this, there is usually increased mobility, which is the reverse of the peculiar rigidity of a limb in case of dislocation, some deformity, pain, swelling, inability to move or use the limb, and sometimes it is shortened.
In all cases of suspected fracture, send for a surgeon and for a skillful one too, and not for “the first best;” for mistakes committed under these circumstances can hardly ever be remedied. When children are the sufferers, more dispatch is required. But in ordinary cases, a day or two may elapse without incurring any risk, for a broken bone does not unite so very readily. Before the arrival of the surgeon, the broken limb should be moved as little as possible; on the painful part put linen bandages dipped frequently into cold water, or diluted Arnica tincture if the soft tissues have been bruised; internally give Aconite, if the patient is very weak or faint, and some hours after, Arnica. Only when the pains are insufferable, and occasion convulsions, give Chamomilla, then Hypericum. In very rare cases only, when the pains are excruciating, and other bad symptoms appear, stretching of the limbs will afford any relief. To do this wrap towels firmly above and below the part of the fracture; then fasten to them long pieces of cloth and tie one of these, say the upper, to the head-board of the bed; then pull slowly on the lower, and when extension enough to relieve the pain has been gained, fasten this piece to the lower bed-post or foot-board, and so retain the limb in a painless position till the surgeon comes. After the bone has been set, give Symphytum.

Washing the eye with water will be beneficial if dust or any insoluble substance has got into it, but will be injurious if the substance is soluble, as the washing will only tend to diffuse it.
Rubbing the eye should also be avoided, as it merely increases the irritation. Press gently on the inner comer of the eye towards the nose, at the same time drawing the outer comer downwards. The tears will then wash the foreign substance towards the inner corner, from where it may be removed. Immersing the eye immediately in a vessel of cold water and holding it there, will frequently remove the cause of irritation and afford relief. Sweet-oil will mitigate the irritation, when acids or caustic salts have caused it; but it is injurious when caused by the powder of flies, or dead insects. The white of eggs is very good when sharp, dust-like mineral substances, paint, or small pointed particles, get into the eye. For ashes, some kinds of dye-stuffs and perhaps tobacco, cream or sour milk is the best remedy. For lime, the eye should be washed with vinegar and water, or sweet-oil may be freely used.
If a hard substance gets into the eye and cannot be removed by the above means, but continues to cause irritation and pain, draw the eyelids apart, while at the same time the eye is slowly moved in every direction, and you can ascertain whether there is anything adhering to their inner surface; then roll up a bit of paper, so as to have a soft point, with this, as with a camel’s-hair pencil, you may take away the offending particle. Fine blotting paper will answer best for this purpose, as the foreign body will more readily adhere to it. Should it be necessary to push the pointed paper far back under the eyelid, moisten it first with saliva.
Cinders in the Eyes. A few grains of flaxseed placed in the eye will swell and envelope the cinder in a glutinous substance, and it may be soon washed out. Rubbing is injurious at all times; in order to avoid it, put on a linen compress dipped in cold water. Sleep sometimes diminishes the pain. If the eye is red and inflamed after the removal of the foreign body, give Aconite, which is also of service if it cannot be got out, and will diminish the pain until you can procure a surgeon, or till the night is passed, when day-light will enable you to examine more closely. If, after giving Aconite several times, the eye continues sensitive and red, give Sulphur, and in case this does not prove efficacious, Calcarea or Silicea.
If the eyelids are spasmodically closed, and will scarcely let tears escape, Belladonna generally relieves; sometimes it will be necessary to give Hyoscyamus afterwards.

Overlifting. If lifting or carrying heavy loads or any sudden exertion of strength produces pain, give Rhus. When from this cause very violent piercing pains are felt in the small of the back, which become worse on every motion of the body, give Bryonia. If this does not relieve entirely, Sulphur. If headache ensues, and Rhus will not remove it, give Calcarea.
Strains. If one has injured himself by violent extension and then pressure of the abdomen, as in climbing over a high fence, wrestling, etc., and afterwards feels suddenly sick at the stomach, has violent pains in a small spot internally in the abdomen, or has there a sensation as if everything was pulling downwards, which makes him anxious and restless with a face full of agony, Veratrum will give relief. When a person, who has great tendency to such injuries, meets with them often, give Sepia each time.
Missteps. sometimes cause pains in the limbs similar to over lifting. They will generally be relieved by Bryonia or Rhus; or, if the stomach is much affected, by Bryonia or Pulsatilla. If the injury occurs often, and is caused by debility, it will be cured by Phosphorus, which should be given whenever it returns.
Bruises. In the treatment of bruises, nothing is more efficacious than the application to the injured parts of cloths (linen is to be preferred), dipped in cold water, and the internal administration of Arnica. A lotion of Arnica tincture, made of the root, in the proportion of half a teaspoonful to a tumbler of water, may also be used. If a limb is crushed and flattened, or otherwise disfigured, it should be pressed -by the hand from time to time, until it returns to its proper form; or it may, if necessary, be straightened and kept in its natural position by means of a piece of pasteboard, wet with hot water and so softened that it can be molded to the limb; or thick gutta percha, treated in the same way so as to render it flexible, and capable of being adapted to the shape of the limb; a bandage must be placed over all to keep it in place. Cold water, dieting, and the above remedies will be the best treatment; all salves and lotions, except that of Arnica, are unnecessary and often injurious.
If the pain is more external, so that it is only painful to the touch, or the wound assumes a red appearance, which extends and increases like erysipelas, give Ruta internally and apply a solution in water externally. If the ordinary Tincture of Arnica, made from the cheap flowers, has been used externally — the erysipelatous appearance may arise from its application, for the flowers nearly always contain the eggs, worms or cast-off skins of a poisonous moth — camphor should then be used externally as the best antidote.