Dealing with suppressions in children. by H. A. Roberts

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Dealing with
suppressions in children.
By Herbert
Alfred Roberts, M.D.
Presented by Sylvain Cazalet

(Read by title before I. H. A., Bureau
of Obstetrics and Pediatrics, June 19, 1937.)

Dr H. A. Roberts

The problem of
suppressions is unquestionably the hardest with which we have to deal.
As we look over the medical records of a period of years, we realize
that medical problems do change in many aspects ; those of a
century or more ago had unsanitary and unhygienic conditions as their
greatest factor. Authors of that day record cases in which simple lack
of cleanliness gave objective symptoms of the gravest type ; these
are not possible now with the supervision exercised by the public
schools.

Our problem of the
present day is suppression-suppression of excretory functions,
suppression of natural symptomatic manifestations. Suppressions of the
symptomatic manifestations usually come first, and thus early in life
symptoms become masked, if not entirely suppressed, and the guideposts
to curative prescribing are destroyed or so misplaced as to be far less
valuable.

If we recognize these
suppressions we may be able to unlock the conditions. Of course, the
vital force overcomes even these impediments to some degree, and the
impress of the thwarted energy becomes a part of the constitutional
state ; so the earlier we can set about the restoration of natural
expressions the better for our patient. When we speak of unfolding the
case and the reappearance of old symptoms we realize we are considering
the elements of this problem of lifelong suppressions Here we need
careful prescribing.

Dr C. B. Knerr

Our repertories give us
some help for these conditions, although for such as have become a part
of the constitution of the patient, the constitutional remedy as
manifested by his symptoms is probably our surest guide. Nevertheless,
especially for the earlier manifestations, we find many valuable hints
for our assistance. Let us consider briefly the material in Knerr’s Repertory,
and while we do so, let us give thanks that this valuable work has been
restored to us in a new edition.

Of course Sulphur
stands at the head of our remedies useful in suppressions ; perhaps
Pulsatilla ranks second in
importance, particularly for chronic work. Apis holds an important place
for attacks on the brain following suppressions. Because one of the
earliest suppressions impressed upon children is directed toward
eruptions of every nature, let us look at the list compiled by”
Knerr from Hering’s Guiding Symptoms :

Sulphur :

Throbbing headache ; vertigo ; amaurosis, amblyopia and many
other eye troubles ; deafness from suppressed measles ;
chronic laryngitis ; typhoid symptoms after suppressed
measles ; Asthma ; asthma
from suppressed itch ; asthma alternates with psoriasis ;
convulsions ; paralysis ; glandular affections from
scarlatina.

Apis :

Inflammation of the brain. Hydrocephalus after suppressed eruptions in
general and after scarlatina ; shortness of breath ; asthma
from suppressed urticaria.

Pulsatilla :

Asthma from suppressed rash in children. From suppressed urticaria, from
suppressed eruptions in general : pains in ears after
scarlatina ; Deafness after measles :
Typhoid symptoms after suppressed measles.

Arsenicum :

Pericarditis after suppressed measles ; asthma from suppressed itch
or from suppressed eruptions in general ; typhoid symptoms after
measles.

Rhus tox. :

Suffocation in suppressed urticaria ; glandular affections,
especially swelling of the parotids, after scarlatina ; chorea
after suppressed measles.

Zincum :

Mania ; loss of sensation ; chorea ; convulsions ;
somnambulism.

Calcarea carb. :

Caries
of bones of the ear after scarlatina ; glandular affections and
swelling of the parotids ; palpitation ; Epilepsy.

Carbo veg. :

Typhoid
Symptoms after Suppressed Measles ; asthma.

Ipecacuanha :

Asthma from suppressed eruptions in general or from suppressed miliary
rash.

Antimonium
crudum : Headache ; convulsions.

Other remedies we find
noted for the suppression of eruptions and the conditions in which they
were indicated, are :

Convulsions : Camph.,
Stram.

Epilepsy : Agar.,
Caust.

Headaches : Graph.,
Nux m.

Paralysis : Dulc.

Cerebral
troubles : Cic.

Diarrhœa :
Hyos., Urt. u.

Dyspnœa with receding
rash : Bry.

Asthma :

Verat. a. ; from suppression of acute rash. Æon., from
disappearance of herpes in face, Dulc. ;
from suppressed itch, Ferr. ; from suppression of erysipelas, Ptel. ;
from suppressed eczema after vaccination. Ammoniac.

We all know what such
remedies as Bryonia and Rhus
tox. do in cases where sweat is suppressed by a sudden dash
into cold water, as children love to do on warm days. When spinal
meningitis follows, we find Acon.
useful ; otitis. Cactus ; pneumonia. Gels. ;
paralysis, Colch. ; toothache, Cham.,
Rhus, Sil. ; diarrhœa. Æon., Cham.

For the diarrhœa of
children, suppressed by crude drugging, Opium, Zincum.

And what of the
suppressions from the modern methods of preventive medicine ? Of
course we have learned that Pulsatilla
is outstanding, but we have come to appreciate also the value of Phosphorus.
Sulphur, and occasionally the nosodes, particularly Psorinum,
in antidoting serum treatment.

For the constitutional
effects of vaccination we have long depended upon Thuja
and Silicea ; we consider Phosphorus
here also ; and in the nosode group especially Malandrinum,
Vaccininum and Variolinum.

We have taken into
consideration only a few of the suppressions to which children are
subject ; we have not thought of those children who from earliest
childhood are given paregoric to quiet them, or those children who are
ruled by fear to the complete suppression of their natural mental and
emotional development. In either of these conditions we must not forget Opium,
which by its potentization and homœopathicity becomes anti-suppressive.

Nor do we limit
ourselves to the suggestions noted for our selection of the simillimum.
In any case the outlines of the case provide us with guidance to 9
greater or less extent ; but if we understand the underlying cause
we often arrive more surely at the proper remedy. There is one red
thread running through all these records-the personality of the remedy
and its peculiar applicability in certain symptomatic groups. For
instance, note the places where Zincum
has been found peculiarly appropriate in releasing suppressions ;
these touch, almost invariably, nervous imbalance. Apis
has its characteristic congestion and inflammation. Sulphur
expresses itself widely in its characteristic breadth of psoric
manifestations.

Nux vomica

is often useful in suppressions, but these are usually in older people
where there is more mental strain from business affairs, or where the
suppressions are due to much crude dosing or the use of alcohol or
narcotics. Except as an occasional measure we rarely see the indications
for Nux vomica in the suppression of
small children.

Carbo veg.

may
be indicated after suppressions in very small children where dissolution
threatens with the characteristic Carbo veg. symptoms ;
into this field of impending collapse that may follow suppressions in
frail children we may find Arsenicum
or Camphor useful.

Needless to say, where
the indications for a remedy are clearly marked, that remedy is
indicated beyond any doubt, regardless of its pathological setting or
the causes that led up to the present symptomatology ; we can only
point out that the remedies mentioned here have been successfully used,
by virtue of their own individual characteristics, in like conditions.
He who knows his materia medica best is best fitted to untangle these
conditions. We can only point out the truth that homœopathy is the best
method to deal with these suppressions in children.

Derby, Conn.

Source :

Homœopathic Recorder,
Sept., 1937.

Copyright © Sylvain
Cazalet 2001

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