_Aconite_ is a sovereign remedy. It should be given at intervals proportionate to the severity of the disease, once in half an hour, for about three doses, then every hour until the patient is easy and perspires freely. This is the course I have generally pursued, and scarce ever failed of relieving in a few hours. Other means may often be used with advantage at the same time, and not interfere with the action of the medicine. Put the feet and _hands_ into water as hot as it can be endured, and apply to the affected side very hot cloths, hot bags of salt, or mustard. There is no harm in this, and it relieves the pain. Let the patient drink freely of _hot_ water, into which you may put milk and sugar to render it palatable. If the case seems to linger, and perspiration is tardy in appearing, give, in alternation with _Aconite_, _Eupatorium arom._ This will soon relieve.
This disease is often connected with Pleurisy, and consists of inflammation of the substance of the lungs. As in the former case, it may attack only one, but may exist in both sides at the same time. If the pleura is also affected, there will be all the symptoms of pleurisy, together with those peculiar to inflammation of the lungs proper. They are, pain in the lungs, oppressed breathing, cough, causing great distress on account of the soreness of the affected parts: at first, expectoration from the lungs is nearly wanting, the cough being dry, but after a time, there is a rattling sound on coughing, and more or less mucous substance is with difficulty raised. This is, at first, white or brownish, but soon becomes reddish and frothy, tinged with blood. The patient lies on the affected side, and cannot rest on the sound side. The pulse is full, hard and frequent, the fever high, pain in the head, and sometimes delirium. If the disease is not arrested, the patient generally dies from suffocation, by the lungs filling up, hepatized, or abscess and ulceration come on, and then what is called "quick Consumption" carries him off.
In the early stage, _Aconite_ and _Phosphorus_ should be used at intervals of from half an hour to one hour, in alternation, until the fever abates, and the oppression in the chest is relieved. If, however, there is bloody expectoration, _Bryonia_ may be used in place _of Phosphorus_, though I prefer to use it in rotation with the two others. These will soon, in all ordinary cases, subdue the most distressing symptoms, and effect a perfect cure in a day or two. _Belladonna_ should be used, when there is much delirium, or great pain in the head. Occasionally, the cough from the beginning, is apparently loose; there being a rattling sound, but the expectoration is difficult, the fever high, with some chilly sensations, or at least, coldness of the knees, feet and hands, a white or brownish fur upon the tongue, and pain in the bowels, For such symptoms, especially with the pain in the bowels, as though a diarrhoea would come on, give _Tartar emet._ It is often one of the best remedies in this disease, affording relief when others have failed.