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en:ahr:raue-cg-diagnostic-indications-of-the-tongue-158-10620 [2012/07/12 10:59]
en:ahr:raue-cg-diagnostic-indications-of-the-tongue-158-10620 [2012/07/12 10:59] (current)
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 +====== DIAGNOSTIC INDICATIONS OF THE TONGUE.====== ​
  
 +{{anchor:​s2}}[A lecture delivered before the Homoeopathic Medical College of Pennsylvania and published at the request of the class.]
 +
 +{{anchor:​s3}}By C. G. Raue, M. D., Philadelphia,​ PA.
 +
 +{{anchor:​s4}}Much attention has always been paid by the physicians of all schools to this important organ. {{anchor:​s5}}Indeed it often presents characteristic,​ diagnostic and therapeutic indications,​ the most important of which I shall bring before you.
 +
 +{{anchor:​s6}}1st,​ <span grade2>​Its color</​span>​. {{anchor:​s7}}It is either too red all over, as in scarlet fever, with considerably raised papillae, whence the name <span grade2>​strawberry tongue</​span>,​ or <span grade2>​red</​span>​ and <span grade2>​dry</​span>​ as in inflammation of the brain and its membranes, in inflammation of the thoracic viscera and the mucous membranes of the stomach and intestines, or <span grade2>​red on the edges, and on the tip, or a red, dry streak in the middle</​span>​ as in typhoid fever, or <span grade2>​red,​ clean and glossy</​span>,​ indicating great fever, heat, congestion to the head, impending delirium, and gastric fevers the transition into the typhoid state, if <span grade2>​chapped</​span>​ at the same time, ulceration of the bowels. {{anchor:​s8}}A <span grade2>​pale tongue</​span>​ is found in chills, in spasms, after loss of vital fluids, in chlorosis, dropsy, and general exhaustion. {{anchor:​s9}}If it sets in in exanthamatic,​ gastric or bilious fevers it denotes a fatal issue. {{anchor:​s10}}A <span grade2>​lead-colored tongue</​span>​ is found in cholera, in mortification of the lungs and stomach, in schirrus of the tongue. <span grade2>​{{anchor:​s11}}Lead-colored,​ covered with aphthae</​span>​ denotes impending death under all circumstances. {{anchor:​s12}}A <span grade2>​blueish tongue</​span>​ is a sign of impeded circulation of the blood, whence it may be found in paroxysms of asthma, whooping-cough,​ croup, bronchitis, pneumonia, heart diseases, dropsy of the chest, and cyanosis. {{anchor:​s13}}It is also found in scurvy and mercurial inflammation of the tongue.
 +
 +{{anchor:​s14}}2nd,​ <span grade2>​Its humidity</​span>​. <span grade2>​{{anchor:​s15}}A moist tongue</​span>​ is generally a favorable sign; but in putrid fevers with exhausting perspiration it has no such favorable meaning. {{anchor:​s16}}A <span grade2>​constant moist tongue</​span>​ in soporous conditions denotes great exhaustion. <span grade2>​{{anchor:​s17}}A</​span>​ <span grade2>​dry tongue</​span>​ is found in a great many different affections, especially in feverish conditions. <span grade2>​{{anchor:​s18}}Great dryness</​span>​ of the tongue in typhus cerebralis is, according to Schoenlein, an unfavorable sign. <span grade2>​{{anchor:​s19}}Dryness</​span>​ of the tongue in infants is a forerunner of aphthae or internal inflammation.
 +
 +{{anchor:​s20}}3rd,​ <span grade2>​Its temperature</​span>​. {{anchor:​s21}}A <span grade2>​hot tongue</​span>​ is found in congestion and inflammatory states of different parts of the body; in infants before aphthae appear. {{anchor:​s22}}A <span grade2>​cold tongue</​span>​ is found in chills, violent spasms, after great loss of blood, internal mortification,​ apoplexy, and cholera. {{anchor:​s23}}In fevers it denotes greatest prostration and impending death.
 +
 +{{anchor:​s24}}4th,​ <span grade2>​Its covering and coating</​span>​. {{anchor:​s25}}We must bear in mind, that the tongue is coated or furred without indicating any disordered state of the system; in the morning by an empty stomach, after siesta, after night watching, and with habitual smokers of tobacco. {{anchor:​s26}}A coating at the root of the tongue does not mean much, almost everyone has it in a slight degree, even in the best of health. {{anchor:​s27}}A coating <span grade2>​on the tip</​span>​ of the tongue is said to be found in phthisical persons. <span grade2>​{{anchor:​s28}}One-sided coating</​span>​ is said to be found in one-sided complaints as prosopalgia,​ paralysis, in one-sided lung diseases, in affections of the liver or spleen. <span grade2>​{{anchor:​s29}}A patchy or map tongue</​span>​ is often indicative of considerable irritation or even partial inflammation of the stomach. {{anchor:​s30}}I have seen it also in lung diseases. <span grade2>​{{anchor:​s31}}A</​span>​ <span grade2>​thick white coating</​span>​ exists to its greatest extent in affections of the fauces, but also in gastric derangements. <span grade2>​{{anchor:​s32}}A yellow coating</​span>​ is generally believed to be bilious. <span grade2>​{{anchor:​s33}}Single yellow streaks</​span>​ on a white coated tongue indicate obstinacy of the disease. <span grade2>​{{anchor:​s34}}A peculiar buff leather appearance</​span>​ is presented in cases of enteritis and hepatitis. <span grade2>​{{anchor:​s35}}A dark brown coating</​span>​ exists in malignant fevers and hemorrhages from the mouth. <span grade2>​{{anchor:​s36}}A</​span>​ <span grade2>​black coating</​span>​ in dysentery, indicates exhaustion, mortification and death. {{anchor:​s37}}In jaundice it denotes organic diseases of the liver and spleen, as induration, tubercles, abscesses. {{anchor:​s38}}In small-pox it is an unfavorable sign.
 +
 +{{anchor:​s39}}5<​sup>​th</​sup>​. <span grade2>​{{anchor:​s40}}Its form and size</​span>​. {{anchor:​s41}}We find a <span grade2>​large,​ long tongue</​span>​ most conspicuous in chronic hydrocephalus and Cretans. <span grade2>​{{anchor:​s42}}A small tongue</​span>​ if not congenital, in atrophy, consumptive diseases and chronic, long-standing paralysis of the tongue, especially if resulting from an irritation of the brain or spinal marrow. <span grade2>​{{anchor:​s43}}A sudden diminution in size</​span>​ denotes in inflammatory diseases of the lungs or the liver, formation of abscesses, also general exhaustion, especially in putrid and typhoid fevers. <span grade2>​{{anchor:​s44}}A gradual decrease in acute disease</​span>,​ denotes severity and obstinacy of such diseases, and is a bad sign, showing that the brain is dangerously affected. <span grade2>​{{anchor:​s45}}A broad tongue</​span>​ is found in rachitis, scrofula, disposition to abdominal affections, and in intermittent fever. <span grade2>​{{anchor:​s46}}A narrow, pointed tongue</​span>​ is said to be found in persons who are subject to spitting blood, tuberculosis,​ and internal inflammations. ..<span grade2>​{{anchor:​s47}}A</​span>​ <span grade2>​thick,​ swollen tongue</​span>​ is found in rachitis, Cretans, chronic dropsy of the head, in obstinate dyspepsia and chronic inflammation of the mucous membrane of the stomach; also in intermittent fevers, in catarrhal affections, mercurial salivation, in inflammation of the tongue, in old drunkards after death from strangulation or suffocation. <span grade2>​{{anchor:​s48}}A swollen and heavy tongue</​span>​ in old age and in drunkards is the forerunner of apoplexy. {{anchor:​s49}}In fevers, if associated with dryness and stammering speech, it denotes congestion of the brain. {{anchor:​s50}}In croup, pleurisy and pneumonia it is a bad sign just as bad as its sudden diminution without improvement of the other symptoms. {{anchor:​s51}}(Hippocrates) <span grade2>A thin, like a small tongue,</​span>​ is found in atrophy and consumptive diseases. <span grade2>​{{anchor:​s52}}Tumors on the tongue</​span>​ if hard, red brownish, with blueish bloodvessels interwoven, are of a schirrous nature. <span grade2>​{{anchor:​s53}}Single lumps</​span>​ and <span grade2>​fleshy excrescences</​span>​ on the tongue are found in elephantiasis.
 +
 +{{anchor:​s54}}6th,​ <span grade2>​Its consistency</​span>​. {{anchor:​s55}}We find <span grade2>a hard tongue associated with great dryness of the tongue</​span>​ in congestion, inflammation,​ fever, tonic spasms, in schirrus and other degeneration of the substance of the tongue. <span grade2>​{{anchor:​s56}}A soft tongue</​span>​ we find in catarrhal affections, in chronic mucous diarrhea, gastric derangements and in paralysis of the tongue. <span grade2>​{{anchor:​s57}}When soft and somewhat swollen</​span>,​ the teeth generally show their imprints on its sides, often to be found after mercurial poisoning, and in catarrhal affections. {{anchor:​s58}}In brain diseases a soft tongue is an unfavorable
 +
 +{{anchor:​s59}}7th,​ <span grade2>​Cracks and fissures</​span>​ on the dry tongue, sometimes deep, bleeding and suppurating,​ are found in typhoid fever, small pox and dysentery.
 +
 +{{anchor:​s60}}8th,​ <span grade2>​Paralysis of the tongue</​span>,​ which manifests itself by an imperfect and stammering speech, is most always in consequence of apoplexy or softening of the brain. <span grade2>​{{anchor:​s61}}Its immobility and trembling</​span>​ are signs of torpor of the brain, especially in typhoid conditions.
 +
 +{{anchor:​s62}}These are the most important of the objective symptoms of the tongue, which an every-day'​s practice brings before the eyes of an observing physician, and I have given to each of them its diagnostic meaning, as near as this can be done. {{anchor:​s63}}For,​ all these symptoms must be considered <span grade2>​cum grano salis</​span>,​ <span grade2>​id est,</​span>,​ with discrimination and comparison with other symptoms, if we want to gain a nearly right conclusion as to their bearing and signification.
 +
 +<span grade2>​{{anchor:​s64}}A red tongue, all over, with considerable raised papillae,</​span>​ indicates Belladonna and Tartar emetic. <span grade2>​{{anchor:​s65}}A red tip in shape of a triangle</​span>,​ Rhus tox. <span grade2>​{{anchor:​s66}}A red indefinite tip</​span>,​ Sulphur. <span grade2>​{{anchor:​s67}}A lead-colored tongue</​span>​ may indicate Arsenicum, and a <span grade2>​bluish tongue</​span>,​ Digitalis, Arsenicum, and Acidum muriaticum. <span grade2>​{{anchor:​s68}}A whitish coat on one side</​span>​ of the tongue, indicates Rhus tox,<​span grade2>​on both sides</​span>​ Causticum, <span grade2>​in the middle,</​span>​ Phosphorus and Bryonia, <span grade2>​on the root, strongly marked</​span>,​ Sepia, and <span grade2>a general thick white coat</​span>,​ Bryonia, Antimon. crud. and others. {{anchor:​s69}}A <span grade2>​map tongue</​span>​ indicates Nat. mur., Ars., Lachesis, and Taraxacum, and <span grade2>a yellowish coated tongue</​span>,​ a number of remedies. <span grade2>​{{anchor:​s70}}A dry red, tongue, cracked at the tip</​span>,​ indicates Lachesis. <span grade2>​{{anchor:​s71}}A dry tongue without thirst</​span>,​ Bryonia and Pulsatilla. <span grade2>​{{anchor:​s72}}A soft tongue with imprints of the teeth</​span>,​ Merc. and Stram. <span grade2>​{{anchor:​s73}}A clean tongue with gastric and other derangements</​span>,​ Cina and Digitalis. <span grade2>​{{anchor:​s74}}Trembling of the tongue</​span>,​ when the patient is requested to put it out or inability to do so, indicates, in typhoid fever, Lachesis. {{anchor:​s75}}A heavy, perhaps trembling tongue in typhoid conditions, especially if the lower jaw commences to sink down, Lycopodium. {{anchor:​s76}}An involuntary darting of the tongue out of the mouth and moving between the lips to and fro, indicates, in similar conditions, Lycopodium. {{anchor:​s77}}Complete paralysis of the tongue, Baryta carbo.
 +
 +----
 +
 +====== DOCUMENT DESCRIPTOR ======
 +
 +^ Source: | The American Homoeopathic Review Vol. 04 No. 08, 1865, pages 372-375 |
 +^ Description:​ | Diagnostic Indications of The Tongue. |
 +^ Author: | Raue, C.G. |
 +^ Year: | 1865 |
 +^ Editing: | errors only; interlinks; formatting |
 +^ Attribution:​ | Legatum Homeopathicum |
en/ahr/raue-cg-diagnostic-indications-of-the-tongue-158-10620.txt · Last modified: 2012/07/12 10:59 (external edit)