Causes.--Most common under two years and in old people. Taking cold,
whooping cough and measles.
Symptoms.--A primary case begins suddenly with a convulsion or chill,
vomiting and rapid rise of temperature. Breathing is frequent and brain
symptoms are marked.
Secondary Cases.--After an ordinary case of whooping-cough, measles,
bronchitis, etc., there is more fever. The pulse is more frequent, and
also the respiration, difficulty in breathing and severe and often painful
cough. Temperature rises to 102 to 104; respirations are very fast, up to
60 to 80; the breathing (inspiration) is hard, labored, while the wings of
the nose dilate; expiration may be grunting. Face looks anxious and
bluish. This color may increase, other symptoms decreasing as suffocation
deepens, rattling in chest and death from heart weakness.
Prevention.--Avoid exposure to sudden changes of temperature. For the
attack, jacket of oil silk or flannel to prevent sudden exposure, keep the
temperature warmed up to 68 to 70 degrees night and day; the air must be
fresh and pure and changed regularly.
[RESPIRATORY DISEASES 41]
Children should be given ample room and not hampered by extra clothing, as
they like change of position, to get relief. The hot bath must be used
often to redden the skin and relieve the pressure on the lungs, till they
can be given relief. If you wish to use a poultice the following is a nice
way to make it. Take a piece of muslin or linen, or cheese-cloth, wide
enough when doubled to reach from the lower margin of the ribs to well up
under the arm pits, and long enough to go a little more than around the
chest, open the double fold and spread the hot mass of poultice on
one-half of the cloth and fold the other over it. It should be applied as
hot as it can be comfortably borne and covered with oil silk or paraffin
paper, so as to the longer retain the heat and moisture. The poultice
should be renewed as often as it gets cold, and a fresh poultice should be
all ready to put on when the old one is taken off. Place the end of the
poultice uppermost, so that the contents will not fall out.
MOTHERS' REMEDIES. 1. Pneumonia, Herb Tea and Poultice for.--"Congestion
of the lungs. One ounce of each of the following, slippery elm bark,
crushed thyme, coltsfoot flowers, hyssop or marshmallow. Simmer in two
quarts of water down to three pints; strain and add one teaspoonful of
cayenne. Dose:--Wineglassful every half hour. Apply hot bran poultices or
chamomile scalded in vinegar, changing often until the violence of the
symptoms abate. If the bowels are confined, give an injection of half pint
of hot water in which one-half teaspoonful each of gum myrrh, turkey
rhubarb and ginger powder have been well mixed. If possible give vapor
bath. Apply hot stones or bottles to the feet."
2. Pneumonia, Home Remedy for.--"This can easily be relieved by the use of
cayenne and vapor bath. This promotes the circulation in every part of the
body, diminishing the pressure upon the lungs. These baths produce a
regular circulation throughout the whole body, thus relieving the pressure
upon the lungs by decreasing the amount of blood in the lungs. These baths
should be taken but once a day, as they are weakening."
3. Pneumonia, Hot Vinegar Applications for.--Congestion of Lungs.--"Over
the lungs lay cloths wet in clear hot vinegar. They should be five or six
inches square and several thicknesses. Over the cloths lay a hot plate or
hot water bottle; change as often as necessary to keep them hot. This
treatment will soon give relief, after which rub as much oil into the
lungs as possible."
PHYSICIANS' TREATMENT for Pneumonia.--A doctor must be called. For high
fever, one to one and a half drops of aconite, for adults every hour; for
children, about one-twelfth to one-eighth of a drop. For cough, chloride
of ammonium, one to two grain doses. For pain, hot applications.
Diet.--Milk, broth and egg albumen and plenty of water to drink. (See
laryngitis for diet.)
ACUTE PLEURISY (Inflammation of the Pleura).--The pleura covers the wall
of the chest cavity and infolds or surrounds the lungs. Pleurisy means the
inflammation of this pleura or covering.
[42 MOTHERS' REMEDIES]
Causes.--Exposure to cold, etc. Onset may be gradual or sudden, with
chills fever and sharp stitches in the side near the arm pit or breast.
The patient lies on the affected side during the attack, the pain is made
worse by breathing, coughing or motion. The cough is dry and painful, with
difficult breathing. The temperature 102 to 103. Sometimes there is fluid
accumulated in the cavity. In about seven to ten days the fever and other
symptoms disappear. The fluid is absorbed quickly if it is scanty, often
very slowly if abundant. This fluid is contained in the cavity of the
pleura. The pleura covers the lungs. Its outer layer is attached to the
ribs and costal cartilages in front and ribs behind, goes around the foot
of the lungs underneath, then turns around under the side of the lungs and
comes in front, making a sac. The two layers in health touch each other,
but are separated when there is fluid in the cavity. The inner layer
covers the lungs and drops into the grooves of the lungs. You can thus
readily understand how easy it is for the pleura to be attacked. Also when
the lung is inflamed we have what we call pleura-pneumonia. Pleurisy is a
very painful disease. It hurts to move, breathe, or cough. The patient
holds his chest when he coughs. The fluid that forms is poured out from
the inflamed membrane, sometimes it is so great in quantity it must be
drawn off,--tapped; we then call this hydrothorax,--water in the chest.
Diet and Nursing--The patient should be kept quiet and in the easiest
position.
Milk diet is the best to use. There should not be much liquid diet, except
milk. The milk may be diluted with lime water if necessary. Malted milk,
Mellin's food, imperial granum, can be used when the milk cannot be taken.
PHYSICIANS' TREATMENT for Pleurisy.--1. Home Remedy.--The patient must go
to bed and remain there. It is a good thing to get the patient in a sweat.
For this purpose you can use the corn sweat described under treatment of
la grippe. This will ease the patient and may shorten the attack.
I have great faith in this remedy in most inflammatory diseases. I had a
patient sick with pleurisy; she did not get along fast enough to suit me,
her color was a yellow-green. I advised the corn sweat and she improved
fast from that time. Her night dress was green in color after the sweat. I
have saved pneumonia cases in the same way. Of course, some cases may be
too weak to stand it.
[RESPIRATORY DISEASES 43]
2. Other Home Remedies.--Another way to produce sweating is by placing
fruit cans filled with hot water about the patient. This will stop the
chilly cold feeling and also will relieve the pain. If you have a rubber
water bottle, put hot water in that and place it near the sorest spot. It
may hurt the patient by its weight; if so, use less water, at the same
time you can give hot drinks freely. Almost any kind will do. If the
stomach feels bad, ginger or peppermint is best. Hoarhound tea is
especially good for chest trouble.
3. Fomentations.--Of hops or wormwood or smartweed, or catnip applied
frequently and hot to the affected side often bring relief. They must
always be hot, and you must be careful not to get the night robes or
covers wet.
4. Camphorated Oil for.--Rub the side with camphorated oil and cover over
with a cotton jacket. This is good unless it makes the patient too warm.
5. Adhesive Plaster Zinc Oxide.--Use a roll two or two and one-half inches
wide. Commence at the backbone and cross directly over the ribs to the
further side of the breastbone. The first strip should be at the lower
part of the chest. In putting on the succeeding strips make them lap
one-half inch over the next lower. Bandage almost up to the arm-pit. It
may take eight strips for an adult. After you have the strips on, place a
piece at each end, part on the flesh and part on the plasters, to keep
them from giving any. The patient should have his arms over his head when
you are putting on the strips. This strapping will hold that side of the
chest quieter. The breathing will be less full and consequently less
motion and pain.
6. Tincture of aconite in doses of one-tenth to one drop can be given
everyone to three hours at the beginning, if there is much fever, dry hot
skin, and full bounding pulse. Dover's powder can be given at night.