ABSCESS OF THE LUNGS. Causes.--Lobular pneumonia from abscesses in pyemia,
from septic pleurisy, etc.
Symptoms.--Fever, pain, difficult breathing, cough, and expectoration
containing or consisting of pus of offensive odor, etc.
PHYSICIANS' TREATMENT of Abscess of the Lungs.--Incision and drainage. You
must depend entirely upon your physician.
EMPHYSEMA.--A condition in which there is air or gas in tissues that
normally have none, or an excess of air in tissues that normally contain a
certain quantity of it. A condition of the lungs characterized by a
permanent dilation of the air cells of the lung with dwindling of the air
cell walls and the blood vessels, resulting in a loss of the normal
elasticity of the lung tissue.
Causes.--Heredity; it occurs in glass blowers, in musicians using wind
instruments. It occurs also after whooping-cough, asthma, etc.
HYDROTHORAX.--This is an exudation (liquid) in the pleural cavity.
Causes.--Comes from disease causing dropsy, kidney disease, lung trouble,
pleurisy, etc.
[44 MOTHERS' REMEDIES]
PHYSICIANS' TREATMENT.--Treat disease that causes it. An operation to
remove the fluid may be necessary. A trusted physician must advise you.
NIGHT SWEATS.--These are common in "consumption" and constitute one of the
most distressing features of the disease. They usually occur when the
fever drops in the early morning hours, or at any time of the day when the
patient is sleeping. They may come on early in the disease, but are more
persistent and frequent after cavities have formed in the lungs; some of
the patients escape it altogether.
MOTHERS' REMEDIES.-l. Night Sweats, Salt Bath for.--"Bathe the body in
salt water every other day. Just before retiring take a cup of sage tea,
and eat nourishing food," The salt acts as an astringent as it slightly
closes up the pores, and the sage establishes a better circulation and at
the same time helps the sweating. This is a very simple and effective
remedy.
2. Night Sweats, Cold Sage for.--"Drink cold sage tea, before retiring."
This cold sage tea is only to be used when the patient has a fever and
needs a cold drink. In case of this kind it would be effective.
PHYSICIAN'S TREATMENT for Night Sweats.--l. Atropine in doses of 1-120 to
1-60 grain is good to stop the sweating. It must be used carefully, three
doses in twenty-four hours are enough.
2. Tonics to keep up the appetite like gentian, nux vomica or quinine may
be given. The patient should wear flannel night-dresses, as the cotton
night-shirt, when soaked with perspiration, has a cold, clammy feeling.
Bathe the patient in the morning with tepid water and afterwards rub
gently with alcohol diluted one-half with water. Night sweating occurs in
rickets but mainly around the head. They also occur when one is run down,
but they are not so debilitating and constant. In such cases, building up
treatment is needed. Proper diet, bathing, out-door life, bitter tonics,
etc.
[ANIMAL PARASITES 45]