5. The juice of a ripe tomato is good applied locally. Sore mouth should
be kept absolutely clean. Thrush frequently comes from uncleanness.
GANGRENOUS STOMATITIS.--This is a rapidly spreading gangrenous affection
of the cheeks and forms a rare occurrence and ending fatally in most
cases. The trouble may extend to the jaws and lips.
Causes.--It is more common in girls and boys and usually appears between
the ages of two and five years. It is worse in the low countries like
Holland, but it is not contagious. It is more likely to attack the sickly
children suffering from the effects of overcrowding. It may follow
diseases like scarlet fever, typhoid fever, smallpox, etc.
Symptoms.--It usually affects first the mucous membrane of one cheek, near
the corner of the mouth, as a dark, ragged, sloughing ulcer and spreads
for two or three days before the substance of the cheek is infected. If
you grasp the cheek between the thumb and finger you can then feel a hard
and sensitive lump. The cheek may be eaten through by the third day,
though a week generally passes before this happens. There is a burning
watery discharge from the unhealthy wound. The breath smells terribly and
it is almost unbearable. The gangrene may spread over one half of the face
of the side affected.
TREATMENT.--The death rate is eighty to ninety per cent. This is a very
dangerous disease and a doctor must be in attendance. Cut, away all the
dead tissue by using burning caustics, such as fuming nitric acid, solid
zinc chloride, nitrate of silver, carbolic acid on the actual canker.
Sometimes mild applications like sub nitrate of bismuth, chloride of
potash or the following do well:--
Sulphate of copper 2 drams
Powdered cinchona 1/2 ounce
Water enough to make 4 ounces
Mix and apply. Peroxide of hydrogen is good as a disinfectant or boric
acid solution, etc., may be used. Keep up the patient's strength.
Fortunately this disease is rare. I have never seen a case in practice.
Salivation.--Stop the mercury, keep the bowels open and use the same
antiseptic washes as directed for sore mouth.
[100 MOTHERS' REMEDIES]
Chlorate of Potash Solution, Soda Solutions, Boracic Acid
Solutions.--Brush the ulcers with nitrate of silver sticks. Keep the mouth
clean with hot water washes and some of the antiseptics put in the water
as boric acid, soda, glycothymotine, listerine, etc.
ACUTE DYSPEPSIA.--(Acute Indigestion, Acute Gastritis). "Gaster" is the
Greek for stomach; "itis" means inflammation,--thus acute inflammation of
the stomach. It may be acute or chronic. When acute it may be called acute
gastritis, acute gastric catarrh, acute dyspepsia or acute indigestion.
When chronic it may be called chronic gastritis, chronic catarrh of the
stomach, chronic dyspepsia or chronic indigestion.
Causes.--This is a very common complaint and is usually caused by eating
foods that are hard to digest, which either themselves irritate the
stomach, or remain undigested, decompose, and so excite an acute
dyspepsia, or indigestion, or it may be caused by eating or taking in more
than the stomach can digest. A frequent cause is eating decomposing food,
particularly in hot weather. Alcohol is another great cause.
Symptoms.--In mild cases. Distress in the stomach, headache, weary
feeling, thirst, nausea, belching of wind, sour food, and vomiting; the
tongue is heavily coated and the saliva increased. In children there are
loose bowels and colicky pains. It lasts rarely more than twenty-four
hours. Vomiting usually relieves the patient.
Severe cases.--These may set in with a chill; fever 102 or 103. The
tongue is much coated, breath foul and frequent vomiting, loss of
appetite, great thirst, tenderness in region of the stomach; repeated
vomiting of food at first, then of bile stained fluid with mucus;
constipation or diarrhea. Attacks last one to five days.
MOTHERS' REMEDIES.--1. Indigestion or Dyspepsia, Mustard and Molasses
for.--"Mustard is an excellent household remedy kept in every home. A
tablespoonful of white mustard mingled with two ounces of molasses and
then taken once a day will act gently on the bowels and is a beneficial
remedy in dyspepsia." By acting upon the bowels it relieves the stomach of
any food that may have caused a disturbance and relieves the dyspepsia.
2. Flatulent Dyspepsia, Wormwood tea for.--"Wormwood, one to two
teaspoonfuls, water one pint. Make a tea and take from one to four
teaspoonfuls daily." This is an old tried remedy and one that should be
given a trial if affected with dyspepsia.
3. Indigestion or Dyspepsia, Dry salt for.--"One-half teaspoon dry salt
taken before each meal. Knew a gentleman who was nearly worn out with this
trouble and entirely cured himself with this simple remedy." It is always
well to give these simple remedies a fair trial, before resorting to
strong drugs. Salt is a good stimulant.
[DIGESTIVE ORGANS 101]
4. Indigestion or Dyspepsia, Chicken Gizzard Skin for.--"Four ounces good
brandy, one-fourth pound of loaf sugar, one tablespoonful pulverized
chicken gizzard skin, one teaspoonful Turkish rhubarb dried on paper
stirring constantly; this prevents griping; the chicken gizzard skin is
the lining of the gizzard which should be thoroughly cleaned and dried
then pulverized. To prepare put brandy and sugar together (crush the
sugar), light a paper and set fire to the brandy; let burn until sugar is
dissolved, then add the gizzard skin and rhubarb, stir together and if too
thick add a little water and boil up. Dose :--Infant, one-half teaspoonful
every four hours; child, one teaspoonful every four hours; adult, one
tablespoonful every four hours. Have used this remedy for a great many
years and given it to a great many people who have worn out all other
remedies."