3. Irrigation of the colon with normal salt solution or weak solution of
silver nitrate at about one hundred degrees with a long rectual tube. Dr.
Hare, of Philadelphia, recommends one two-hundredth grain of bichloride of
mercury every hour or two (in adults), if the stools are slimy and bloody
and if much blood is present, and high rectal injections of witch-hazel
water and water, half and half. I know this last is good, and also the
following; Oil of fireweed, five drops on sugar every two to three hours.
4. Ipecac.--In acute dysentery ipecac is one of the best remedies, Dr.
Hare says; "When the passages are large and bloody and the disease is
malignant as it occurs in the tropics, ipecac should be given in the
following manner: The powdered ipecac is to be administered on an empty
stomach in the dose of thirty grains with thirty drops of the tincture of
deodorized opium, which is used to decrease the tendency to vomit.
Absolute rest is essential for its success. Finally a profuse gray, mushy
stool is passed." This is a favorable sign.
[228 MOTHERS' REMEDIES]
Nursing and Diet.--The patient should always remain in bed and use
bed-pan. He must be given a bland, unirritating diet, composed of milk,
with lime-water, beef peptonoids, broth, egg albumin, etc., in acute
cases.
MALARIA FEVER.--Malarial fever is a group of diseases characterized by
intermittent, quotidian (daily), tertian (every other day) or quartan
(every fourth day) fever or remittent fever; there are also several
pernicious types of this disease and chronic malarial condition of the
system with enlargement of the spleen.
Causes.--It occurs most frequently in low lands, along sea coasts, and
swamps, particularly in the tropics and warmer portion of the temperate
zone. The exciting cause it what is called the plasmodous malarial, a
parasite developing in the body of all species of anopheles, a common form
of mosquito and transmitted to man, its intermediate host, by the bite of
the infected mosquitoes.
INTERMITTENT MALARIAL FEVER. (a) Tertian. (b) Quartan. (c) Quotidian.
Symptoms.--The symptoms of all these are the same, except that in tertian
fever, the paroxysms occur every third day; in quartan they occur every
fourth day. Quotidian occurs daily.
The incubation time is unknown. It consists usually of three stages, cold,
hot, and sweating, and they usually occur in the morning. "The cold stage
is ushered in by yawning, lassitude and headache, and rapid rise of
temperature; sometimes nausea and vomiting followed by shivering and
rather violent shaking with chattering of the teeth." It may last from ten
minutes to two hours. The internal temperature may rise to 104 to 106
degrees, while the surface is blue and cold, with severe headache, often
nausea and vomiting. Hot stage: this may last from one-half to five hours;
the temperature may increase somewhat, the face is flushed, the skin is
red and hot, great thirst, throbbing headache and full bounding pulse.
Sweating stage lasts two to four hours, and entire body may be covered;
fever and other symptoms abate and sleep usually follows. The patient
feels nearly well between attacks.
REMITTENT OR CONTINUOUS MALARIAL FEVER (Aestivo-Autumnal Fever).--This
form occurs in the temperate zone regions, especially in the summer and
autumn. The symptoms vary greatly. The fever may be irregularly
intermittent, but at longer intervals than the Tertian variety. The cold
stage is often absent, and in the hot the temperature falls gradually. The
appearance is often like typhoid for there may be then hardly any
remission of fever.
[INFECTIOUS DISEASES 229]
PERNICIOUS MALARIAL FEVER.--This is a very dangerous disease. The chief
forms are the comatose, algid and hemorrhagic.
(a) Comatose form is characterized by delirium or sudden coma (deep sleep)
with light temperature.
(b) The algid or asthenic form begins with vomiting and great prostration.
The temperature is normal or below normal. There may be diarrhea and
suppression of the urine.
(c) The hemorrhagic form includes malarial hemoglobinuria, hemoglobin in
the urine. Haemoglobin is the coloring matter of the red corpuscles.
Treatment. Prevention.--Destroy mosquitoes and protect from them by
screens. Small preventive doses of quinine for persons in malarious
regions, three grains three times a day. Five grains three times a day
will nearly always cure tertian and quartan cases, especially if the
patient is kept in bed until the time for one or two paroxysms has passed.
Attacks often stop spontaneously for a time when the patient is kept in
bed, even without the administration of quinine.
In Remittent Fever larger doses are necessary. For pernicious forms:
Hydrochlorate of quinine and urea ten to twenty grains, given
hypodermically, every three or four hours until improvement occurs, when
the sulphate of quinine by the mouth may be substituted.
AGUE. (See Malarial Fever.)--By ague is meant the cold chills and fever;
or dumb ague where there is little chill, mostly chilly and fever. These
attacks may come on every day, every other day, or every third day.
MOTHERS' REMEDIES. 1. Ague and Fever, Dogwood Good for.--"Take one ounce
of dogwood root and one quart of water. Make an infusion by boiling down
to one-half pint. Strain and give one-half wineglassful every two or three
hours."
2. Ague in Face, Menthol and Alcohol Effective Remedy for.--"After making
a solution of teaspoonful of menthol crystals, dissolved in two ounces of
alcohol, apply several times a day to the face. Care should be taken that
this solution does not enter the eyes, as it would be injurious,"
3. Ague, Simple Remedy for.--"Give purgative and follow with quinine. Give
large 4 grain capsule every four hours.