Very especially is it important to distinguish between the qualities of

soaps used on the sensitive skins of infants and invalids. If you ever

wash an infant in strongly caustic soap, you may look for a state of

discomfort in the child which will make it restless and miserable

without your being able to tell how it is so. You may ascribe to

unhappy "temper" what is due to the bad soap which you have put on the

skin. So with sensitive invalids, when they have to be washed or

soaped, so as to keep off or heal the bedsores which are apt to appear

on them, it is easy to see how much difference there must be between

the effect of a caustic soap and one really and delightfully soothing.

M'Clinton's soap is the very best and most lasting of the soaps we know

for washing purposes, so that in recommending it we are not promoting

the use of a merely medical thing, but of one for ordinary purposes of

a genuine and excellent character. Every grocer ought to have it in

stock, and if it is sought after with some vigour it will be soon

brought in general trade within reach of all. It is not one of those

things that flame on railway stations and on the covers of magazines.

The makers are most quiet, unpretending men, and one would think almost

afraid to take their light from under a bushel. But they are in

possession of a most valuable secret in knowing how to make this soap.

Several soap-makers claim to be makers of this soap, insisting that

theirs is as good as M'Clinton's. It is far cheaper. Well, we put it to

the test of use. It is not the same thing at all. It won't do, nor will

it nearly do: the soda is there beyond all doubt. We are compelled to

recommend our readers to make sure that they get M'Clinton's soap, with

this name stamped upon it.

There is a strong temptation to deception, because M'Clinton's soap

requires eight days at least to make, while the fiery stuff is made in

one day, or two at most. It is of great importance that the true soap

should be secured. The matter is so important that precious life and

health depend on so humble a thing as this.

Take care you are not cheated by a wrong substance. Do not say you have

tried our remedy and found it fail. If you have applied irritating soap

instead of soothing, the so-called remedy could not but fail. Make sure

you have the right substance, and you will have the right effect.[A]

[Footnote A: To prevent an inferior article being substituted if it is

asked for as barilla soap simply, it is in this edition called

M'Clinton's soap. It is now made solely by D. Brown & Son, Ltd.,

Donaghmore, Tyrone, Ireland, who have purchased the business and trade

secrets of the old firm, and manufacture the soap in the same way. If

not stocked by the local chemist or grocer, small samples can be had

from the manufacturers free on receipt of 2d. to cover postage, or a

large assorted box will be sent on receipt of 2s. 6d.]

Fortunately the makers of M'Clinton's soap are sternly honest men, and

their soap can be relied on: that we have found out, we think, beyond

mistake. We are happy to be able to say that they have not sent us even

a bar of soap for our "Papers" on their behalf, but only assured us

that they will "reward" our kindness by "making a genuine article." If

there is "puffing," there is at least to be no payment for it, and that

is a safe way of keeping the "puffer" to the truth!

The curative effects of M'Clinton's soap will be found dealt with in

the directions for treatment of various troubles throughout this

volume. See the articles on Abscess; Asthma; Blood, Purifying; Boils;

Cancer; Child-Bearing; Dwining; Fever; Hands; Hives; Pimples on Face;

Rheumatism; Skin; Sleeplessness; Soapy Blanket; Stomach Trouble;

Vaccination Trouble.

Soapy Blanket, The.--It seems necessary, in getting people to use the

best means for the recovery of health, carefully to consider, not the

diseases to which they are subject only, but especially the processes

of cure. We require to go into the very nature of things, so to speak,

and to make it all palpable to the inquirer. For example, you prescribe

a little olive oil on the skin, and the nurse is horrified at its being

suggested that she should "block up the pores." Her idea is that these

pores are only little holes in the skin, so that, if you fill them up

with oil, the insensible perspiration will not get through. Now let us

observe that a pore is a complete organ in itself, and has at least

three things that characterise it. (_See_ page 285). First of all, it

is a living thing. It is so as really as a finger is a living organ, or

an eye, or an ear. When it dies, it is as much an opening as ever, but

it ceases to secrete the perspiration which is constantly separated

from the current of the blood when it was healthily alive. When it is

sickly, though still living in a weak degree, it secretes, but so

sluggishly that the substance which it separates from the blood does

not pass off easily--it gets, so to speak, thick and sticky, and

remains in the pores.

In the second place, the substance which a pore secretes will not

combine with certain things, and it will chemically combine readily

with other things. When the pore is sickly, it may be aided, first, by

the introduction of heat, which becomes vital action, and secondly, by

the use of such substances as will readily combine with its secretion.

The heat makes it secrete more perfectly, and the chemical combination

makes the removal of the secretion easy. It is possible to block the

pores up, but it is not very easy to do so. A healthy pore will send

its secretions out through very close stuff. It is only by something

like very strong varnish that it can be prevented.

There is wonderfully little danger in ordinary life of any such "block"

as this. But there is very great danger of the pore being deprived of

its secretive power, and of its power to open its mouth when that is so

much wanted. Warm olive oil sets millions of pores to full work

sometimes in a few seconds.

Now let us look at the application of the soapy blanket in the light of

these remarks. Here is a poor patient, sitting in an armchair by the

fireside, labouring to get breath. It makes one feel burdened to see

him. What is wrong? Are the pores blocked up? No; but they are more

than half dead, and what they do secrete is not such an ethereal thing

as it should be. Nearly all the work of getting rid of the waste of the

body has been thrown for months upon the poor lungs. The kidneys, too,

have got far more than their share, just because the pores are sickly.

The remedy is the soapy blanket. This most valuable means of

stimulating the healthy action of the skin (as prescribed in many

articles in this volume) is prepared and applied as follows:--Have a

good blanket, and plenty of M'Clinton's soap (_see_ Lather and Soap).

Shear down a tablet or two into boiling water--as much water as the

blanket will absorb. The blanket may be prepared as directed in article

Fomentation, using these boiling _suds_ instead of water. Have the

patient's bed ready, and spread on it a double dry sheet. Soak in the

suds a piece of thick flannel large enough to go round the body under

the armpits. Wring this out and put it on the patient. Wrap the blanket

tightly round the patient from the neck downwards. Tie something round

the waist to confine it close to the body. Put the patient into bed,

and wrap the feet well up in the blanket. If it is not sufficient to

cover them, an extra piece of soapy flannel must be used. Then wrap the

sheets over the patient above the moist blanket, and cover all nicely

up. In removing the blanket, which may remain on half-an-hour, it is

well to proceed gradually, uncovering the body bit by bit, sponging

each part with hot water and vinegar or weak acetic acid (_see_ Acetic

Acid), and rubbing hot oil on after drying. Dry this oil off, and cover

each dried part of the body either with clothing or blankets before

uncovering a fresh part.

There is a modification of this treatment which suits more weakly

persons, and suits also those who must do all, or almost all, for

themselves. A long flannel or flannelette nightdress is used in this,

instead of the blanket. This is covered on the whole of the inner side

with well-made soap lather. When so covered it is put on at bedtime,

and a dry nightdress put on over it. Both are then fastened as closely

as possible to the skin, and the patient goes to sleep thus clothed. If

the night is cold, the greatest care must be taken to be well covered,

and brought to as good a heat as possible. In the morning a very great

change will have come from this treatment. When the whole body is

washed down with warm water, dried, and nicely rubbed with fresh oil,

the skin is found very considerably changed, and in case of asthma the

breathing relieved.

If cold is taken when this process is fairly gone through, it would be

very astonishing indeed; but if it is badly done, a person might get

chilled instead of comforted. Therefore every care must be taken to

keep the patient thoroughly warm. The result of one effectual pack is

usually sufficient to convince the poor sufferer that he is being

treated in the right way. The effect of the second is greater, and so

on to the fourth or fifth, beyond which he need not go as a rule. He

will do well once a day to wash with hot vinegar and rub after with the

oil. These should not be required more than a fortnight at most. If

chilliness continues, it is well to put on cotton stockings on going to

bed, and even to bathe the feet and oil them before doing so. This

bathing may be continued every night for a fortnight.

Sores.--These will be found dealt with under many headings throughout

this book (_see_ Abscess; Bone, Diseased; Blood; Boils; Breast; Cancer;

Carbuncle; Cauliflower Growth; Eruptions; Erysipelas, etc.), therefore

we here only treat generally of two kinds of common sores. The first is

the surface sore, which eats inwards; the second, the deep-seated sore,

which eats outwards. The first usually begins as a small pimple like a

pin's head, and, if neglected, breaks, and gradually increases in size.

Its origin is something which has caused the minute vessels of the skin

at the spot to give way, so that they remain congested with bad blood,

which soon becomes practically poisonous, and so the sore enlarges and

eats into the surrounding tissue. If such a sore appears on the leg, it

is often due to over-pressure through too much standing. Rest, with the

leg kept horizontal or inclined slightly upwards to the foot, will

often be enough to cure. When complete rest cannot be had, a thigh

bandage (_see_ Veins, Swollen) should be worn.

To treat the sore, it should be washed twice a day with BUTTERMILK

(_see_), and afterwards thoroughly soaked with weak ACETIC ACID

(_see_), and dressed with antiseptic lint, or, if that cannot be had,

with buttermilk cloths. A buttermilk poultice (_see_ Potato Poultice)

may be used. But if no rest can be had, the sore will be extremely

difficult, if not impossible, to heal.

The second kind of sore, arising from an abscess under the part, or

diseased bone or membrane far down beneath the skin, is to be treated

on the same principles, using weak acetic acid for the syringing, and

buttermilk only for the surface. The method of treatment is such as

will secure the contact of the weak acid with _every part_, even the

deepest, of the wound. Procure a small pointed glass syringe, which

must be kept _thoroughly clean_. The point of this may be inserted into

the sore, and care taken that the weak acid penetrates into the very

bottom, and thoroughly soaks all the diseased parts. This syringing

should be repeated until the wound is thoroughly clean in every part.

If pain is set up, the acid is too strong. Syringing with lukewarm

water will at once relieve this, and then weaker acid may be used. This

treatment may be given twice a day, and the wound properly dressed

after it. Attention must be paid in all treatment of sores or wounds to

the proper cleansing and boiling of all materials and instruments used.

Wash the hands in hot water and M'Clinton's soap, using a nail-brush,

before touching or dressing a sore.

Boil some soft clean rags for five minutes, and wash the sore with

these, using water that has been boiled and allowed to cool to

blood-heat, to which a few drops of acetic acid have been added, but

not so much as to be painful on the sore.

If a syringe is used, boil it before using, and only use boiled or

distilled water in all operations. This secures the destruction of the

germs (or Bacteria), which are now known as the cause of the

inflammation and suppuration of wounds and sores of all kinds.

Spinal Congestion.--In some cases of this trouble the symptoms are very

alarming, consisting in violent convulsive movements, which seem

altogether beyond the possibility of relief. It is something to know

that these terrible kickings and strugglings arise from simply an

accumulation of blood in the vessels of the spinal cord, irritating it

violently, as an electric current might do. Sedatives and narcotics

will be useless. Leeches applied to the spine will sometimes cure by

withdrawing the blood from it, though such treatment leaves no bracing

and strengthening effect, but the very opposite. Use the cold towel,

wrung out and placed along the spine, together with a hot blanket

FOMENTATION (_see_) to the feet and legs, up over the knees. The

patient must be gently held still, as far as possible, so that the

treatment may be applied. The applications will not be at once

successful, but after an hour's work something like permanent relief

should come. Above all, the nurse must keep cool and calm in mind and

manner. There is no need for hysterics, and any excitable person should

be kept out of the sick-room. If the skin of the back has been broken

by blistering or any such treatment, a fine lather (_see_ Lather; Soap)

should be spread over all the back, and on this a soft cloth. Above

this the cold towels may be safely and comfortably applied. It will do

no harm if the treatment be continued for even two or three hours.

Spine, Misshapen.--Often in the case of delicate infants or children,

the bones of the spine fail to have the necessary hardness to bear the

strain which comes upon them, and the spine gets more or less out of

its proper shape. If this softness of bone continues, no amount of

mechanical support, or lying down, will cure the misshapen spine.

Therefore means should be taken by proper diet and nourishment to help

the production of good bone substance in the child's body. The best

bone-making food we know is good oatmeal, as well-boiled porridge

(boiled for two or three hours), or as oatmeal jelly and gruel. Good

air and water are also essential, and such treatment as is described in

article on Children's Healthy Growth. Especially should attention be

paid to constant supply of fresh air to the child's lungs. Windows

should be wide open in all weathers, and if the child cannot walk far,

it should be wheeled out for as long as possible every day the weather

permits. Such supply of fresh air is of _vital importance_, and the

want of it is frequently the sole cause of disease.

In other cases it is not the bones which are soft, but the muscles and

ligaments which hold the spine in a proper position are defective.

Where the bone is felt to be good-sized and hard, and the surrounding

substance too soft, it is a case of this kind. To proper nourishment,

in this case, must be added proper _exercise_ of the muscles concerned.

Immovable plaster jackets are bad, because they forbid this. This

exercise may best be given by rubbing (_see_ Exercise and Massage).

Gentle rubbing and pressure over the back, with hot OLIVE OIL (_see_),

will work wonders in such a case. During the rubbing the patient should

lie down _at full length_. It must also be done so as to be _pleasant_,

or it is of no use.

See that the patient has plenty of rest, and only as much walking

exercise as is evidently enjoyed. There may be complications with other

troubles--for example, a quick pulse and some fever heat, if the

temperature is tested. That will require to be itself treated with

repeated rubbings of finely wrought lather over the stomach and bowels.

Until you have in some measure subdued this fever, you will not do much

in the way of improving the muscles of the back. In many cases you will

be able to bring the fever down completely, and then you will be free

to exercise the muscles, and so to strengthen them that they will bring

the spine to something like its proper shape. (_See_ Assimilation;

Diet; Digestion; Nerves; Nourishment; Paralysis; Massage.)

Spine, Weakness of the.--_See_ Children's Healthy Growth.

Sprains or Racks.--A sprain is usually the result of some involuntary

stress coming upon the part. If the injury be to the muscular substance

only, it is easily healed; hot fomentations should be given to the

sprained parts, with perfect rest and every possible ease and comfort

by position, etc., and nature will soon effect a cure. If the injury be

really to the _nerves_ which control the muscles, as is generally the

case, the matter is more difficult. The muscle swells, but this is

primarily due to the overstrain of the nerves in the sudden effort they

make to bear a crushing load on the muscle. The pain is from pressure

in the swelling, and also from inflammatory action.

The cure, then, must be applied to the motor nerves controlling the

muscles, and is best applied at their roots in the spinal cord. If the

arm, hand, or wrist be sprained, rub gently the upper spinal region

with warm olive oil, continuing the rubbing _gently_ down the arm to

the injured part (_see_ Rubbing) until the whole shoulder and arm glow

with comfortable warmth. But all rubbing such as causes pain must be

avoided. If such rubbing cannot be managed, then a hot BRAN POULTICE

(_see_) must be placed between the shoulders, and a warm fomentation

given to the shoulder and arm. The treatment should be given once a

day, and ere many days the sprain should be cured. For ankle and knee

sprains, the lower back and leg must be treated on similar principles.

Where the chest muscles that cover the ribs are sprained, rubbing and

moist heat should be applied over the back and round the side where the

sprain is, paying especial attention to the spine opposite the sprain,

and using hot olive oil before fomentation and after, as well as to rub

with.

If the belly be sprained, similar treatment should be given lower down

the back.

If the back muscles are sprained, then the same treatment should be

applied, taking special care to stimulate with moist heat and rubbing

the part of the spine on a level with the injury, where the roots of

the nerves lie which supply the sprained muscles. Care must ever be

taken to avoid giving pain--to give pain is to increase the injury. To

produce a glow of heat all through the parts is to cure it. (_See_

Muscular Pains.)

For a sprained heel, when there is some degree of inflammation about

it, we should pack the whole foot in fine soap lather. Let it be in

this all night, and also during the day when resting. Wash the foot

with a little weak acetic acid, after being packed in the lather, to

keep it quite clean. Now rub the whole limb from the ankle upwards in

such a way as to press the blood onwards in the veins. Use a little

oil, so that the skin may not suffer till a fine heat is raised in the

whole limb. This may be done for a quarter-of-an-hour twice or thrice a

day. It relieves the heel of all congestion, and lets good arterial

blood flow to it, as it would not otherwise. An elastic bandage, not

very tight, put on above the knee will help the cure. Sprained joints

and muscles should have _perfect rest_ for a fortnight, and be used

very cautiously for some time longer.

Spring Trouble.--Many persons are distressed by some form of eruption

or inflammation in the skin in spring. The change of atmosphere and

temperature at this time greatly increases the demands made upon the

skin as an organ of perspiration, and this strain it is in many cases

unable to stand--hence the trouble referred to. To prevent this, the

skin must be brought into a better state of health and fitness for any

extra work, so that it can bear without injury even very great changes

of air and temperature. This may be done by regular application of soap

lather (_see_ Lather and Soap) to the _entire_ skin each evening for

three or four days, and then twice a week through all the season. Good

olive oil may be rubbed on before and after the lather, or even mixed

with it in rubbing on; if the cooling effect is found too great, two or

three thick coats of lather should be put on, and then gently wiped

off, and the oil applied. This, continued during the later winter and

spring, should entirely prevent eruptions. But if these do appear, or

have already come on, the irritation is apt to be so great that only

very fine and carefully made lather can be used. It is better then to

use _buttermilk_ instead of lather. But the BUTTERMILK (_see_) must be

_new_, and if necessary weakened by addition of sweet milk; if old and

strongly acid buttermilk be used, harm may be done. Do not _rub_ the

milk on: _soak_ it into the parts by gentle _dabbing_ with a pad of

soft cloth. This done frequently, even twice or three times a day, will

almost always effect a cure.

It should be remembered that no amount of washing or bathing will do in

this state of the skin. Water somehow, especially hard water, fails to

produce this fine state of the surface. When spring trouble has set in,

we would keep water entirely from the skin. Nothing does so well as

good buttermilk. In some forms of spring eruption, a strong mixture of

salt and water may be freely applied with great advantage. If this

irritates, it should at once be discontinued, but in many cases the

eruption will disappear under a few applications. The salt solution

should be gently rubbed on, and left to dry on the skin (_see_ Skin,

Care of; Underwear).

With the increasing warm weather the body ceases to require as much

food as in the cold days. Heavy stimulating food in warm weather will

certainly cause an unhealthy skin.

Squeezing.--_See_ Rubbing.

Stammering.--This trouble is simply a loss of command of the vocal

organs, and is distinctly _nervous_ in its cause. Especially must we

look to the _roots_ of the nerves controlling the vocal organs, if we

are to see the real difficulty. There is evidently a state of

irritability and undue sensitiveness in these nerves which must be

soothed down, if a cure is to be obtained. The roots of such nerves lie

in the back of the head and neck, and they are best soothed by

application of soap lather (_see_ Lather; Soap). This must be well

wrought, and applied warm to the back of the head and neck in three or

four coats. Then mix some _hot_ OLIVE OIL (_see_) with the lather, and

apply with the brush gently to the parts. Altogether, in applying the

various latherings, and the final oil-and-lathering, an hour should be

spent, so as to continue the soothing effect during that time. The head

may be soaped one night (_see_ Head, Soaping the), and this treatment

given the alternate night. Where the case is of long standing, it may

take long to cure it, or a cure may be impossible, but some mitigation

will result from this treatment. The Sabbath should in all cases be a

day of rest from treatment, and generally common sense will indicate

that it be not continued too long. The patient may do a great deal for

himself by the strictest watch on his enunciation, speaking slowly and

deliberately, and breathing deeply. This will be difficult to maintain

at first, but practice will make the habit unconscious. An instrument

called a metronome may be had from a music shop (used for keeping time

in practising), if a book be read aloud by the stammerer, pronouncing

one syllable only to each beat, he will soon gain complete control of

his voice.

Stiffness, General.--This is often an adjunct of old age, and sometimes

occurs in the young and middle-aged as the result of chills. In

_neither_ case is it incurable, but for a cure _rest_ is a first

necessity. If there be standing and working for twelve or fourteen

hours a day, we should not expect a cure at all. Rest must be had, at

least twelve hours out of the twenty-four, and it is well if sixteen or

even eighteen hours' rest can be taken (_see_ Rest). Then there must be

heating the spine with moist heat (_see_ Fomentation). This is done to

revive the organs which supply oil to the joints, by giving fresh

vitality to the roots of the nerves which control these organs. But the

heating requisite to do this must be gently and persistently applied.

An hour's gradual heating is worth far more than half-an-hour's

_half-burning_. Then, after the spine fomentation, which must be

applied in bed, rub (_see_ Massage) the back with hot olive oil for a

considerable time--say half-an-hour, if the patient can bear it (_see_

Exercise). Then the joints may be similarly fomented and rubbed at

another time, back and joints being treated, say, every other day. If

there be costiveness, treat as in Constipation, and give easily

digested food (_see_ Assimilation; Digestion; Nourishment). Such

treatment daily should remove stiffness, even in very bad cases.

Stimulants.--_See_ Alcohol; Narcotics.

Stomach Trouble.--If you would cure thoroughly, you must first make

sure that the skin is doing its part well. Very often indigestion

arises from irritation of the stomach, caused by the impurities in the

blood which arise from defective skin action.

With strong people, exercise causing perspiration will often suffice to

cure, in other cases where exercise cannot be had the Soapy Blanket

(_see_) is effective. After the blanket, give a warm, gentle rubbing

with hot vinegar or diluted acetic acid; and, finally, a similar

rubbing with warm olive oil. This rubbing may be given by itself, where

the patient is too weak to endure the blanket, or where the lather

cannot be well applied. Even the rubbing with oil alone will do much to

cure.

The problem in this case is to remove from the blood the irritating

waste which is inflaming the stomach, and this is better done by

cleansing and stimulating the skin than by means of drastic drugs. A

lazy man will swallow a peck of pills rather than go through an ordeal

of cleansing like this, but in that case he need not be surprised if

his poor stomach become only poorer still, while his purse will not get

any heavier. Besides this cleansing, take sips of hot water as

recommended under Indigestion. A very plain and sparing diet should be

taken, and great attention given to chewing all food till reduced to a

liquid. For it must be remembered that the majority of stomach troubles

have their origin in abuse of this organ, through overloading with

food, or other dietetic errors. _See_ Diet; Assimilation; Biscuits and

Water; Constipation; Cramp in Stomach; Diarrhoea; Digestion;

Flatulence; Indigestion; Weariness.

Stomach Ulcers.--Generally the _tongue_ will tell whether the stomach

is ulcerated or not. If the tongue is fiery-looking, and small ulcers

show themselves on it, while food produces pain in the stomach, there

is little doubt of the presence of ulcers there. The tongue may at

once, in such a case, be brushed with weak acid (_see_ Acetic Acid) or

vinegar, so as to cleanse the surface and produce a _gentle_ smarting.

This brushing will quickly produce a healing change in the tongue,

which guides us to the cure of the stomach. This will be attained by

swallowing teaspoonfuls of the same weak acid. Two or three of these

should be taken at intervals half-an-hour before food. If the case is

severe, the skin over the stomach must be carefully soaped, as directed

in article on HEAD SOAPING (_see also_ Lather; Soap). The four-ply

flannel BANDAGE (_see_) should also be worn. Do not use drugs, such as

iron, arsenic, or soda, and avoid all narcotics. Persevere with the

weak acid, and a cure will come unless in very obstinate cases indeed.

Care must be taken to avoid irritating food. Milk, or milk and boiling

water is the best diet. A general symptom is severe pain after eating,

relieved by vomiting.

No fluid should be taken hotter than the finger can be held in it. This

is indeed a good rule always in matters of food and drink, which are

often taken too hot, to the injury of the stomach.

Stone.--_See_ Gravel.

Stoutness.--_See_ Breath, and the Heart.

Strangulation or Hanging.--Often accidentally caused in children or

intoxicated persons. Waste no time in going for or shouting for

assistance. At once cut the rope, necktie, or whatever else causes the

tightening. Pull out the tongue and secure it, commence artificial

respiration at once (_see_ Drowning), open the windows, make any crowd

stand back.

St. Vitus' Dance.--This proceeds from a simple irritation of the spinal

nerves, and is to be cured by soothing the spine with persistent

cooling. In mild cases this cooling is easily applied with towels wrung

out of cold water, and folded so as to lie at least four-ply thick

along the whole spine. If narcotic drugs have been largely used, and

the nervous system spoiled thereby, a severer form of the trouble comes

on, and requires a good deal of care and persistence in cooling. In all

cases the cooling of the spine must only be done when the patient is

_warm in bed_.

It will be of great importance, in carrying out this process, to use

olive oil in such a way, all over the body, as to help in maintaining

the general normal heat. In addition to these suggestions, it may be

well to remark that the appearances in such cases are, as a rule, worse

than the reality. For instance, the motion of the eyes and of the

tongue makes one imagine that the sufferer has lost all reason, and

even consciousness of normal character. But this is not so; the brain

may not be affected at all, and the worst feeling is that of weariness.

We have seen a patient smiling through the most distressing

contortions--that is, most distressing to the ordinary observer. It is

of great importance that any one who treats such cases should be _cool_

and _kind_.

It will sometimes be impossible for one person to keep the patient in

bed and covered with the clothes so as to keep warm. If so, two must do

it. It is, however, to be remembered constantly, that the patient feels

it much more agreeable to be held within even close limits than to be

allowed to throw arms and legs, and head and body about in all

directions. This is a most invaluable truth in such cases. It will not

do to hold as with an iron grasp, so that no degree of movement is

allowed; but you may hold softly, so that no motion, such as will even

disturb the bedclothes, shall take place. This must be done so that all

the body shall be comfortably warm when the cold towel is laid along

the spine and pressed gently to the centre of the back. In

comparatively mild cases, we give an hour of this cooling process every

morning only, and the warm washing and anointing with olive oil at

bedtime; but in such cases as we sometimes meet with, where drugs have

done their mischievous work, it is necessary to cool much more

frequently. For instance, when the morning cooling has laid the

irritation, and the patient is quiet for an hour, or, perhaps, only

half-an-hour, the movement returns. The persons applying the cure are

afraid to repeat it till another morning has come. But they need not be

so. Or, they apply it for five minutes, and are afraid to continue it

longer. They may quite safely apply it as long as they can keep the

rest of the body comfortably warm. If they can keep nice, soft blankets

well round the patient, as a rule it will not be difficult to keep up

all general heat. Let us suppose that, when warm in bed and asleep, the

patient wakes up, and the diseased movement begins; it will be well

then to ply the back with the cold towel. If the movement is perfectly

still in half-an-hour, a rest may be given. If the movement soon

returns, the cold can be applied till perfect quiet is had again. This

will, perhaps, be secured in twenty minutes or so. A rest and

comfortable warming may be given again. If the movement still returns,

it may be met by the same cooling process again. If only the heat is

kept up all right, the cold towel may be used till the spinal

irritation is finally gone.

This simple mode of treatment we have found to be perfectly successful,

not only in removing every symptom of nervous irritation, but in giving

most vigorous health to patients who, to begin with, were truly

miserable-looking subjects. This may be looked for, as well as the mere

removal of the malady.

It should be noted that one outstanding feature of St. Vitus' Dance is

that the movement ceases _during sleep_. If this is not the case, other

treatment is called for. _See_ Paralysis, and articles under Nerves;

Spine, etc.

Sunshine.--Is a most valuable aid to health, acting as a physical and

mental tonic. The sunbath, for either portions of the body at a time,

or for the whole body, will be found very beneficial to nervous

sufferers, and also to those having a tendency to certain skin

diseases. Its tonic effect is very noticeable on the hair, giving it

better growth and richer colour. Sunlight should be admitted freely

into bedrooms and sitting-rooms, for it is hostile to the growth of

many of those microbes which cause disease.

Tapeworm.--The only sure sign of the presence of this parasite in the

intestine is the passing from the bowels of some of its joints or ova.

Its presence in the body is a serious matter, always giving rise to

more or less inconvenience and disturbance to health. We mention it

here because we know of a very good and harmless remedy which will

completely expel the worm. This may be obtained from D. Napier & Sons,

herbalists, 17, Bristo Place, Edinburgh, postage paid, for 2s. One dose

will be sufficient.

We dislike _secret_ preparations, yet when we come across a remedy

which never fails, we confess to putting aside our dislikes and getting

it.

The best thing is, however, to prevent the worm obtaining access to the

body. All food, especially beef and pork, should be thoroughly cooked,

and all cooking processes, and all places where meat is kept should be

thoroughly clean. Where this is the case, tapeworm will never occur.

Tea.--Tea should not be infused longer than three or four minutes, and

cream should be used with it. The albuminous matter in milk tends to

throw down some of the tannic acid in an insoluble form. It should not

be taken too hot, and if taken at a meat meal (which is undesirable),

not till quite the conclusion of the meal. Much tea-drinking produces

nervousness and indigestion. If taken _very_ weak it forms a pleasing

addition to the morning and evening meal, but taken as it usually is,

and especially between meals, such as at afternoon tea, it is a serious

cause of ill-health.

Teeth.--In order to prevent decay, the teeth should be carefully

brushed at least once a day, preferably at night, but better still

after each meal. There is no better dentifrice than pure soap, and

M'Clinton's tooth soap, being specially prepared from the ash of plants

and a pure vegetable oil, does not leave the objectionable soapy taste

in the mouth which all soda soaps do.

The prevalence of bad teeth is believed by many to be due to processes

of milling, which remove the bone and enamel making properties of the

grain. So much of the natural salts of the grain are removed to make

bread white that it ceases to be the staff of life. A contributory

cause is the consumption of large quantities of sweets or candies,

especially between meals. White bread lodging in the teeth and thereby

producing acid fermentation, is believed to have a bad effect on them,

also too hot or ice-cold liquids. Remember also that the teeth cannot

be healthy if they are not exercised. The Scotch peasant when he ate

hard oat-cake had splendid teeth, as the Swedish peasants who eat hard

rye-bread still have. Sloppy foods hastily bolted will ruin the

digestion and thereby the teeth, besides depriving them of the work

essential to their good condition. If teeth do decay they should be

seen to by a dentist at once, as their presence in the mouth is

injurious to the general health.

Teething.--At the outset, it must ever be remembered that this is _not_

a disease. It is a natural growth, and often is accomplished without

any trouble at all. It is, however, a comparatively _quick_ growth,

accomplishing much in a little time, as a plant in flowering. This

_rush_ of growth in one place draws upon the vitality available for

general purposes in the child's body, and if this vitality is not very

large, trouble ensues. Diarrhoea, cold feet, and lack of spirit and

appetite thus arise. If at this stage the lower limbs and body be

carefully fomented (_see_ Fomentation), all trouble may cease at once;

at least a very great deal will be done to relieve it. Give three

teaspoonfuls of warm water, slightly sweetened with pure CANE SYRUP

(_see_), three times a day. A little of the confection of senna will do

instead of this if desired. The fomentation must never be so hot or so

long at a time as to cause discomfort. Irritation is bad for a teething

infant, and all must be done soothingly if success is to be gained.

Also it will not do to foment and rub with oil a _feverish_ child. Such

cases must be treated differently, as we shall see, and it is easy to

distinguish them from cases without fever. Meantime we would say that

in many cases where vital force is low without fever, the treatment by

fomentation as described is of great value.

In regard to the artificial "cutting" of the gum by surgical

instruments, we would say that such should only be resorted to when the

tooth is very near the surface indeed, and by a careful surgeon who

knows what he is about. The irritation in the gums which makes it

thought of at all can be usually allayed by simple means. Let the

mother dip her finger in good vinegar and water, just strong enough to

slightly smart the lips, and rub it on the irritated gum. This can of

course be done often, and is most powerfully soothing. It may indeed do

all that is required. But if more general symptoms appear, such as

sleeplessness and heat in the head, cooling of the head is required.

Have two little caps made of _thick_ cotton cloth, one slightly larger,

so as to fit on above the other on the child's head. Wring the smaller

out of cold (but not ice-cold) water, and put it on. Press it gently on

the head, and if the heat and restlessness continue, cool it again,

perhaps twice or three times. When the restlessness is relieved, leave

the damp cap on the head, and place the dry one on over it. If the heat

returns, repeat the process. This treatment, though a mere cooling of

the brain, has saved ere now both reason and life, and should never be

lightly thought of or despised.

Often the stomach is seriously disordered during teething, both

vomiting and purging resulting. In small degree these are not

dangerous, but they are better avoided. If severe, they are the

beginning of often fatal trouble.

To quiet the excited bowels, nothing is better than enemas of cool

water. It need not be too cold, but just a little under blood heat,

with a little vinegar added. One tablespoonful of vinegar to a pint of

water. Also a "baby's bottle," prepared with water at blood heat (98

deg.), _without any milk or sugar_, will greatly assist the stomach if

given to be sucked. In such cases infants usually suck this water

greedily. It is most soothing to the stomach. Half a teacupful at a

time is enough. In the evening wash the child with warm water and SOAP

(_see_) rub all over with warm olive or almond oil, especially the back

up and down. Then place a BRAN POULTICE (_see_) over all the back,

taking care to have it just comfortably warm. When this is fastened on,

an ordinary pocket-handkerchief wrung out of cold water is folded and

laid over the bowels. This is changed for a fresh one as soon as

heated, and _gently_ pressed all over. The milk, if the child is

brought up on the bottle, may be given now, reduced in strength for a

time. This treatment will often cure without enemas, which may then be

dispensed with. Great improvement in health may be expected after a few

days of such treatment. A cool handkerchief, similar to that on the

bowels, may also be applied to the head, if that is heated.

Some form of head eruption often comes on after a long time of heated

head. A little sour buttermilk, vinegar, or weak acetic acid, not

stronger than to cause a slight smarting _tried in the nurse's

nostrils_, will relieve almost instantly the itching which accompanies

this. If strong acid be used, matters are made worse, and great pain

caused. The acid, weak as we have described, at once neutralises the

irritating substance exuded from the eruption. It also prepares the way

for a cure. If astringent lotions are employed, drying the sore, and

driving it in on the brain, serious injury may be caused. But if

healing takes place under soaking with weak acid, no such result need

be feared, for this simply removes the unhealthy state of the part.

Water, especially _hard_ water, must be absolutely kept away from such

a head. No more must be used than is necessary to dilute the acid; and,

if it can be got, the acid of buttermilk is decidedly preferable. The

whole body, when feverish, may be cooled in a tepid bath, several times

a day if necessary, having the water just at blood heat.

Besides these outside effects, teething often causes brain disorders.

(_See_ various articles on Children.) The infant should be watched

carefully, and if the eye be dull, and the head heavy with feverish

symptoms, the head should be cooled at once as above directed, and if

the feverish symptoms are not marked, and the feet cold, the feet,

legs, and lower body should be wrapped in a good warm fomentation.

Where the trouble has gone so far that insensibility comes on, the

treatment is the same, only the cloths had better be wrung out of

_iced_ water if available. It is important to not only lay the cloths

on the head, but to _press_ them. Take the little head in your two

hands, and so bring the cool cloth close to every part of it, while you

lift up a prayer for help from the Great Healer. Keep at this till your

feeling tells you it is time to change the cloth. Take off the hot one

and put on the cool one. Go on with the gentle pressure again. It does

require work, but it is well worth work to save a precious life. You

must so work that you will cause the least disturbance possible to the

little sufferer. It may be you may require to keep this up for many

hours, but you will probably find that some signs of sense appear ere

you have gone on very long, and you may see that natural sleep has

succeeded the drowse that lay in the worn-out brain. If so, you will

allow the head to lie still in the cold cloth, and change only when it

gets very warm. If natural heat has been fully restored to the legs and

feet, you will let these rest also.

We know of a case where the brain seemed gone, and the medical man

abandoned hope; but the head was cooled with ice cloths, while the feet

and legs were kept in a hot fomentation, for a whole night, and all

danger was passed by the morning. So that, even in very bad cases, this

should be perseveringly tried.

For diet, in teething, the child must get easily digested food, and all

"rich" foods--brandy, beef-tea, etc.--must be avoided.

Involuntary starting, and the manifestation of great fear on waking out

of sleep, frequently arise from irritation of the spine during

teething. The cold compress applied along the spine when the child is

warm in bed will relieve this. It may be applied (_see_ Towels, Cold)

twice or thrice a day. If the feet are cold, these may be fomented at

the same time. If the head is cold, it may be fomented also. If it is

hot, cool it. This treatment relieves the irritation of the mouth, as

well as removes the starting. If _both_ head and feet are hot, then you

need only cool the spine.

In all cases, common sense must be used, but we think we have given

sufficient indication of principles to enable a thoughtful nurse or

mother to treat successfully almost any case. Where very cold cloths on

application cause shivering and crying, either use tepid cloths,

slightly cooler than the skin, or warm the _surface_ of the cold folded

cloth by holding for a short time to a fire, and then apply to the

patient. The warm surface thus first touches the skin, and afterwards

the cold in the body of the cloth penetrates gradually.

Temperature (_see_ Heat, Internal).

Tempering Treatment.--Much, if not all, of the success in any case of

treatment depends on its being properly tempered to the strength of the

patient. In putting on LATHER (_see_), for instance, a delicate and

nervous child will be greatly annoyed if soaped all over at once. But

if one arm be done and finished, then the other, then the breast, and

so on to the abdomen, the back, and the legs, _bit by bit_, the effect

will be soothing in the extreme. So with MASSAGE (_see_); so also with

applying a cold towel. If it chills and terrifies the patient when

suddenly "clapped on," common sense would suggest holding it to the

fire till the _surface_ is warm. This warm surface will give no shock

when applied to the skin, and the cold in the body of the towel will

gradually penetrate and do its work. Also, as we have frequently

repeated, the _strength_ of ACETIC ACID (_see_) must be carefully

looked to, when it is used. It must ever be remembered that some of the

finest and noblest spirits are inhabitants of frail bodies, which, with

right treatment, are strong enough, but suffer terribly in rough hands.

Thirst.--This forms a severe feature in many cases of illness, and has

to be treated variously according to its kind. It may be due first to

_dryness_ in the membranes of the throat and stomach; secondly it may

be due to a _concentrated_ or _deranged_ state of the juices of the

body; thirdly, it may be the result of a _burning heat_ in the body. It

will not be difficult for a careful person to say in any case which of

them is the cause. The nature of the disease will indicate it. A little

cold water may be given first. If this fails, a cold cloth over the

stomach (_see_ Changing Treatment) may be tried. If these are not

successful, a few tablespoonfuls of hot water may be given. The first

of these meets the simple dryness, the second cures the burning heat,

the third meets the case of concentrated and deranged juices in the

body. A few drops of vinegar, lemon juice, or other fruit acid (_see_

Drinks), will often greatly assist the hot water in its duty. All

alcoholic drinks are worse than useless in real thirst. Any power they

possess is either due to the effect they have on the artificial thirst

they create or to the water they contain. And the danger of rousing or

creating the dreadful desire of the drunkard is so great, that they

ought never to be given to relieve a patient's thirst.

If the cold water is known, from any cause, to be dangerous to the

patient, then hot water will do equally well. If the thirst arises from

some drug which has been taken, then hot water should always be given.

Again, the _locality_ of the dryness causing thirst indicates the best

method of quenching it. If only the mouth and tongue be dry, then it

will be sufficient to wash out the mouth with the water, or acid drink,

not swallowing, so as to avoid unnecessary loading of the stomach. If

throat and mouth are cool, and only the stomach burns, then the cold

towel above that is the best treatment.

There is no need, except in very special cases, for iced water. Tap

water is generally cool enough, unless stored in heated cisterns. In

this case a little ice may be used to bring it down to a temperature of

45 deg. or so, but not below 40 deg.

Throat Hoarseness.--This is best treated by a good large BRAN POULTICE

(_see_) on the back of the head and neck. While the patient lies on

this, cold towels must be changed on the front above the "apple" of the

throat. Do this for an hour twice a day. Or, if the feet be cold, give

treatment as in Teething. There must also be _rest from talking_.

Procure a good camel's-hair throat-brush from the druggist, and brush

the back of the throat well with weak ACETIC ACID (_see_) several times

a day, or simply gargle if there is difficulty with the brushing. The

brush must be carefully cleansed, and dipped in the _strong_ acid after

use.

Especially is it necessary to give up, in such cases, the use of

tobacco. Where the trouble has lasted for years, it may be slow to

heal, and the poulticing may be done only once a week. In ordinary

cases, a day or two's treatment should cure.

Many times we have seen a good fomentation of feet and legs alone give

very sensible relief. Never be satisfied with putting a hot bottle or

brick to the feet. This is a lazy way of dealing with a serious case.

Have the feet and legs up to the knees rubbed with vinegar and olive

oil, and wrapped in a large blanket fomentation. It is not the mere dry

skin of the soles of the feet that needs warming: the whole legs,

especially the muscles, require the moist heat of a thorough

fomentation. Circulation is at once accelerated just where it is

wanted, so as to lessen the pressure where the vital stream is pressing

too heavily and lodging in a dangerous congestion. It is good even if

the feet are not very cold, but only cool, to ply this part of the

remedy well. Where the patient is strong enough to sit out of bed, a

good hot foot-bath will do instead of this fomentation.

Throat, Sore.--The first question in any case of sore throat, is, What

is the temperature of the patient? (_see_ Heat, Internal). If this

cannot be ascertained, at least we can say whether the patient is

feverish or not.

Let us first take the case where there is no fever. Get the patient

warmly to bed. Foment (_see_ Fomentation) carefully all round the neck,

first rubbing on a little olive oil. Renew the fomentation every five

minutes for three-quarters-of-an-hour at least. Allow rest for an hour.

Then foment thoroughly the feet and legs up over the knees. When this

is done, and the heat kept up, cool the throat with constant fresh cold

towels. Let this go on for an hour. Finally sponge the whole body with

warm vinegar. Rub lightly over with olive oil, dry, and allow to rest.

Probably the throat will be cured. If not, repeat the treatment the

following day.

Where there is fever with the sore throat, first make sure whether the

feet are hot or cold. If cold, put on fomentations as above. Even if

the feet are only cool this should be done. While the feet and legs are

thus fomented thoroughly, change cold towels on the throat every three

minutes for an hour. Sponge all over as above directed, and allow to

rest. If the feet are hot, cold towels alone are applied to the throat;

but if the feet get at all chilled while such cooling is going on, they

must be fomented.

If there is vomiting and sickness along with the sore throat, the other

symptoms of scarlet fever should be looked for, and medical aid

obtained if possible.

But here is a case where the most experienced eye, aided by the best

possible instrument, sees nothing wrong in the throat itself, but the

cough and difficulty of breathing point to the throat. The trouble is

not there, but in the roots of the nerves by which vital energy is

supplied to the windpipe and other vocal organs. You must go to the

back of the neck, and to the back between the upper parts of the

shoulders, and there affect the roots that are really in a state of

distressing over-action. If you are skilful enough in applying cold,

and your patient has plenty of general warmth, you need nothing more

than a cold towel, changed pretty often, and nicely pressed over the

proper parts. If this fails, have recourse to a cloth with mustard

spread like thin butter on it, say about six inches broad and a foot

long. Lay this gently on the spine at the back of the neck, and down as

far as it goes. Apply your cold compresses now over this as well as you

can, and the violent spasmodic symptoms will be mitigated. If one trial

is not sufficient, sprinkle the cold cloth with cayenne. If the result

can be reached by the cold cloth alone, it will be best. If mustard or

cayenne must be applied, observe very carefully that they should never

distress the patient. As much as can be borne quite easily, and no

more, should be employed. Whenever a remedy becomes seriously

distressing, we may be pretty sure it has ceased to be remedial, for

the time at least.

Throat, Sore (Clergyman's).--Those who are in the habit of using their

voice much should be very careful to produce it in the proper way. It

is noticeable that actors (who learn to produce their voice properly)

do not suffer from what is known as clergyman's sore throat.

The voice in speaking should be pitched, as a rule, considerably lower

than is usually done, especially if speaking in public. Any tightening

of the throat muscles should be avoided, and the voice sent out from a

full chest well expanded.

Those who are musical should take a note on the piano enunciating the

vowels in their natural order ([=a], ay, ee, o, oo) on this note. Then

proceed to the next note; the whole of the octave may thus be gone

over. Choose an octave most consonant with the range of the voice.

Then add the consonants: b[=a], bay, bee, c[=a], cay, etc., etc. Thus a

perfect command over all the possible combinations of vowels and

consonants may be attained.

There is absolutely no reason why any musical person should have an

unmusical voice, especially since this bad production of the voice

often strains the muscles and inflames the mucous membrane of the

throat. In connection with this question of music, it should be

remembered that almost irretrievable injury to the voice may be done by

allowing a boy to continue singing after his voice has begun to

"break."

It is not a good plan to be constantly "clearing" the throat whilst

speaking. One gets to imagine after a while that it needs clearing when

it really does not.

Alcohol and tobacco are both undoubtedly injurious to the voice. A

little honey and lemon juice will be found the best gargle if a gargle

is required.

Deep breathing is of great assistance in endeavouring to produce the

lower note, in fact it is not possible to produce a full note except

from a full chest. In this connection it may be said that it has been

observed that deep-chested, deep-breathing, slow-speaking people are

frequently possessed of certain estimable points of character, such as

prudence, firmness, self-reliance, calmness. If one is going to be

angry, ten deep breaths might save a world of trouble. (_See_

Breathing, Correct method of).

Thumb, Bruised and Broken.--Frequently a tradesman will strike the

thumb or finger a serious blow with a hammer, in missing a stroke. If

not treated properly, the whole hand may be destroyed, but if promptly

plunged into warm clean water and kept there, even the broken bones can

be handled quite comfortably, and all pain and uneasiness pass away ere

very long. Plenty of bathing in clean warm water, and proper setting

and dressing, are all such an injury requires.

Toothache.--This trouble appears in two opposite characters. In the one

it is cured by rightly applied heat, and in the other by cold. If it is

merely the soft substance in the tooth which is affected, local cooling

applications will cure, if persisted in. If it be the nerve terminating

in the tooth which is irritated, then even the extraction of the tooth

may fail to give relief. Both cold and hot applications to the tooth or

cheek will then probably prove useless.

In such a case, apply COLD TOWELS (_see_) gently pressed over the head

and back of the neck. If the case be a bad one, the feet may be put in

a hot bath, or fomented. Persevered in for an hour, this treatment is

almost certain to cure. It may take away all pain in a few minutes.

After the pain is cured, dry well, and keep the head moderately warm.

But if the toothache is caused by a severe chill to the head, and that

be still cold, it should be packed in a hot fomentation. This gives

almost instant relief. Rub on a little oil when the fomentation comes

off, and keep the head warm.

It should not be difficult to distinguish the cases requiring heat from

those requiring cold. In any case, if the first application of either

increases the pain, try the other.

Towels, Cold Wet.--A towel of the ordinary kind, and full size, is

soaked in a basin of cold water and carefully wrung out until it is

merely damp. Prejudice against this treatment is often aroused by

putting on the cloths wet, and in a slack, blundering way, so as to

make the patient most uncomfortable. It is then folded and applied to

the skin, as directed. While applying the first, a second towel may be

in the water. It is then wrung out and applied, while the first is

placed to soak afresh. In prolonged cooling, care must be taken that

the water in the basin does not get too warm. It should be frequently

changed. The nurse should gently press the towels on the part,

frequently changing the position of her hands. They should not merely

be laid on, but gently pressed, unless this causes pain. The towels

will need to be changed when hot, and will take from two to five

minutes to lose their cooling effect, according to circumstances. Where

cold increases the patient's distress, it is almost always safe to

substitute heat. _See_ Cooling in Heating; Fomentation.

Tumours.--A large, soft, fleshy tumour is usually simply an

accumulation of waste material, which should have been excreted from

the body if all the organs were in healthy working order. Where such a

swelling exists, the first consideration is diet. For this, Barley

(_see_) as chief food will do very well. Lemon and orange juice (_see_

Drinks) should be the drinks. The barley must _not_ be cooked with

milk, and the drinks must be made with _pure water_. This plain diet

will help very much towards the removal of the tumour.

Then the back should be rubbed (_see_ Massage) with hot olive oil twice

a day. This treatment alone has often removed the disagreeable

swellings on the neck so often afflicting women.

Also, fine soap lather (_see_ Lather; Soap) should be gently rubbed

repeatedly over the tumour itself. This _alone_ we have known remove

tumours, so it is important.

The three forms of treatment, all applied carefully, will cure all but

very obstinate cases. _See also_ Armpit Swelling; Hydrocele.

Where fibrous tumours exist, the treatment is to _douche_ cold water on

the part affected, while the rest of the body is kept warm. In case of

such a growth in the abdomen, the patient sits in cold water, while the

feet are placed in hot water, and the whole body warmly wrapped in

blankets. Cold water is then thrown against the spot where the tumour

lies. If the tumour is discovered early, its growth may be entirely

stopped by this means. Such treatment for several minutes twice a day

has in our own experience cured cases pronounced incurable. _See_ Sitz

Bath.

Turnip Poultice.--Part of a raw turnip is grated down to a pulp. As

much of this is prepared as will cover the inflamed part. It is put on

next the skin, and covered with a soft cloth. All is then tied nicely

up in another cloth. In violent inflammation of the knee joint, this is

a most valuable soothing application. Placed on discoloured and

shrivelled skin, it is marvellously curative. When applied, the patient

must be _thoroughly warm_. This warmth must be maintained while the

poultice is on, as it has a powerful cooling effect.

Typhoid Fever.--_See_ Fever, Typhoid.

Ulcers.--An ulcer is an "eating sore": that is, a sore containing

matter which eats away the skin and flesh, thereby extending itself,

and increasing in depth as well. To stop this diseased process, the

virulent matter in the ulcer must be killed or neutralised, and this

can usually best be done by means of vinegar or weak ACETIC ACID

(_see_), which is most powerfully antiseptic. The only difficulty is to

avoid irritating the sore by the application of too strong acid. The

treatment by weak acid is very effective, but it must be a fairly

prolonged and thorough soaking. Apply a little at a time to the sore.

Use warm water if pain be caused. Continue the soaking for even an hour

at a time, twice or even three times a day. The wound may be dressed

with good fresh olive oil after each soaking. Usually, nothing else

will be required, but it must be thoroughly done.

In a very severe case, mix in a teacupful of hot water as much

saltpetre as the water will dissolve. Add to this a teaspoonful of

acetic acid, and use this to soak the sore instead of simple weak acid.

Then, if healing does not come, it is probably because rest is not

taken, and most likely also because there is deficient vitality in the

whole system. Let the treatment with the lotion be given in the

morning. Secure rest during the day, and in the evening, for an hour,

thoroughly foment the feet and legs up over the knees. Once a week for

two weeks give the SOAPY BLANKET (_see_) instead of this treatment, and

in the morning rub all over the body with hot vinegar. This powerfully

stimulates the vitality of the whole system. Even a very bad ulcer

should give way under a careful course of united acid soaking, rest,

and this stimulating treatment.

Unconsciousness.--There are two opposite causes of unconsciousness. One

is congestion of the brain, the other sheer nerve exhaustion. Either

will produce a prolonged suspension of consciousness very different

from a mere passing faint. In the case of congestion, the head will be

hot and the feet cold. The cure is therefore at once seen to be to cool

the head and foment the feet in a hot blanket up to the knees. This is

the treatment usually to be given to young children. When aged people,

or those much exhausted from any cause, become unconscious from lack of

vitality, there will be rather a _general_ coldness, and no special

heat in the head. We have seen such a case of "coma," which had lasted

for forty-eight hours, come all right in ten minutes, by simply

fomenting the back of the head and neck, and all down the spinal

column. Press a thickly-folded piece of flannel wrung out of hot water

carefully and gently over these parts, and often in a few minutes the

mental power comes back. Care must be taken not to scald the patient.

_See_ Fomentation.

Underwear.--There is a common and very popular error, namely, that of

putting too much clothing on our bodies, under the mistaken idea that

additional weight means additional warmth. The fact that the main

object of clothing is to preserve the natural heat of the body is lost

sight of, and little attention is paid to the selection of proper

garments for wearing next the skin. Every day the skin of an average

healthy individual gives off so many pints of moisture, which must not

be allowed to settle on the body if health is to be maintained. After

long and exhaustive trials, we have come to the conclusion that the

best material for wearing next the skin is knitted linen, and the best

knitted linen of the kind, and in fact, the only pure linen mesh

material which we have seen, is known as _Kneipp linen_, and can be

obtained from all leading retailers and outfitters in this and other

countries. The name of the nearest agent may be had by sending a card

to the Kneipp Linen Warehouse, 2 Milk St., London, E.C. In winter light

woollen underwear can be worn over the linen if desired, thus retaining

the hygienic advantages of the linen, as well as the warmth of the

wool. As the wool does not touch the skin, it will not require frequent

washing, and so will not become felted up.

Linen is the symbol of cleanliness, the priests of old, as we read in

Ezekiel, being commanded to wear it, and not wool or any garment

causing sweat.

Our reason for specially naming Kneipp linen is that we know it is

_pure linen_, whereas we know that what is sold as linen mesh is

frequently half linen and half cotton.

Linen is the most absorbent material for underwear. It soaks up

moisture very rapidly, and dries with equal rapidity. Hence linen is

always preferred for towels and bandages. Those who use it for

underwear will not require to change the clothes after exercise, as

they would if wool were worn next the skin. The ordinary woven linen is

clean but cold: Kneipp linen is so constructed as to be clean and warm.

This material retains air in its meshes, and a layer of dry air next

the body is the best method of preserving an even temperature, and thus

avoiding colds and chills, which are so prevalent in a climate such as

ours. Wool is entirely unsuited for wearing next the skin. It does not

absorb the perspiration rapidly nor radiate it freely, and after

several washings it becomes felted, and in that condition is absolutely

injurious to health. It is the material par excellence for outer

clothing, but all inner garments coming in contact with the body should

be composed of pure linen. (_See_ Skin, Care of).

Uric Acid.--This acid is found in persons of a gouty tendency, such

tendencies being a great deal more common than is imagined.

It is really a waste product formed by the activity of the body cells,

and should properly be mainly transformed into urea and so excreted. If

it is not so transformed it accumulates in the blood and deposits in

stony formations in different parts of the body, as in the joints,

kidneys and bladder, causing very serious disease. Pure air and plenty

of exercise will assist its transformation.

It is also taken into the body in various foods, particularly meat and

tea, which are very rich in it or kindred chemical substances,

therefore, anyone having such a tendency should avoid these. The

consumption of sugar should also be limited. Avoid alcohol and use

plenty of green vegetables and fruits.

The tendency to a "uric acid" constitution is hereditary, and is

prevalent among families who live high. Such should be continually on

the watch lest their diet should precipitate an attack. Water should be

freely drunk, and plenty of bathing with subsequent rubbing of the

muscles or massage is advisable.

Drugs are to be avoided as they often result in painful heart

affection, and besides do not strike at the real root of the disease.

Soda or lithia water may be taken either with or without milk. Brine

baths may be taken when practicable.

Urinary Troubles.--A healthy man usually evacuates about 30-40 ozs. of

urine daily, the excretion being greater in the winter than in the

summer, owing to the checked perspiration. The urine should be of a

pale straw colour and transparent. Where any irregularity in the urine,

either in quantity or quality, is suspected, it is wise to use soft

boiled or distilled water only, for drinking, and to take frequent sips

of it throughout the day, and especially early in the morning. Either

pure hot water, hot water and lemon juice, or whey, will help the

action of the kidneys when this is sluggish.

Where the bladder is irritated and painfully sensitive, a large hot

BRAN POULTICE (_see_) should be applied to the lower back. While the

patient lies on this, cold towels (_see_ Towels, Cold Wet) should be

changed over the bladder in front. While giving such treatment once or

twice a day, _rest_ must be taken, if a cure is to be obtained. For a

patient to say that rest cannot be had, is to say that cure is

impossible.

Where there is a tendency to stoppage of the urine, a warm sitz-bath

should be taken. The patient first sits in three inches deep of

comfortably hot water. More water at the same temperature is poured

gradually in at intervals, until it rises well up over the abdomen.

This will usually relieve even a bad case.

Treat with bran poultice and cold towels, as above recommended, after

the warm bath has given relief. It should be remembered that the _cold_

is the healing power, bracing the bladder and all its muscles and

vessels. Hence more than a slight cooling is needed. But the cooling is

only possible when good heat is kept up on the base of the back. This

treatment also cures the swelling of the bladder which often

accompanies restriction of urine.

Where a positive growth interferes with the urinary discharge, this may

often be actually _melted away_ by soaking with weak ACETIC ACID

(_see_), when it is at all possible to reach it. The power of cure

possessed by acetic acid is incredible, except to those who have seen

it exercised, and its persistent use would, we are use, save many

lives, if people would only try it.

We would also advise the four-ply flannel bandage, with two plies damp

and two dry. This round the body has a wonderfully soothing effect. So

has a nicely applied lathering with SOAP (_see_). As in most other

troubles, special care must be taken to keep the feet warm.

Vaccination Trouble.--When a child is suffering after vaccination, we

should have him gently rubbed all over--thrice at least with

M'Clinton's soap (_see_ Lather). No one who has not seen this well done

can believe how blessed are its effects on an irritated skin. It

soothes incredibly. When thoroughly covered and covered again with

well-made lather of this soap, the child will sleep beautifully. We

should soap head and all, and let the little man sleep all night in the

soap. He may be sponged in the morning with weak vinegar and water to

clean off the remains of the soap, if there are any. Now, there will

occur a most important question: Is the child cold or feverish? If

cold, then mix some good olive oil in your rubbing with the lather. If

hot, use no oil. If cold, rub all over with warm oil before applying

the lather. It will make no difference, or next to none, if the disease

has broken out as a visible skin disease, only it will be necessary to

use the vinegar on the unbroken parts of the skin and not to distress

the child by painful smarting. The soap will not need to be so

restricted. That cures the most tender sores, and soothes in a

delightful way.

Vegetables, Green, and Fruit.--We would strongly recommend our readers

to continually have these valuable foods on their tables. It is

possible to obtain them in some form or other during the entire year.

They contain very valuable salts, which are of the greatest use in

preventing disease. These salts are absolutely necessary for life, and

though found in other foods such as meat, are particularly abundant in

these vegetables. If cooked they must be carefully prepared, as the

salts are very soluble in water (_see_ Cooking). Vegetable salads and

fruit salads are to be recommended. Those of gouty or corpulent

tendencies will find these of especial use. By keeping the blood

alkaline they are a preventive of many diseases. Spinach, cabbage,

lettuce, and all the fruits offer a variety from which at each season

one may choose.

It is to be observed that common salt and salt such as bi-carbonate of

soda, do not adequately replace those food salts. Indeed,

over-consumption of common salt is harmful, besides leading to

unnatural thirst.

Fresh fruits and vegetables are always to be preferred to tinned ones.

Veins, Swollen.--The swelling of veins in the leg is a very common

trouble, especially in middle and later life. At first this may cause

no pain, one vein appearing as a little blue lump. Then as the trouble

increases, knots of veins seem to rise, especially below and behind the

knee. Great pain follows, and sometimes the veins burst, causing bad

sores, not easy to heal.

All this generally springs from _overstrain_ upon the limbs. Long

continued standing, in circumstances otherwise unfavourable to health,

is the usual cause.

This shows the primary necessity of _rest_. Let the patient lie down as

much as possible, or at least sit with the sore limb or limbs supported

on a chair so as to be nearly level. If this can be done thoroughly,

all work being given up for a month or so, a cure is not very

difficult. But where this rest cannot be had, an elastic band, such as

is used by bootmakers to make strong boot gussets, about six inches

broad and one foot long, should be procured. Fasten this round _above_

the knee, well up the thigh. This will greatly help to relieve the

blood pressure on the lower leg, and is better than elastic stockings.

Before these bands are slipped on, the leg should be well rubbed or

stroked _upwards_, as described at the end of Circulation. This rubbing

empties the swollen veins, and gives great relief.

We have seen a man with both legs full of swollen veins ready for

bursting, and most painful, get on two such bandages, and go on digging

and working with perfect ease, while the veins sensibly contracted with

no other application. But it is not necessary nor wise to confine

medical measures to the use of such bandages. Rest is in some cases

absolutely necessary.

Even where partial rest can be had, it is important to wear these bands

and rub as described. But if possible, the patient should rest in bed

for one week. To restore power to the relaxed vessels, a large bran

poultice should be applied across the haunches behind, rubbing olive

oil before and after. Apply this for fifty minutes each night during

the week in bed. Wear a broad band of new flannel over the parts after

the poultice. In the morning give the same treatment. If in a week the

veins are not better, continue the treatment for another week. The

elastic band is, of course, not worn in bed, but may be put on on

rising as a security against relapse.

We have seen persons over sixty years of age completely cured in this

way, when the necessary rest could be had.

If the _skin_ give signs, by dryness and hardness, that it is out of

order, instead of treatment with the bran poultice, the SOAPY BLANKET

(_see_) may be applied on the first night. The patient may on other

nights be lathered with soap (_see_ Lather; Soap), and the soapy cloth

worn on the back for a night or two, sponging all over with hot vinegar

in the morning.

Where the veins by bursting have caused sores, treat with weak vinegar

as directed for Ulcers, and after each acid soaking, bandage the whole

limb (putting lint on the sores and dressing them properly) with an

ordinary surgical bandage, just so tightly as to give relief, and not

tight enough to cause any pain. Over-pressure injures. This treatment,

with the necessary _rest_, will in most cases effect a cure in a few

weeks.

Vomiting.--In many cases of severe illness, the stomach rejects all

food, and the patient comes near to dying of simple starvation. On the

slightest nourishment being taken, retching and vomiting ensue, the

stomach being irritated beyond all possibility of its doing its work.

This occurs in cancer and ulcers in the stomach, as well as in various

disorders and stomach inflammations.

"Rum and milk," "claret," and all alcoholic drinks are most injurious

in such cases, and should _never_ be given. To soothe the irritation,

the stomach should be soaped in the same manner as recommended in Head,

Soaping the (_see also_ Lather). We have seen, even in very bad cases

of cancer, such an application cause all retching to cease almost at

once. When this has been carefully and gently done, give exceedingly

small quantities at first, of infants' food, or milk and boiling water.

To give any "rich" things is a fatal mistake. Oatmeal jelly may be

given also, but beginning with a teaspoonful at a time (_see_

Assimilation; Digestion; Nourishment). By gradually working up the

amount, a patient's life may be saved on this simple oatmeal jelly

which would be lost if richer things were given. Often the stomach

rejects food simply because it is surfeited. It may be that the liver

is out of order, having had too much to do. Abstinence from food for a

day or two, and then reducing the meals to two, taken, say, between 10

and 11, and 5 and 6 o'clock, will greatly help. Masticate the food till

it is reduced to a liquid, in this state the quantity required will be

wonderfully reduced and the work of the stomach lessened.

Water, Hot.--The frequent prescription in these papers of hot water, to

be taken often in small quantities, makes it of importance that some

explanation of its action should be given.

We see, frequently, such a thing as this: a person is confined to bed,

sick and ill; there is no desire for food, but rather a loathing at the

very idea of eating; distressing symptoms of various sorts are showing

that the work of digestion and assimilation is going on badly, if

really going on at all. The patient is started on a course of hot water

in half-teacupfuls every ten minutes. When this has gone on for perhaps

six or seven hours, he begins to be very hungry, and takes food with

relish, probably for the first time for months past. In the meantime a

greatly increased quantity of water has passed from the body one way

and another, but has all passed loaded with waste material. The breath

is loaded with carbonic acid and other impurities; the perspiration is

loaded with all that makes it differ from pure water; the urine,

especially, is loaded with waste separated from the blood and tissues

of the body. The space, so to speak, left vacant by all this washing

away of waste matter makes its emptiness felt by a call upon the

stomach to furnish fresh material. Some will say that the hot water

merely passes off by the kidneys without entering the circulation at

all. This is impossible, and facts, patent to everyone, demonstrate

that they are in error. The substances with which the water becomes

impregnated show that it has been mingled with the circulation, and the

wholesome effects produced prove that it has made itself useful.

"Hard" water, as it is called, will not do so well as "soft" water.

Distilled water is best of all. So much superior is it, indeed, that

its use cannot be too strongly insisted on. It can be had from the

druggist at twopence per quart.

Where nourishment is given with too little water, the food will often

fail almost entirely to enter the circulation. But a little warm water,

somewhat above blood heat, but not too hot, will make all right. This

is especially seen in nourishing infants (_see_ Infants' Food). Food,

then, will not act as water does, nor will water act as food. Even a

little sugar mixed with the hot water completely alters its effect on

the body. As it has already dissolved the sugar, it cannot dissolve

what is needed to be removed from the body. Sugar and water is not a

_bad_ mixture, but it will by no means do instead of pure water in the

cases we contemplate. On the other hand, a mixture of alcohol with the

water is ruinous, and that just in proportion to the quantity of

alcohol, small or great. Beer, for example, can never do what is

required of water, nor can wine, or any other alcoholic drink. Tea

added to the water also alters its quality. The water _alone_, and as

nearly perfect in purity as it can be got, is the only thing which will

do the necessary work.

Sometimes one finds a great prejudice against hot water. You see one

who is miserable through derangement of the stomach and digestive

organs, and you mention "hot water." The very phrase is sufficient to

put an expression of strong prejudice on the face. Yet that very hot

water is perhaps the only thing that will cure the patient. If you wait

a little, there will be an opening to explain that hot water is very

different to tepid water. Under blood heat, and yet heated, water tends

to produce vomiting; above blood heat, nothing will so well set the

stomach right. This is true, however, only when the water is taken in

very small quantities. You must see that the water is not smoked in the

heating or otherwise spoiled. And also that it be not too hot. If it

scalds the lips it is too hot. When it is comfortably warm, but not

tepid, it does its work most effectively.

Water for Drinking.--Every care should be taken to have drinking water

absolutely pure. Diarrhoea and many infectious diseases may be conveyed

by impure water. In gouty cases as much water should be taken as

possible (provided the heart is sufficiently strong) in order to wash

away the waste matter. The same applies to fevers. If there is a

suspicion of water being contaminated mere filtration should never be

relied on, the water should be boiled.

After many of the treatments given by us in this book, considerable

thirst will be experienced. Cold water in such cases may always be

given. In fact, in any internal congested condition cold water will

stimulate the nerves of these organs, and make them act on the blood

vessels. In all cases where drugs, especially mineral drugs have been

recklessly indulged in, cold water should be taken in abundance. Care

must be taken, however, not to unduly stimulate the circulation or

nervous system, and any signs of this, such as headache or want of

sleep indicate the curtailment of the amount drunk.

Water in the Head.--In cases where this trouble is suspected, very

often there is nothing wrong but a more or less congested state of the

brain, owing to some severe chill or some disease elsewhere in the

body. There may be violent heat in the head, and even the "drowsiness"

which is so serious a symptom, without any real "water in the head" at

all. Leeching and blistering in such a case are grave mistakes. Cold

towels (_see_ Towels, Cold Wet), or a gentle pouring of cool water on

the head, will often be sufficient to remove all trouble. We have seen

a bad case of brain congestion cured and consciousness return almost

immediately after the pouring had begun. The feet also may be fomented

(_see_ Fomentation). The cold towels and pouring may be used

alternately on the head, which will give a more powerful effect. Let

the water poured be almost lukewarm, a little under blood heat. There

is no need to cut the hair, or use any acid or drug in the water. The

_cooling_ is all that is needed. Incipient water in the head may in a

very large number of cases be checked and cured by the same treatment.

It can do no harm in any case, and has saved many lives.

Water on the Chest.--Sometimes a large watery swelling appears in one

part or another of the chest. It is practically a bag of liquid waste,

due to deficient action on the part of the kidneys or skin. Treatment

should be given as recommended in Dropsy, and, besides, the four-ply

moist flannel bandage should be worn over the skin. This will in many

cases speedily effect a cure.

Weakness.--Often there follows, after the cure of an inflammatory

disease, very great weakness. This in itself is sometimes a great

danger, but can usually be removed by proper care and nursing. The

common method of administering wine, brandy, or other alcoholic liquor,

is the very worst that could be adopted. Hot water will prove a

valuable stimulant, when a stimulant is required. Any NOURISHMENT

(_see_) to be given should also be just a little warmer than blood

heat. For drink, the unfermented wine made by Frank Wright, Chemist,

Kensington, London, is of great value. It is simply the pure juice of

the grape. If milk be given, it should always be diluted with an equal

bulk of boiling water. The fomentation of the feet and legs will

greatly help in restoring vigour. This should be done gently at first,

where the weakness is great. Afterwards, when the patient can bear it,

the ARMCHAIR FOMENTATION (_see_) will be found serviceable. All this,

of course, is on the assumption that only _weakness_ and no fever is

the trouble. Where fever is present, other treatment is necessary.

Sponging all over with warm vinegar is also a most invigorating thing.

Do this once, and afterwards the treatment may be varied by the real

stimulant of cayenne being used in the form of an infusion strong

enough to rouse the nerves, as is done by the acid. This has the

advantage of saving the skin, if that is tender, and keeping off

eruption, which is apt to come if the acid is often used. We think it

well to use the acid once or so, and the cayenne infusion as frequently

as anything of the kind is required. Rubbing with olive oil is also

most beneficial. But both must be done very cautiously where there is

great weakness. To rub the whole body at once will then be too much.

But it may be done bit by bit, stopping whenever fatigue or chilliness

is felt by the patient. _See also_ Heat and Weakness.

Weaning.--Many of the troubles which come in this process arise simply

from ignorance or want of thought on the part of the nurse or mother.

Sometimes the child, having been burned with a hot teaspoon, will

afterwards refuse all that is offered in such a spoon. In such a case

use an egg-spoon of bone, or a small cup. Sometimes spoons of various

metals, having peculiar tastes, are used, and the child refuses them.

When food is refused, it is well therefore always to see that it is not

the spoon or dish which is the real reason.

Again, food ill-fitted for the child's digestion is offered. In this

case the child is doing the right thing in refusing it. Milk and hot

water, in equal quantities, with a very little sugar, is a mixture

which can always be given with safety. In weaning, the nurse should

begin by using this alone. Gradually a very little thin oatmeal jelly

may be added, and the strength of the mixture increased. If there

should be indigestion, a few teaspoonfuls of hot water will usually

cure it. If the bowels are inactive, mix a little pure CANE SYRUP

(_see_) with the food. Avoid all drugs as far as possible. If the whole

process be _gradual_, there will usually be little or no trouble with

the child. If, where teething and weaning are both coming together, the

child should be seized with chill and shivering, a good blanket

FOMENTATION (_see_) may be wrapped round the body and legs. Dry after

this, and rub with warm OLIVE OIL (_see_). Generally this will induce

sleep, in which case leave the child _warm_ in the fomentation until it

awakes (_see_ Teething).

In weaning, the mother often suffers as well as the child. The supply

of milk in the breast being over-abundant, the breasts become hard and

painful, and feverishness comes on. In this case the breasts must be

emptied, either by some other person, or by the various ingenious

instruments sold by all druggists. Then a large, cold damp cloth should

be placed over the emptied breast, and changed once or twice, rubbing

afterwards with a little olive oil. This, in ordinary cases, will cause

the flow of milk to cease. Where the swelling is very hard and almost

inflammatory, the breast should be fomented for five or ten minutes,

then emptied, and a cold cloth applied as above directed. If all this

fails, a BRAN POULTICE (_see_), or hot bag with moist flannel covering,

should be applied between the shoulders. While the patient lies on

this, cold towels (_see_ Towels, Cold Wet) should be changed on the

breasts. This will usually effectually stay the secretion of milk. This

last treatment is rarely required, but is harmless and most efficient.

Where mother and child are both sickly, weaning must be carefully

conducted. But it must ever be remembered that a child is far more

healthily nourished on a bottle of good cow's milk or condensed milk

(of _first-rate quality_) than on a sickly mother's milk. This is the

case even if the child be ill. Only let the bottle not be too strong.

_See_ Children, numerous articles.

Weariness.--Where persistent weariness is felt, and the least exertion

brings on a feeling of lassitude, there is evidently an undue

exhaustion of nerve force in the body. Too rapid action of the heart is

a frequent cause. In such a case all exciting ideas and influences

should be kept from the patient's mind, and rest taken. The heart's

action should also be reduced by careful lathering with soap (_see_

Lather; Soap). Where the weariness is really serious, great care must

be exercised, and treatment very gradually administered. Rest must be

given whenever exhaustion shows itself (_see_ Heat and Weakness;

Weakness; and articles on Nerves and Nervousness). Where the heart's

action is very slow, and requires to be stimulated, REST (_see_) must

be taken, and treatment given as recommended in the case elsewhere.

_See_ Depression.

In other cases we find weariness arising from an irritated state of the

stomach. Where there is no particular nerve exhaustion, the fiery and

inflamed state of the stomach membranes forbids sleep, and causes a

great feeling of tiredness. Headache (_see_), and even fainting fits,

sometimes come on in such a case. All the nerves are excited, so that

even touching the head or skin is most painful. Yet all can be traced

to an inflamed stomach as the cause. Such a case, to be successfully

treated, requires considerable resolution. In one case the treatment

was as follows: First, the feet and legs up to the knees were wrapped

in a large FOMENTATION (_see_). A cold wet towel was then folded

lengthwise so as to be four-ply thick. The end was laid on the stomach,

and _gently pressed_. In about half-a-minute it was hot. The towel was

then shifted so that a fresh cool part lay over the stomach, and so on

throughout the length of the towel. Handfuls of finely-wrought soap

LATHER (_see_) were then prepared and laid on the stomach. Then the

cold cloth was again renewed on top of the lather. For _two hours_ this

was continued, and by that time the worst symptoms had abated. A little

fresh oil gently rubbed over the stomach completed the treatment for

that time. When the heat again arose, the same treatment was repeated,

and so on till a cure was effected. Five or ten minutes' cooling would

have been utterly useless. The heat evolved in the stomach required two

hours steady cooling, and might have required more. The feelings of the

patient are ever the best guide in such a case. As long as the cooling

feels "delightful" it may safely be continued, if the heat to the feet

is kept up.

If the weakness is very great, it may be necessary to keep to milk and

hot water, such as an infant would thrive on, for a short time. If the

weakness is not so great, it will be possible for the patient to take a

little gruel or porridge made from wheaten meal, and also good fresh

buttermilk. The stomach may be far from ready to take eggs and such

things, but quite able to digest the "poorer" food, as it is often

called. To give the really weak as perfect rest of mind and as easily

digested food as possible, are conditions that must not be overlooked

if we would be successful in their cure.

White Leg.--When a limb becomes swelled and white, pouring hot water

very gently over it with a sponge or cloth will have a blessed effect.

It may be continued for an hour at a time for several times. If this

ceases to be comforting, it should be discontinued and the limb dressed

with warm olive oil, a soft cotton rag being put next the skin, and

soft flannel above that. Of course absolute rest should be taken.

Whooping Cough.--The cough is a spasmodic action of nerves which are

otherwise healthy enough, so that when the violent action ceases, the

child's health is much as usual. Any irritation of nerves or temper

will, however, bring on an attack, and should therefore be avoided, and

all soothing mental influences should be encouraged. Three or four

teaspoonfuls of hot water taken frequently, and given whenever an

attack comes on, will give great relief. We have ourselves seen a child

thought to be dying relieved at once by nothing more than this.

Therefore it should never be neglected as too simple.

Also the feet should be bathed once in two nights (_see_ Bathing Feet)

in warm water (not too hot), dried and rubbed gently with olive oil. On

the night when the feet are not bathed, let the back be lathered with

_warm_ lather (_see_ Lather; Soap), quickly dried off, and then a

little olive oil _gently_ rubbed on.

In ordinary cases, this will be sufficient to ward off all danger in

the disease, but in severer attacks the feet and legs may be fomented

(_see_ Fomentation) while the child is in bed, and cold towels changed

along the spine while the fomentation remains on, so as to lower the

nerve action over the main centres. This is best done in the morning

before the patient arises. If anything like inflammation sets in in any

part of the chest, treat as recommended in Bronchitis or Lungs,

Inflammation of.

As far as possible, all causes of irritation to the patient must be

removed or avoided. In the time of whooping cough, the sunniest way of

managing the child is the best.

The other children, if any, in the house, should have the footbath and

oil, and the back wash, as recommended above. This will lessen danger

of infection, and make the attack lighter if they should take it.

Worms.--Where the juices and organs of the body are thoroughly healthy,

worms will not appear. Before they can breed, there must be more or

less of failure in the patient's health. This shows us that the cure

for worms is not so much some poisonous substance which will destroy

them, as such an increase of healthy action in the system as will

prevent their development. The bowels must be kept open by suitable

diet as it is most important to avoid Constipation (_see_). In case of

worms in children, stimulus and help are specially needed by the

_mucous membrane_ or inner lining of the stomach and bowels. To give

this, and at the same time to neutralise and remove waste material from

the membrane, a little vinegar and warm water may be frequently given,

in teaspoonfuls. This is best taken from an hour to half-an-hour before

meals. It is often needful to use some soothing, nourishing substance,

such as liquorice, boiled with a little camomile, taken, say after

meals, while the acid is taken before them: this has an excellent

effect. At the same time, an enema of warm water and vinegar should be

given twice a day. Where Santolina (_see_) can be procured, its use

will speedily effect a complete cure. Change of air, holiday from

lessons, and any other means of increasing the general health, should

also be utilised.

Worry.--One of the most fruitful causes of ill-health is the habit of

worrying. Many believe this to be unavoidable, and think it even an

evidence of interest in their work or of consideration for their

friends. But this is not real interest or real consideration. The

person who faces the work of the moment without anxiety for the future

or useless regret for the past will accomplish his task before the

harassed careworn man has thought out how to begin it. It is not work

that kills but worry. Illness is frequently brought on by worry. Worry

wrinkles the face, makes us look old before our time, often makes us

sour and disagreeable, always makes us more or less wanting in true

politeness, and is socially a great handicap to a man, a much greater

to a woman. Further, worry not only prevents cure but kills, and

nothing will help us more in recovering from illness than a calm,

contented spirit.

Now the first thing to do to overcome this habit is to realise that

_worry is a bad habit which it is quite possible to get rid of_. The

proof of this is that thousands of people for years slaves to it have

got rid of it. Through some means or other they have been brought to

exercise their will power and have found, sometimes to their

considerable astonishment, always to their inexpressible relief, that

they have regained a lost mental power and that their efficiency as

workers has been enormously increased.

If any matter needs much thought, devote thought to it, reflect and

weigh carefully. If it requires time, take it up at separate times.

Only make up your mind to this one thing, that you are the master and

the arbitrator as to when it shall be taken up. If it intrudes, dismiss

it as you would a servant from the room when you no longer require his

presence. It is bound to go when you do so dismiss it. When you summon

it to your consciousness concentrate your mind upon it. Want of

concentration, being a dissipation of the mental powers, is a cause of

worry.

Worry becomes doubly baneful when it is directed towards the "might

have been." Legitimate regret should be an emotion always accompanied

by the determination to learn by experience. Every aid to enable the

dispossessed will to regain its rightful throne should be employed.

Properly chosen books, companions, and surroundings, are of great use,

but perhaps quiet persistent self culture of the will, will be found to

be the best. It matters little whether you call this "self suggestion"

or not. As a matter of fact it is simply the common-sense of the

question. It is the making up of the mind to do a thing with certain

aspirations, emotions, and desires towards this thing. Thousands of

people do it every day, especially in religious matters. It needs an

adequate motive or a great ideal to carry it out. Such a motive here,

might be the realisation of the uselessness and the positive harm of

worry. Actually realise this, then affirm your determination to avoid

worry and you have well begun the battle. Go through this mental

exercise each time you feel you are worrying again. After a while you

may omit it all but the mental determination.

The mind cannot act rightly in an unsound body, and there is no doubt

that good health wards off worry. Deep breathing of fresh air by

producing well oxygenated pure blood, will do much to restore mental

balance, especially if this want of mental balance is, as is often the

case, partly due to inattention to the laws of health.

Worry is by no means a necessary concomitant of high civilisation, it

is rather an accompanying mental disease due partly to low nerve power,

which itself is due to erroneous methods of life--errors of diet, want

of pure air, cleanliness, exercise, etc. Partly, too, is this low nerve

power due to mental causes peculiarly Western. The _Asiatic_ with his

power of concentration, reflection, contemplation, with his patience,

endurance, calmness, knows nothing of this scourge of European and

American life. Even the Japanese, progressive and efficient as they

are, possess this native contented, sweet, calm disposition, a habit of

mind which, if they can retain, will be of enormous value to them in

coming years.

Wounds, Bleeding of.--After sending for a surgeon the first thing to be

looked at in case of any wound is the bleeding. Sometimes this is

trifling and needs no particular effort to staunch it. When, however, a

vein or artery has been lacerated the flow must immediately be attended

to.

If the blood be welling up from the wound and of a dark red colour it

is venous blood, if it spurt up from the wound and be of a bright red

colour it is arterial blood. What has to be done is to place a pressure

on the vein or artery to prevent the blood escaping.

Venous bleeding may generally be stopped by putting a pad of lint

dipped in cold water on the wound and tying it on with a bandage. If

the blood continues to flow, tie a bandage round the limb on the side

of the wound _away_ from the heart and keep the limb raised.

Arterial bleeding must be treated by tying on the pad and bandage, and

if the bleeding continues, stopping the flow in the artery on the side

of the wound _nearest_ the heart, and at some point where it passes

over a bone so that pressure may be efficiently applied. The bandage

for thus tying an artery may be simply made by knotting a handkerchief

(Diagram IV.), putting something solid inside the knot, then placing

the knot on the artery at the desired point and tying tightly. If

required this may be tightened by putting a stick under and twisting

round, then tying the stick in position (Diagram II.).

[Illustration: Fig. I.]

[Illustration: Fig. II.]

[Illustration: Fig. III.]

[Illustration: Fig. IV.]

[Illustration: Fig. V.]

If the palm of the hand is cut, put a pad inside the hand, close the

fingers, and tie the bandage round the clenched fist.

If the wound is in the forearm, put a pad in the bend of the elbow, and

tie the forearm firmly up on the arm. If the wound is above the elbow

stop the main artery in the way above indicated. This artery runs

pretty well under the inner seam of the sleeve of a man's coat. Diagram

I. shows how this artery may be stopped by direct pressure of the hand;

Diagram II. how a tourniquet may be applied.

For bleeding in the arm-pit, press in a pad and tie the arm down to the

side. It may be necessary here to compress the artery with the thumb.

The artery here lies behind the inner bend of the collar bone lying on

the first rib.

In case of arterial bleeding about the head apply the bandage as in

Diagram III. The pressure is here applied right over the wound, as the

skull is always behind on which to press the artery.

A wound in the leg should be treated in a similar way to a wound in the

arm. Diagram V. shows the stopping of bleeding above the knee.

Do not remove the pressure until the arrival of a medical man.

Wounds, Ill-Smelling.--For all such wounds, the best method is frequent

cleansing with vinegar or dilute ACETIC ACID (_see_) by means of a

small glass syringe, such as may be got at any druggist's (_see_

Abscess; Wounds, Syringing). We know one case where the patient was

expelled from a curative home because of the evil smell of his wounds,

three careful cleanings out with dilute acid so removed all odour that

the patient was at once readmitted. Where the wound is very tender,

soak soft cloths or lint in the dilute acid, and lay them on the wound

three or four ply thick. Remove and renew them every quarter-of-an-hour

till the smell is gone. Of course the cloths should be immediately

washed or, better, burned. In using the syringe, care should be taken

_to suck out_ the ill matter, as well as to send the dilute acid well

down into the sore. Careful cleaning of the syringe with _boiling_

water before use is necessary.

Wounds, Soothing.--During the process of _healing_, wounds often give a

great deal of pain, even when all is going well. It is this pain we

here show how to relieve. After an operation under chloroform, itself

painless, the process of healing is often very painful. We are sure

this pain need not be endured, but to prevent or cure it we need to see

what is its cause. Two causes are specially notable--_pressure_ and

_cold_. By skilful handling and bandaging, undue pressure may be

avoided by the surgeon. But a great deal can be done by any one to keep

cold from the seat of injury. Have a bag of soft flannel, as fine as

possible, made so as to surround the wounded part. This bag is filled

with _dry_ bran, heated in an oven or otherwise, without being wet. Of

course the heat must not be great enough to cause any discomfort, but

sufficient to give a fine sense of relief. This application is for a

wound which has _not_ become inflamed, but is doing well.

When inflammation has set in, and the patient is fevered, the opposite

treatment is applied. Over the dressing apply three or four folds of

dry cotton cloth, and over this again apply cold towels (_see_ Towels,

Cold Wet) until the pain is relieved. Good sense must regulate this

treatment, of course, and excess of cold be avoided. But with ordinary

care this need never cause anxiety.

Wounds, Syringing.--Very great good can often be done by a little

careful syringing of internal wounds. Take, as an illustration, a case

of a kind we have often seen. It is that of a young patient with a

wound on the lower part of the leg, a good long way below the knee.

This wound will run in spite of all that has been done to dry it up.

The opening in it is very small, and one would think it ought to be

easily cured, but it is not so. The truth is that this wound is from

two to three inches distant from where the real sore is situated in the

limb. The wound is well down towards the ankle; the real sore is well

up towards the knee. There is a corroding matter generated in the

internal sore, and that runs down under the skin, and keeps cutting its

way out at the wound. Until this is rectified, there will be no

successful healing. Ointments that might do well enough on a small

external sore have no effect in this case. The real sore, however, is

easily reached and cured by the right use of a small pointed syringe.

The kind most easily procured is made of glass, and costs about

sixpence. Choose one that has a small smooth point, which can be easily

inserted into the hole in the wound. This should be done without

causing any pain. The point of the syringe should be dipped in hot

water till it is as near as possible to blood heat: that is, it should

neither be hotter nor colder than the skin it has to touch. If you are

sufficiently careful on this point, all else will be comparatively

easy.

Before you actually try to insert the syringe, observe in what

direction the wound is likely to be extended under the skin. It will

probably be upwards--almost certainly it will be so, as the waste

matter, by its weight, tends to fall down. The sore at the top

insertion of a muscle near the knee will send its matter down the leg,

perhaps near to the ankle. Fill the syringe with warm water only, as

near blood heat as you can have it. When you have got the point of the

syringe even a very little way into the wound, you can inject a little

water, and in doing this you will probably learn more nearly where the

actual sore is to be found. The water will probably come out as fast as

you send it in, but it may not come till a good quantity has gone in.

Now, as you fill your syringe a second time with water at the same

degree of heat, you will add a single drop of strong acetic acid, or

twelve drops of white vinegar to a teacupful. You must be careful that

this is not exceeded at this stage, or you will cause great pain.

Moreover, you do no good to the sore by making the acid so strong as to

cause suffering. If it is only just so strong as to cause a comfortable

feeling of warmth, it will be all right for its curative purpose. Even

very weak acid combines with the irritating waste matter that is

keeping the sore diseased, and produces the desired healing effect. You

have only to add one drop after another of the acid to your full

teacupful of warm water, till the feeling produced by the syringing is

all that could be desired. In the case of the limb that we refer to, a

sensible mother used the syringe and the acid so skilfully as to heal

the internal sore in a very short time, and thus the external wound

quickly disappeared. Of course, if the wound is so very deep that the

acid cannot be got up to cleanse it thoroughly, surgical aid should be

sought.

It may be well, however, to take another case or two for further

illustration. Here, then, is a decayed tooth extracted, but the part

from which it is taken does not heal, as is usual. The hole in the gum

does not close, and a discharge of offensive humour flows from it

constantly. The bone of the upper jaw is evidently wasting, and the

decay has extended somehow considerably up the side of the nose. The

hole, however, is so small, that the usual glass syringe cannot enter

it. We got an exceedingly small instrument, used for the injection of

morphia under the skin. The point of this syringe is a needle with a

point that is hollow nearly to the very end. When this point was broken

off, the hollow part was so small that it entered the hole in the gum,

and so it was easy to inject the weak acid up to the bottom of the

sore, which had come to be only a little under the eye. About an inch

and a half of hollow had to be washed out with the acid. But in a very

short time all discharge ceased, and the cure was perfect. Both of

these cases are comparatively simple, but they show clearly the great

value of this use of acetic acid.

Carbolic acid is much more commonly used for such a purpose. It has the

drawback of being liable itself to melt away the healthy tissue, and to

make a wound larger. Acetic acid never does this, and so heals more

quickly and certainly.

We might take a much more difficult case. It was that of an abscess and

bad sore in the lower bowels. It was supposed to be necessary to

perform a very dangerous operation in order to try to cure this--not

much hope was held out of its being possible really to cure. It was,

however, quite possible to reach the sore by the injection of acetic

acid. The sufferer was directed to have this done regularly. In a very

short time there was a complete cure. In such a case all that is wanted

is an ordinary india-rubber enema. A much larger quantity of water is

required, but about the same strength of acid. First of all, as much

acidulated water as can be taken up with comfort is injected: after a

minute or so this is passed off. Then another is used in the same way,

and passed off also. A third syringing may be employed, when about

half-a-teacupful is taken and retained. If the acid gives no

comfortable feeling of warmth it needs to be strengthened till it does

so, but not so that it produces any pain. The operation really well

done is not in the least painful, but, on the contrary, rather

comfortable.

There is still one syringing which we may notice--that of suppurating

ears. If an ear is discharging from some internal sore, nothing is more

important than syringing with acetic acid, but it must be done with

very peculiar care. The water used should be as nearly as possible of

exact blood heat, and the acetic acid of the exact strength at which it

will give a fine comfortable feeling in the ear. It must neither feel

as if it were a mere wetting of the ear, nor that it gives the least

pain. The syringe, too, must be used gently, so as not to force the

water strongly against the internal parts that are so tender. It is a

soaking operation rather than a forcible urging of the water into the

ear which is wanted. If this is nicely done, say twice a day, the acid

will reach the sore, and we may confidently look for a cure. Even when

the bones are wasting, as we have seen in the case of the upper jaw, if

this acid can be really brought to bear upon the sore, it will be

cleansed and healed. In this simple way we have seen many, both old and

young, delivered from sore trial, and made to enjoy life and health

again.