Hare, of Philadelphia, recommends one two-hundredth grain of bichloride of mercury every hour or two (in adults), if the stools are slimy and b.l.o.o.d.y and if much blood is present, and high rectal injections of witch-hazel water and water, half and half. I know this last is good, and also the following; Oil of fireweed, five drops on sugar every two to three hours.
4. Ipecac.--In acute dysentery ipecac is one of the best remedies, Dr.
Hare says; "When the pa.s.sages are large and b.l.o.o.d.y and the disease is malignant as it occurs in the tropics, ipecac should be given in the following manner: The powdered ipecac is to be administered on an empty stomach in the dose of thirty grains with thirty drops of the tincture of deodorized opium, which is used to decrease the tendency to vomit.
Absolute rest is essential for its success. Finally a profuse gray, mushy stool is pa.s.sed." This is a favorable sign.
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Nursing and Diet.--The patient should always remain in bed and use bed-pan. He must be given a bland, unirritating diet, composed of milk, with lime-water, beef peptonoids, broth, egg alb.u.min, etc., in acute cases.
MALARIA FEVER.--Malarial fever is a group of diseases characterized by intermittent, quotidian (daily), tertian (every other day) or quartan (every fourth day) fever or remittent fever; there are also several pernicious types of this disease and chronic malarial condition of the system with enlargement of the spleen.
Causes.--It occurs most frequently in low lands, along sea coasts, and swamps, particularly in the tropics and warmer portion of the temperate zone. The exciting cause it what is called the plasmodous malarial, a parasite developing in the body of all species of anopheles, a common form of mosquito and transmitted to man, its intermediate host, by the bite of the infected mosquitoes.
INTERMITTENT MALARIAL FEVER. (a) Tertian. (b) Quartan. (c) Quotidian.
Symptoms.--The symptoms of all these are the same, except that in tertian fever, the paroxysms occur every third day; in quartan they occur every fourth day. Quotidian occurs daily.
The incubation time is unknown. It consists usually of three stages, cold, hot, and sweating, and they usually occur in the morning. "The cold stage is ushered in by yawning, la.s.situde and headache, and rapid rise of temperature; sometimes nausea and vomiting followed by shivering and rather violent shaking with chattering of the teeth." It may last from ten minutes to two hours. The internal temperature may rise to 104 to 106 degrees, while the surface is blue and cold, with severe headache, often nausea and vomiting. Hot stage: this may last from one-half to five hours; the temperature may increase somewhat, the face is flushed, the skin is red and hot, great thirst, throbbing headache and full bounding pulse.
Sweating stage lasts two to four hours, and entire body may be covered; fever and other symptoms abate and sleep usually follows. The patient feels nearly well between attacks.
REMITTENT OR CONTINUOUS MALARIAL FEVER (Aestivo-Autumnal Fever).--This form occurs in the temperate zone regions, especially in the summer and autumn. The symptoms vary greatly. The fever may be irregularly intermittent, but at longer intervals than the Tertian variety. The cold stage is often absent, and in the hot the temperature falls gradually. The appearance is often like typhoid for there may be then hardly any remission of fever.
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PERNICIOUS MALARIAL FEVER.--This is a very dangerous disease. The chief forms are the comatose, algid and hemorrhagic.
(a) Comatose form is characterized by delirium or sudden coma (deep sleep) with light temperature.
(b) The algid or asthenic form begins with vomiting and great prostration.
The temperature is normal or below normal. There may be diarrhea and suppression of the urine.
(c) The hemorrhagic form includes malarial hemoglobinuria, hemoglobin in the urine. Haemoglobin is the coloring matter of the red corpuscles.
Treatment. Prevention.--Destroy mosquitoes and protect from them by screens. Small preventive doses of quinine for persons in malarious regions, three grains three times a day. Five grains three times a day will nearly always cure tertian and quartan cases, especially if the patient is kept in bed until the time for one or two paroxysms has pa.s.sed.
Attacks often stop spontaneously for a time when the patient is kept in bed, even without the administration of quinine.
In Remittent Fever larger doses are necessary. For pernicious forms: Hydrochlorate of quinine and urea ten to twenty grains, given hypodermically, every three or four hours until improvement occurs, when the sulphate of quinine by the mouth may be subst.i.tuted.
AGUE. (See Malarial Fever.)--By ague is meant the cold chills and fever; or dumb ague where there is little chill, mostly chilly and fever. These attacks may come on every day, every other day, or every third day.
MOTHERS" REMEDIES. 1. Ague and Fever, Dogwood Good for.--"Take one ounce of dogwood root and one quart of water. Make an infusion by boiling down to one-half pint. Strain and give one-half winegla.s.sful every two or three hours."
2. Ague in Face, Menthol and Alcohol Effective Remedy for.--"After making a solution of teaspoonful of menthol crystals, dissolved in two ounces of alcohol, apply several times a day to the face. Care should be taken that this solution does not enter the eyes, as it would be injurious,"
3. Ague, Simple Remedy for.--"Give purgative and follow with quinine. Give large 4 grain capsule every four hours.
MOTHERS" REMEDIES. 1. Chills and Fever, Peruvian Bark and Rhubarb for.--
"Pure Rye Whisky 4 ounces Pulverized Peruvian Bark 1 dram Pulverized Rhubarb 1 ounce
Mix.
Put in bottles. Dose for adults:--One tablespoonful three times a day.
This is an excellent remedy."
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2. Chills and Fever, Horse-radish for.--"Take fresh green horseradish leaves, bruise and mash them to the consistency of a poultice and bind on the bottom of the feet. This will tend to reduce the fever and is a reliable remedy. I have often used this with great satisfaction."
3. Chills and Fever, Dogwood Known to be Good for.--"Make a decoction of one ounce of dogwood root, boiled in one quart of water down to one pint; strain, and give half winegla.s.sful every two or three hours." This remedy has been used by our grandmothers for many years, and is one to be depended upon. The dogwood root can be purchased at any drug store.
Treatment.--For acute cases quinine in various doses. I usually prescribe two grains every two hours until the ears ring, and then take only enough to keep them in that condition.
It is well always to see that the bowels and liver are active before taking quinine. The medicine acts better when the patient remains quiet in bed. If the chill and fever comes on every day, the quinine should be taken every hour between the paroxysms.
MALTA FEVER.--This occurs in the Mediterranean countries, India, China, the Philippines and Porto Rico. The fever is irregular or marked by intervals of "no fever" for two or more days with febrile relapses lasting one to three weeks. Constipation, anemia (scarcity of blood), joint symptoms and debility exist. Ordinary cases may last three months to two years. Mortality two per cent.
Treatment.--Like that for typhoid. Change climate, if possible.
BERI-BERI.--Beri-beri is a disease rarely occurring in the United States.
It is usually found in the warmer climates and peculiar to certain regions such as India, and j.a.pan.
It is characterized by paralysis and fatal effusion, also neuritis, which is an inflammation of the nerves. It seems to be undecided among the medical profession as to whether the disease is infectious or not. Some claim it is brought on by the eating of bad rice or certain raw fish.
Young men in those climates seem to be most susceptible to beri-beri.
Treatment.--There is very little known about this disease. Fortunately it does not often occur here. It is necessary to keep up the strength by food and tonics and relieve the pain.
ANTHRAX. (Charbon, Wool Sorters" Disease, Splenic Fever).--This is "an acute infectious disease of animals, transmitted to man by inoculation into the wounds, or by inhalation of, or swallowing the germs." Butchers, tanners and shepherds are most liable to it. The exciting cause is the bacillus anthracis (anthrax bacillus). The local skin condition is a pustule containing the bacilli, which may also invade the general circulation. If the germs are inhaled, there is broncho-pneumonia; if swallowed, areas of inflammation and local death occur in the intestines.
The spleen and lymph nodes are enlarged.
[INFECTIOUS DISEASES 231]
Symptoms. 1. External anthrax, malignant pustule. This begins in a papule (pimple) at the point of inoculation turning into a vesicle and then a pustule, (blister-like pimple) surrounded by an inflammatory area (s.p.a.ce) with marked watery swelling. The nearby glands are enlarged and tender. At first the temperature rapidly rises; later it may be below normal. The fever symptoms may be severe. Recovery takes place slowly. Death occurs in three to five days.
MALIGNANT ANTHRAX (swelling).--In this lesion is a pustule, with very marked swelling. It most frequently occurs on the eyelid and face and the swelling may terminate in fatal gangrene.
2. Internal anthrax.--(a) Internal anthrax is caused by the introduction of the bacteria into the alimentary ca.n.a.l in infected meat, milk, etc. The invasion is marked by a chill, followed by moderate fever, vomiting, diarrhea, pain in the back and legs and restlessness. Sometimes convulsions occur and hemorrhages into the skin from the mucous membranes.