ADENITIS--ENLARGED GLANDS
Enlarged glands, or what our grandmothers used to call "kernels" in the throat are often the result of inflammation in the mouth or throat, and occur in connection with many of the childhood diseases, notably diphtheria, scarlet fever, and scarlatina.
Glands appearing in the back of the neck may be occasioned by pediculli (lice), ring worm, or eczema, while those seen in the neck just back and below the ears may come from mastoiditis (inflammation of the middle ear) or adenoids.
Glands felt under the arm enlarge because of trouble or infection in the breast, hand, or arm; while glands in the groin are usually due to some infection of the feet, legs, or abdomen.
These glands usually disappear when the general health and well-being of the child is improved by:
1. Outdoor life.
2. Morning dry-friction rub to the skin.
3. Good liberal diet, including plenty of fats.
4. No feeding between meals.
5. The salt glow and general tonic treatment (see appendix).
6. The oil rub at night.
RICKETS
Rickets (a disease of the bones) often follows in the wake of faulty feeding and unhygienic surroundings. The bones lack a proper amount of lime salts and other elements. Development in general, especially that of the bones, is greatly interfered with.
Bowlegs, prominent square brow, enlarged perspiring head, weakness, and often tenderness of the flesh, are notable signs of the disease.
The treatment varies little from that of scurvy, and will be provided in detail by the attending physician.
MALARIA
Children often suffer from malarial parasites. Sudden rise of fever on regular days (sometimes daily, every two days or every three days) should demand a careful medical examination including the examination of the blood where the offending organism is seen in the red blood cells. We recently saw a little girl who happened to have an earache and was about to be operated on for ear trouble, when examination of the blood revealed the fact that she was suffering from malaria.
TUBERCULOSIS
In the routine examination of adult patients, the X ray observations of the lungs often reveal deposits of lime salts which tell the story of a successful fight against tuberculosis (Fig. 16). And while it may seem surprising, we believe beyond a doubt that most of us have had some varying degree of tuberculosis while young--the unrecognized battle has been fought--and these small monuments of lime salts alone remain to tell the interesting story.
The pity of it is that whole armies of little folks fall in this struggle against disease, for it is one of the common and fatal diseases of childhood. Fresh-air schools, playgrounds, and free school lunches are saving hundreds of children from the ravages of this disease each year.
Tuberculosis is strictly a house disease, hence the little tubercular patient must seek outdoor life. All avoidable exposure to the disease must be denounced, and public sentiment must continue to be aroused to the hygienic betterment of the tenement districts and bas.e.m.e.nt homes.
The sanitary drinking cup and the bubble fountain must be encouraged, as must also the proper ventilation of all places where crowds a.s.semble, be it the schoolroom, the theater, or the church.
SYPHILIS
While tuberculosis is known as the "great white plague," syphilis and gonorrhea const.i.tute the "great black plague," which seen in the little folks is pitiable indeed, leading us to realize that surely "the children"s teeth have been set on edge" because of the careless eating of sour grapes by the parents. Syphilitic parents who have not been properly treated, should think many times before they take upon themselves the awful responsibility of bringing into the world a tainted child. Proper mercurial treatment should be inst.i.tuted at once not only for the child but also in the case of both parents.
[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 16. X ray Showing Tuberculosis of the Lung]
CHAPTER x.x.xIV
ACCIDENTS AND EMERGENCIES
In this chapter we wish to instruct the mother or the caretaker in doing the one thing needful for every one of the more common household accidents and emergencies while waiting for the doctor.
In every household there should be found an accident and emergency "kit" of necessary paraphernalia for the quick application of the one necessary medicine, dressing, etc. This "kit" should contain baking soda for burns, bandages and sterile gauze for cuts or tears, together with adhesive plaster, needle and thread, etc.
INSECT BITES AND STINGS
Far greater harm is often done the skin by the subsequent scratching of the insect bite with dirty finger nails than by the bite itself; and so it is very important that we remember to allay quickly the intense itching by the application of ammonia water or camphor. Almost instantly the itching is stopped, and the added "scratching"
irritation to the already injured skin is thus avoided.
By the aid of a magnifying gla.s.s, and often by the naked eye, we may detect the stinger which has been left behind by the greedy guest, and which should be removed by a pair of tweezers. Ice-water compresses will stop the swelling and even an old-fashioned mud dressing, which was used and appreciated by our great grandmothers, is a thing not to be despised.
If the much admired shrubbery be removed one hundred feet away from the porch, mosquitoes would trouble the household less. It has been demonstrated in many localities that clearing away the near-by clumps of shrubbery permits the family to sit on unscreened porches unharmed. Mosquitoes multiply rapidly in stagnant pools of water, but if oil is poured over these stagnant waters the increase of mosquitoes is abated, and their total extinction is not unheard of in swampy districts receiving such care.
Whenever baby is out of doors where mosquitoes, flies, or other insects are to be found, he should be properly protected from such pests by mosquito netting stretched over a frame eighteen inches above his face, for we can think of nothing more uncomfortable than a mosquito netting dragging over a sweaty baby"s face. The fact that mosquitoes, flies, roaches, and other insects are carriers of tuberculosis, infantile paralysis, typhoid fever, cholera, yellow fever and malaria, as well as a host of minor ailments, should make us the more anxious for either their extermination or the protection of our children from their greedy bites and stings.
DOG BITES AND SNAKE BITES
Dogs, cats, rats, or mice bite at any time of the year, and provision should always be made for ample protection against such accidents.
Such a wound should always be squeezed or sucked until it has bled freely, and then be cauterized by a red-hot iron or touched with an applicator that has been dipped in sulphuric acid or nitric acid. A subsequent dressing of Balsam Peru is healing. The dog should be watched, and if it shows signs of hydrophobia the bitten child should be promptly taken to the nearest Pasteur Inst.i.tute for treatment.
In the case of snake bites the same sucking and cauterizing treatment is indicated, with the additional tying of a handkerchief or cord a few inches above the wound to stay the progress of the blood and to keep the poison out of the general circulation. A solution of twenty-per-cent permanganate of potash should be used to wash the wound.
The popular administration of large draughts of whiskey is of no benefit, for the secondary depressant effect of alcohol increases the body"s poison burden, and those who survive do so in spite of the whiskey, and not because of it.
SWALLOWING FOREIGN BODIES
Small articles such as b.u.t.tons, safety pins, thimbles, coins, etc., are often swallowed by little folks, and if they lodge in the throat and the child struggles for his breath the treatment is as follows: grasp him by the heels and turn him upside down while a helper briskly slaps him on the back. The foreign body generally flies across the room. If it is lodged high up in the throat it may often be dislodged by the thumb and finger. If it cannot be reached and it will not go down, lose no time in seeking an X-ray laboratory where its exact location may quickly be discovered and proper measures inst.i.tuted for its removal.
A troublesome fish bone is easily dislodged by swallowing a half-chewed piece of bread which carries it down to the stomach.
Cathartics and purgatives are not to be given; in due time the object will appear in the stool. In all instances it is well to locate its exact position by the X ray--that there may be a.s.surance that it will do no harm.
It is surprising what large objects can be swallowed. One old gentleman swallowed his false teeth, and a six months old baby swallowed, or at least had lodged in its throat, a silver dollar.
All detachable parts should be removed from toys that are given to babies, such as the whistle from rubber animals, the b.u.t.ton eyes of wool kittens and dogs, and other such removable parts.
FOREIGN BODIES IN THE EYE
To begin with, do not get "panicky," but carefully, painstakingly, and patiently do the following:
1. Rub the well eye until the tears flow plentifully in both eyes.