The book of health; a compendium of domestic medicine / deduced from the experience of the most eminent modern practitioners. [Anon].

Date:
1840
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The book of health; a compendium of domestic medicine / deduced from the experience of the most eminent modern practitioners. [Anon]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    four hours, until the symptoms abate: this pill is to be taken in addition to the other means before prescribed. In the severer forms of this disease, the purging draught may be given more freely; and the diet must be exceedingly spare. It is unnecessary to confine the patient to his bed against his inclination ; * but ex- tremes of heat and cold are equally to be avoided : the chamber should be large and airy, and free from currents of cold air. Should the cough be troublesome, it would be serviceable to breathe the steam of warm water over a large basin, with the head covered with a flan- nel large enough to hang over its edges: the benefit of the relaxing vapour will, at the same time, be extended to the inflamed eyes. A spontaneous looseness should not be interfered with, as it is a favourable symptom; but if it be excessive, a few grains of tormentil powder may be given in water, three or four times a day.—When the measles suddenly disappear, every exertion must be made in order to restore the eruption. The patient must be placed in a warm bath, and warm wine and water, with ten drops of antimonial wine, frequently given. It may be also necessary to apply blisters to the inside of the thighs or legs and to the throat. After the patient has recovered, it will be ex- pedient to give two or three doses of cooling, opening medicine, and to cautiously avoid exposure to cold. MUMPS. This disease is known by an external move- able swelling, arising most commonly on both sides of the neck, but in some instances only on one. The swelling increases till the fourth day, and often involves the maxillary glands-j- in the inflammation, About the fifth day, the swelling gradually declines; and in a few days after- wards, it entirely subsides. It not unfrequently happens, that as the swelling of the throat dis- appears, that some tumours take place in the breasts of females, and in the testicles of the males: these sometimes pass away in a few days, unless the brain or its membranes be affected, which is then attended with fatal consequences. The disease is contagious. Treatment.—The mumps do not often require the assistance of medicine.^ It is necessary to keep the head and face moderately warm, to avoid taking cold, to observe a mild diet, and * Mr. J. S. Forsyth is decidedly of opinion that “ during the whole course of the measles, the patient ought to be confined to his bed,” New Manual of Domestic Medicine, 1827. On the contrary, Dr. Arm- strong says, that “when the skin is hot and dry, a cool atmosphere is delightfully refreshing.” t The maxillary glands are those belonging to the jaw-bone. t Dr. Clntterbuck says, “In general, the disease is mild in its character, and requires only the usual in- flamrnatory treatment. If the pain or fever be un- usually great, blood-letting may be serviceable.” to open the bowels with a cooling laxative medicine, viz. Take of compound infusion of senna, an ounce and a halfj cinnamon water, two drachms; manna, a drachm ; Epsom salt, two drachms : — mix. If the tumour in the neck should suddenly dis- appear, and the inflammatory symptoms increase, the return of the tumour must be promoted by warm fomentation, and the strong lini- ment of ammonia. Every four hours, one of the following powders must be given until the fever abate:— Take of potash, one drachm; tartarized antimony, one grain and a halfmix, aod divide into six powders. Should the breasts or testicle tend to suppu- ration, a few leeches may be applied, and afterwards a warm poultice. Give every three hours, till it operate, three or four tea-spoons- ful of a cooling purgative, viz. Take of Epsom salt, Glauber’s salt, of each, half an ounce; spearmint water, five ounces ; anti- monial wine, two drachms ; tincture of senna, an ounce : — mix. NETTLE RASH. This eruption resembles that produced by the stinging of nettles. If the skin be rubbed or scratched, the rash will appear instantane- ously. It seldom stays many hours in the same place, but makes its appearance in another part of the skin. A troublesome itching is characteristic of this disorder ; and, in general, the parts affected are considerably swollen. The disease is of a very mild nature, and seldom requires any assistance beyond a cooling purgative, which may be prepared as under:— Take of emetic tartar, one grain ; powder of ipe- cacuanha, fifteen grains; common water, an ounce and a half:—mix. Sometimes the fever at night is very consider- able ; in such case, it will be necessary to give a saline draught, viz. Take of subcarbonate of potash, a scruple; cin- namon w'ater, two drachms; common w^ater, an ounce and a half; syrup of orange-peel, a drachm :—mix, and add a table-spoonful of lemon juice, and drink it immediately. If the heat and thirst be very considerable, six grains of purified nitre may be added to each draught. If the rash frequently return, one of the following pills must be given every night, until the patient be convalescent:— Calomel, twenty grains; James’s powder, twenty- five grains; resin of guaiacum, in powder, two scruples:—mix together in a mortar, with a little conserve of hips, and divide into twenty pills. Six or eight grains of magnesia in a glass of soda water may be taken twice a day.—This disease is generally caused by a disordered stomach. RICKETS. In some families, this disease is hereditary; although many who have been affected with it have a healthy offspring. Bad nursing; impure air; want of exercise, food, or clean-