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Throat Sore

Sources: Papers On Health

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 f
ve

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.



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