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BRONCHO-PNEUMONIA. (Acute Inflammation of the Smaller Tubes and Lungs)

Categories: Respiratory Diseases

Causes. Most common under two years and in old people. Taking cold,

whooping cough and measles.



Symptoms. A primary case begins suddenly with a convulsion or chill,

vomiting and rapid rise of temperature. Breathing is frequent and brain

symptoms are marked.



Secondary Cases. After an ordinary case of whooping-cough, measles,

bronchitis, etc., there is more fever. The pulse is more frequent, a
d

also the respiration, difficulty in breathing and severe and often painful

cough. Temperature rises to 102 to 104; respirations are very fast, up to

60 to 80; the breathing (inspiration) is hard, labored, while the wings of

the nose dilate; expiration may be grunting. Face looks anxious and

bluish. This color may increase, other symptoms decreasing as suffocation

deepens, rattling in chest and death from heart weakness.



Prevention. Avoid exposure to sudden changes of temperature. For the

attack, jacket of oil silk or flannel to prevent sudden exposure, keep the

temperature warmed up to 68 to 70 degrees night and day; the air must be

fresh and pure and changed regularly.







Children should be given ample room and not hampered by extra clothing, as

they like change of position, to get relief. The hot bath must be used

often to redden the skin and relieve the pressure on the lungs, till they

can be given relief. If you wish to use a poultice the following is a nice

way to make it. Take a piece of muslin or linen, or cheese-cloth, wide

enough when doubled to reach from the lower margin of the ribs to well up

under the arm pits, and long enough to go a little more than around the

chest, open the double fold and spread the hot mass of poultice on

one-half of the cloth and fold the other over it. It should be applied as

hot as it can be comfortably borne and covered with oil silk or paraffin

paper, so as to the longer retain the heat and moisture. The poultice

should be renewed as often as it gets cold, and a fresh poultice should be

all ready to put on when the old one is taken off. Place the end of the

poultice uppermost, so that the contents will not fall out.



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