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PHYSICIANS' TREATMENT for Croup

Categories: Respiratory Diseases

Active. 1. Dr. Douglas says wring cloths
out of cold water and apply very freely to the throat, and recommends the

following syrup:



Syrup of Ipecac 3 fluid drams

Hive Syrup 4 fluid drams

Water 1-1/2 ounces



Mix, and give one teaspoonful every half hour until the child vomits, then

repeat the dose every two hours as needed.



2. Place
the child in a hot bath, wrap hot or cold cloths about the throat

and put one teaspoonful of common soda in a glass of water and give one

teaspoonful every fifteen minutes until relieved.



3. Dr. Holt of New York, says. The room should be very warm, hot cloths

or poultices should be applied over the throat (Adam's apple and below)

and either a croup kettle or ordinary teakettle kept boiling in the room.

This is more efficacious if the child is placed in a tent made by a raised

umbrella or some like method with a sheet thrown over it, and the steam

introduced beneath the tent. If the symptoms' are urgent ten drops of the

syrup of ipecac should be given every fifteen minutes until free vomiting

occurs.



Whenever the symptoms reach a point where the breathing becomes difficult,

a doctor should be summoned without delay. It might be some other disease.



4. Home Treatment. One-half teaspoonful of alum mixed with molasses or

honey will produce vomiting and help. This is very good when the croup is

due to indigestion. At the same time, fry onions in lard and put them on

the neck in front, or hot wet cloths may do. The alum can be given once or

twice if necessary, half an hour apart, about in one-fourth or one-half

the first dose.



5. Goose grease, or lard dissolved, and enough given to produce vomiting

will do good. This idea is not only to cause vomiting but to cause a sick

feeling after and at that time, which will cause the spasms to relax. A

very good thing to do in addition is to put the child's feet in hot water,

while local applications are put on the throat. These things tend to relax

the muscles and this relieves the spasm.



6. Steam is Very Useful. It relaxes the spasm by local contact and by

producing general sweating. Cover the child's head and a pitcher with a

shawl and inhale the steam from the boiling water in pitcher. You can put

in the pitcher one teaspoonful of oil of tar or one to two teaspoonfuls of

tincture of benzoin. This can be kept up for some time.



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