Expectoration
Sources: Papers On HealthWhat is commonly called a "cough and spit" is sometimes
due to some serious trouble of the lungs, and in all cases a doctor
should be consulted at once. Often, however, it is due to the failure
of the skin or other organs duly to carry off the waste of the body,
which then accumulates in the air tubes. If we get a good revivifying
treatment of the skin, such cough and spit will speedily be cured. A
mild vapour bath, wi
sufficient in a slight case.
Sometimes there is a sweating of the skin itself which does not cure
expectoration, but which must itself be cured. That is the night or
early morning sweating, which is very reducing. It is the insensible
perspiration which is needed to remove the spit. Give one good sponging
over the body with acetic acid; follow this the evening after with
cayenne "tea," afterwards rubbing with warm olive oil. For two or three
evenings repeat this treatment. There should then be a loosening of the
phlegm, and a lessening of the flow through the lungs. The sufferer may
be very weak, and yet these things may be so gently and kindly done,
that no fatigue is experienced.
If above treatment does not cure, the SOAPY BLANKET (see) may be used
once a week, with daily sponging with vinegar or weak acetic acid, and
rubbing with warm olive oil. This should cure in a few weeks, where
there is no real disease.
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Diet And Corpulence
A tendency to obesity should always be carefully checked by attention to diet and exercise (see Exercise). The fattening foods are those which contain either fat or carbonaceous substances. Carbonaceous substances are found in bread, sugar, arrowroot... Diet Economy In
Dr. Hutchison, one of our greatest authorities on the subject of Dietetics, has well said-- "The dearest foods are by no means the best. 'Cheap and nasty' is not a phrase which can be applied to things which you eat. A pound of Stilton cheese at 1s... Diet For Middle Age And The Aged
In advancing years when less exercise is, as a rule, taken, a restriction in the amount of food consumed is highly desirable. The increasing corpulence, which often begins to show itself from 30 to 40, is far from being a healthy sign; indeed, is oft... Diet For The Lean
To a large extent the preceding article will suggest what is suitable here, remembering, however, that regular exercise will be also necessary in order to enable the muscles to increase in size. Green vegetables and fruits should be largely used in a... Digestion
Digestion is the process whereby the food we eat is turned into material fit to be assimilated by the blood. It begins in the mouth by the mechanical grinding and crushing of the food, and the chemical conversion of the starchy part into sugar, in whi... Diphtheria
The most striking symptom of diphtheria is the growth of a substance in the upper part of the windpipe, which threatens to close it entirely. Good medical skill is of first importance here, yet much may be done where that is not available. We have oft... Douche Cold
In its most powerful form this is a solid stream of water directed down on the patient's shoulders and spine. It may be applied either by an apparatus fixed up for the purpose, or by merely pouring from a watering-can without a rose. Its power depends... Drinks Refreshing
This is a matter of great importance to the sick. Nor is anything more important to be said on them than this, that the foundation of all such drinks must be water. This water must be pure, and is best distilled, or boiled and filtered. Long boiling ... Dropsy
This trouble is rather a symptom than a disease. It rises from accumulation of watery waste in the body, owing to improper action of the skin, lungs, or kidneys, and sometimes follows scarlet or other fevers and lung affections. By far the greatest da... Drowning
Many valuable lives have been saved by an elementary knowledge of what to do in the case of one apparently suffocated or drowned. Commence treatment immediately in the open air, with the face down, neck and chest exposed, and all tight clothing suc... Dwining
We give this name to a trouble from which we have been able to save some patients, as expressing best the general failure and weakness which sometimes constitute a serious danger, even where all specific symptoms are wanting. Some cases of this kind w... Dysentery
This is an affection of the bowels of the nature of diarrhoea, but much worse, as in it blood accompanies the bowel discharge. It usually begins as diarrhoea, and at this stage may be cured by either warm vinegar and water or simple cold water injecte... Dyspepsia
See Indigestion. ... Earache
In the common form this is purely neuralgic. The nerves are in shape and distribution like some tender plant, the root in the brain or spinal cord, and the ends of the branches in the organs supplied by them with nerve power. They are best affected, a... Ears Running
In this trouble there is indicated a failure somewhere of the clearance of waste from the body. This matter gathers locally in the ear, where suppuration and discharge take place. A cure must not be directed to the ear alone, but first the general was... Ears Singing In The
Partial deafness is often accompanied by noises in the ear, which are very annoying. This is caused by the internal state of the ear, and is often due especially to the state of the aural nerve. Similar noises are heard also when we place our fingers ... Eczema
Skin eruptions, known under this name, have very various causes. Treatment must vary accordingly. Where the cause is a failure of the skin to act properly, the whole skin of the body, especially the chest and back, will be dry and hard. In this cas... Elbow Joint
See Armpit Swelling and Bone. ... Enemas Cold Water
Prejudice often exists against cold treatment of any kind, but it must be overcome, unless the sick would lose some of the most precious means of relief which we possess. The Enema Syringe, or Fountain Enema, may be had from any druggist, and is used ... Epidemics
The key to action in case of epidemics prevailing in the district is found, when we consider that always, many residing amid infection escape it. They do so in virtue of better resisting power, rather than because no seeds of disease ever reach them. ... Epilepsy
The first sign of such an illness is a brief and slight attack of "absence." We notice once or twice that the person "loses himself" for a few moments, but recovers so speedily that we scarcely are sure whether anything of importance has occurred. He ... Eruptions
See Hives; "Outstrikes;" Saltrome, etc. ... Erysipelas
This troublesome disease is also known as St. Anthony's Fire, or the Rose. The skin becomes fiery red or even purplish in hue. A violent heat and pain in the part accompany this, and fever and general disturbance of the system follow in a severe case.... Exercise
Where this is advised medically, it is often taken in a manner far from wise. For weakly people seeking strength, exercise should never be pursued to the extent of fatigue. Up to a certain point it does good; beyond that, harm. The beginning of harm i... Exhaustion
Often very serious trouble takes the form of simple overwhelming weariness. The patient's system has been wrought down till it can no longer respond even to stimulus, and life itself seems ebbing away. In such cases treat as for DEPRESSION (see) avoid... Expectoration
What is commonly called a "cough and spit" is sometimes due to some serious trouble of the lungs, and in all cases a doctor should be consulted at once. Often, however, it is due to the failure of the skin or other organs duly to carry off the waste o... Eyes Accidents To
Three distinct classes of these are to be considered. They require very different treatment. When the eyeball is cut or pierced, if the cut be deep or large, a surgeon must deal with it. But if small, a drop or two of castor oil let fall into the e... Eyes Cataract On
This disease has been arrested, and in earlier stages even cured, by the treatment described in, Eyes, failing sight. By means of this treatment we have seen a totally blind eye restored in a few weeks. ... Eyes Danger To Sight Of
Where inflammation has gone so far as to lead to suppuration, or even to ulceration of the eyes, there is grave danger of blindness, and this is often the case with infants and children who have been wrongly treated or neglected. In such a case, ceas... Eyes Failing Sight
This often comes as the result simply of an over-wearied body and mind, without any pain or accident whatever. It appears as an inability to see small distant objects, or to see at all in dusky twilight. The sight is also variable--good when the patie... Eyes Hazy Sight
Frequently, after inflammation, and even when that has ceased, the sight is left in a hazy condition. The eyes may be in such cases rather cold than hot, and not amenable to the cooling applications. The whole system also lacks vital action. First, in... Eyes Healthy
Cheap, ill-printed literature is responsible for much eye trouble, and it is well worth while to pay, if possible, a little extra for books well printed, especially in the case of those who read much. When reading sit erect, with the back to the light... Eyes Inflamed
For all kinds of burning inflammatory pain in the eyes, the following treatment is most effective. Place a hot BRAN POULTICE (see) beneath the back of the head and neck while the patient lies on the back. Press gently fresh cool damp cloths, frequent... Eyes Inflamed With General Eruptions Over The Body
In some cases the eye trouble is only a part of a general skin inflammation, accompanied with heat all over the body, and an acrid, irritating discharge from eruptions on the face and elsewhere, especially on the head. The cold cloths and poultice wi... Eyes Paralysis Of
The partial paralysis of the muscles of one eye produces double vision, so that the patient sees two similar objects where there is only one. This double vision is often, however, the result of stomach derangement. If so, it may soon pass away. The tr... Eyes Spots On
These spots are of two different kinds, and yet they are very much the same in nature and substance. What is called "a cataract" is of a different character. We refer not to this, but to the spots that form on the surface of the eyeball, and those tha... Eyes Squinting
Various affections of the eyeball muscles cause this. To cure it is often easy, sometimes very difficult. The method of treatment is to stimulate all the nerves of the head and face, and at the same time to soothe their irritation. This is accomplishe... Face Skin Of
To secure a healthy appearance of this is worth much trouble, and any eruption or unhealthy redness is a great trial, especially to ladies. To cure and prevent these, it is usually necessary to look first to the diet. A disagreeable redness of the no... Fainting
Fatigue, excessive heat, fright, loss of blood, hunger, etc., are common causes. The action of the heart is temporarily interfered with, and pallor, a sweat on the forehead, with an indescribable feeling of sinking away, precede unconsciousness. ... Fall A
After a fall from a height, where there is no apparent outward injury, there is often such a severe shock to the spinal cord and brain that continued unconsciousness occurs. In such a case, foment the spine at first, to remove the effects of the concu... Feeding Over
It is well to remember that over-feeding is a relative term. To take more than a weak stomach can digest, is to over-feed, although very little be taken. We give some invalids food every two hours but that food is only two-thirds of a teacupful of mil... Feet Cold
Continued coldness of the feet gives rise to many more serious troubles, and should always be attended to. There is no better cure than daily BATHING THE FEET (see), followed by rubbing for several minutes, say five, with hot olive oil after drying. R... Feet Giving Way
Where there is a great deal of standing to be done by any one, the feet sometimes yield more or less at the arch of the instep. This becomes flattened, and even great pain ensues; lameness sometimes follows. Young girls who have to stand much are espe... Fever
In all fevers, to cool down the excessive heat of the patient (see Heat, Internal) is the best process of treatment. This may be best done by continued cooling of the head. Have a towel well wrung out of cold water. Fold it so as to envelop the head. ... Fever At Night
Frequently, in illness, a fever sets in as night approaches, and increases toward midnight, passing away during the day. The treatment may be as below for Intermitting Fever. ... Fever Delirium In
See Delirium. ... Fever Gastric
In this fever, now known as a form of Typhoid, the disease spreads a sort of blight over the nervous centres, and from the first greatly lowers their power. The patient is too weak to bear the powerful cooling recommended in Fever; there is also a ten... Fever Hay
See Hay Fever. ... Fever Influenza
This is a slow, smouldering kind of fever. For treatment, pack the feet and legs in hot fomentation over the knees, and apply cold cloths over the stomach and heart, taking care in applying the cold if the patient is weak. In such a case only moderat... Fever Intermitting
For this the treatment may be given as in gastric fever, and, in addition, the stomach and bowels should be carefully lathered over with soap lather (see Lather). This has a wonderfully soothing effect. It may be spread with the hand over the skin, an...