A Book of Medical Discourses, in Two PartsCrumpler, Rebecca Lee
Science
A Book of Medical Discourses, in Two Parts
Crumpler, Rebecca Lee
Child care; Children -- Health and hygiene; Infants -- Care; Infants -- Health and hygiene; Women -- Health and hygiene
If the appetite fails in a child, and there is no perceptible cause, and
the mouth is dry and hot for a time, it will do no harm to touch the
front edge of the tongue with a mite of table-salt. One or two trials
will suffice to set the saliva flowing, then with a little coaxing and
proper food the appetite will return. I may have digressed somewhat, but
as apthæ is frequently accompanied by diarrhœa, I deem it well to guard
against fear and loss of hope that might ensue from its being mistaken
for cholera. In any case of vomiting or purging of infants, great
caution is required not to give all kinds of palliative suggested by
incomers; this is “going it blind,” so to speak. Cholera is a terrible
disease, and should be subdued as speedily as possible. At best it
leaves its merciless traces throughout the remainder of life; the victim
being frequently annoyed by choleric pains, indigestion, nervousness and
cough. To sum up all, the causes of cholera infantum are movable unless
fixed by some perceptible atmospherical pressure. The causes of cholera
are no doubt overlooked by the major portion of a community where its
ravages from time to time have been the greatest, and consequently no
efforts are put forth in a general way to prevent a repetition of its
visits. Even where the conditions of the atmosphere may give rise to
cholera, its force can be modified, and the number of fatalities
lessened. I have frequently been asked if cholera is contagious; in
answer, I can safely say, it is not, as a disease; but like causes will
produce like effects, in the same locality, and at the same time. In
regard to the fumes of carbolic acid, chloride of lime, sulphur, and the
like, as disinfectants, I believe that they are all decidedly
depressing, and against the speedy recovery of cholera patients if used
in immediate contact. The removal from a crowded district in time of an
apparent epidemic is decidedly commendable. It is well known that
poverty, wretchedness, and crime favor an increase of mortality from
this disease. Yet the prospects of thousands remain the same year after
year.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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