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
All women are not affected alike; many never experience any heart
trouble, whilst a great number are subject to it from early maiden life.
If there is much wind in the bowels, it is a good plan to take about
five grains of pulverized magnesia and three of pulverized cinnamon, in
a little sugar and water, every morning; it gives a gentle operation,
and may be repeated at will.
Irregularities of the menses, like the event of pregnancy, very
frequently occasions cramp in the stomach, for which many women boast of
drinking gin, or some equally volatile stimulant; this should never be
done. Putting on cloths wrung out of hot water, and sipping hot water
with a little mustard in it, will soon relieve. In case of pregnancy,
the cramps mostly cease with delivery.
CATARRH—COLD IN THE HEAD.
Catarrh is caused by exposure of the face and glands of the neck to
sudden draught, while the blood is quite warm. The mucus that drops from
the internal membranes of the head becomes dry, accumulates in flakes,
pieces of which gradually drop down on the soft palate and organs of the
voice, thus obstructing the air-passages. If it is permitted to go on,
it is apt to cause inflammation of the bronchial tubes.
Northeast, and easterly winds, favor its development much, but, with
timely aid, it may be cured.
BRONCHITIS, OR INFLAMMATION OF THE AIR-TUBES WHICH LEAD TO THE LUNGS.
_Treatment._—In all cases of catarrh or bronchitis, means should be used
to soften the glands and muscles of the neck. Warm steam should be
applied to the nostrils and inhaled into the lungs. Medicines taken into
the stomach, cannot reach the difficulty. Much may be gained by snuffing
a little warm salt water up through the nostrils. When there is great
distress from mucus in the air-tubes, about three grains of pulverized
ipecac should be added to about a gill of hot water, and the steam
inhaled into the lungs. All inhalants should be boiling hot, and used
repeatedly for an hour or more. Inhaling cold air after sitting in a
close atmosphere, will induce an attack of bronchial inflammation, or
thickening of the air-tubes, in persons of all classes and conditions.
Persons who are liable to frequent attacks of bronchitis, are apt to
imagine that their lungs are affected, since it prevents a free use of
the voice in singing or speaking audibly. I will repeat that this
complaint generally terminates with a loss of tone in the lung
substance, caused by the failure of the tubes to supply them with oxygen
or air; notwithstanding, one may live on for years with it. Sudden
changes of air, food or medicines that contract or depress muscular or
nervous vitality, may cause suffocation and death at any moment.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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