American Red Cross Text-Book on Home Hygiene and Care of the SickAmerican National Red Cross
Science
American Red Cross Text-Book on Home Hygiene and Care of the Sick
American National Red Cross
Home nursing; Hygiene; Nurses; Nursing
Treatment consists in sending for the doctor, removing the patient to a
cool place, undressing him and applying cold, especially to the head and
spine, or still better, placing him in a very cold bath. The body should
be rubbed constantly in the direction of the heart. Stimulants should
not be given.
Symptoms of heat exhaustion, on the other hand, resemble those of shock.
The doctor should be summoned, and the patient should be removed to a
cool and quiet place, where he should stay warmly covered in a reclining
position. Stimulants should be given, hot water bags applied, and the
other measures for treating shock should be employed.
CONDITIONS IN WHICH THE DIGESTIVE TRACT IS AFFECTED
NAUSEA AND VOMITING are frequently caused by injudicious eating,
especially when a person is worried or fatigued. A doctor should be
consulted if either one occurs often, or if vomiting is accompanied by
pain, prostration, diarrhœa, fever, or other acute symptoms. A person
who is nauseated should lie down in a cool, quiet place. Hot
fomentations may be applied to the abdomen, or a mustard paste over the
stomach. Soda mints or a teaspoonful of baking soda may be given
dissolved in hot water, and unless diarrhœa is present a Seidlitz
powder or other saline cathartic may be given. A large quantity of warm
water may be given to wash out the stomach; it is more effectual if salt
or mustard is added, in the proportion of one teaspoonful to a glass of
water.
HICCOUGH, which is usually caused by digestive disturbances, is not
serious in healthy people, and can generally be stopped by holding the
breath, or by drinking water. If these measures are not effectual, salt
or mustard in water as already described or a teaspoonful of the syrup
of ipecac, may be given to produce vomiting. If the hiccough still
continues, medical advice should be obtained.
DIARRHŒA is ordinarily caused by an infection, or by an offending
substance in the intestines. The offending substance should be removed
before attempts are made to check the diarrhœa. When a baby has diarrhœa
four things should be done--all food should be withheld; boiled water
should be given freely; bowel movements should be saved for the doctor
to see; and unless a doctor can be found immediately, castor oil should
be given, from one-half to one teaspoonful according to the age of the
child. Similar treatment should be given to older children. Adults
should take one tablespoonful of castor oil and drink boiled water
freely, but they should take no food until the doctor comes.
CONSTIPATION has been discussed on pages 193 and 52.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account