Conditions in which the nervous system is involved, 257. Headache, 257. Sleeplessness, 258. Fainting, 259. Convulsions, 260. Shock, 261. Stimulants, 263. Sunstroke and heat exhaustion, 264. Conditions in which the digestive tract is affected, 265. Nausea and vomiting, 265. Hiccough, 265. Diarrhœa, 266. Constipation, 266. Colic, 266. Conditions in which the eyes or ears are affected, 267. Styes, 267. Foreign bodies in the eye, 267. Disorders affecting the ears, 268. Conditions in which the skin is affected, 269. Prickly heat, 269. Insect bites and stings, 270. Ivy poisoning, 270. Other emergencies, 270. Chills, 270. Croup, 271. Bleeding, 272. Treatment of slight wounds, 272. Nose bleed, 274. Profuse menstruation, 275. Other injuries, 275. Sprains, 275. Bruises, 276. Burns and scalds, 277. Brush burn, 278. CHAPTER XIV SPECIAL POINTS IN THE CARE OF CHILDREN, CONVALESCENTS, CHRONICS, AND THE AGED 280 Children, 281. Physical defects, 283. Eye-strain, 284. Enlarged tonsils and adenoids, 284. Defective hearing, 285. Defective teeth, 286. Posture, 286. Predisposition to nervousness, 292. Convalescent patients, 294. Chronic patients, 299. Care of the aged, 303. CHAPTER XV QUESTIONS FOR REVIEW 312 APPENDIX 319 Circulars of information issued by Division of Child Hygiene, New York Department of Health. GLOSSARY 326 INDEX 331 INTRODUCTION Health and sickness, at all times momentous factors in the welfare of our nation, now as never before are matters of vital importance. To win its victories both in peace and in war, the nation needs all its citizens with all their powers, and it is a matter of more than passing interest that, as conservative estimates show, at least three persons out of every hundred living in the United States are constantly incapacitated by serious sickness. In 1910 these seriously sick persons numbered more than 3,000,000. Even more significant, perhaps, is the fact that at least half of our national sickness could be prevented if knowledge and resources that we now possess were fully utilized. The problem of sickness is by no means peculiar to our own day and generation. It has been a medical, a religious, and a social problem in every age. From the time of Job its meaning has baffled philosophers; from his day to ours thoughtful men have devoted their lives to searching for causes and cures. Yet before the middle of the last century little progress was made, either in scientific treatment or in prevention of disease.