First aid in illness and injury; Medicine, Popular
Taking "cold" is a very popular camp method of feeling bad. The man who
does not at least once, while in camp, stuff himself full of a good
old-fashioned "cold" feels that he has been cheated out of a part of
the enjoyment of his outing. For the benefit of those of his companions
who do not appreciate his "barking" in season and out, the following
rules are suggested: First, take a bath; it may be painful but
necessary. Second, assist overworked eliminants to remove the debris
that has accumulated by reason of the failure of the ordinary processes
of waste removal.
This can be done very nicely with a heroic dose of calomel; by heroic
about three grains is meant. Follow up the calomel with several
five-grain doses of phenacetine, or until the patient is in a profuse
perspiration, roll him in warm blankets, and await developments. A
careful observance of the foregoing will annihilate any able-bodied
"cold" on earth.
The man who contracts rheumatism in camp has my sincere sympathy.
It requires no special skill to tell when one has it, but it does
require special powers of divination to tell when he will get rid of
it. Medical science has discovered only one drug that will affect the
progress of the disease in the least, and that only after an extended
course. Salicylic acid in one or another of its various combinations
furnishes the sheet anchor in the treatment of rheumatism. I purposely
omitted it from our pocket case of drugs because of the fact that the
combination that would suit one man's stomach would not another.
In practice we have to take many things into consideration in the
administration of the salicylates. The man with rheumatism in camp can
seek only to relieve the pain and assist Nature to eliminate the waste.
A thorough flushing of the bowels should be the first thing, followed
by aconitine, gr. 1/134, one tablet every hour for four hours; then one
every three hours. At the same time keep dry. If it be a limb that is
affected wrap it in blankets and "cook" it in front of the fire.
Cases of poisoning arising in camp will usually be confined to two
causes—the eating of poisoned foods and eating poisonous mushrooms. In
these days of tinned meats and vegetables it is not unusual to hear of
persons becoming seriously and even fatally poisoned by eating certain
canned goods. Canned fish and beef are the worst offenders in this
regard.
The symptoms of ptomaine poisoning are characteristic and generally
easily traced to the material producing them. There is a dryness and
metallic taste in the mouth shortly after eating suspected food. This
is followed by severe cramps, vomiting, violent purging, rapid loss of
strength, great depression and coldness of the surface of the body.
The hands and face break out in clammy sweat and the temperature falls
below normal. The picture is very characteristic and when once seen is
readily recognized.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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