_Treatment._—In the early stages of this condition, opium in some form or
other will be found beneficial, and will often cut short an attack; for
this purpose, ten grains of Dover’s powder, or fifteen to twenty minims
of chlorodyne, may be given every eight hours for twenty-four hours, and
then be gradually diminished.
If the breathing is difficult, poultices should be applied to the chest
and ipecacuanha, half to two grains, and ammonia, should be given three
times a day. Later, stimulating expectorants, such as ammonium carbonate,
should be administered.
Inhalation of steam often gives great relief; and the effect is much
improved if thirty drops of Friar’s balsam are added to a pint of hot
water.
In tropical climates even an ordinary feverish cold very often tends to
become malarial in character, therefore the use of quinine, in addition
to the other treatment, is usually desirable, and five grains may be
given thrice a day.
_Burns and Scalds._
Where an extensive burn or scald has occurred, the clothing of the
injured part should be removed by cutting, so as to cause as little
irritation as possible. If the burn is only slight, the surface may be
covered over with lint smeared with zinc or boric ointment, or oil. If
there is much blistering, or the surface is charred, the skin should
be cleaned up as well as possible with boric acid lotion, and hot
fomentations of the same applied for twenty-four hours. After this, the
burn may be dressed twice a day with boric ointment spread on lint. Great
cleanliness is an important factor in the successful treatment of burns.
In a severe burn, stimulants must be given, and the patient put to bed
with hot-water bottles, and active treatment of the burn should be left
till the patient has somewhat recovered from the shock.
When there is great pain, chlorodyne or laudanum in full doses will be
required.
_Cerebro-Spinal Fever._
This disease, also known as “spotted fever,” is of special importance at
the present time to the traveller in Central Africa, where it is very
prevalent amongst the natives, especially in Uganda. It may, however,
be encountered in all parts of the world, and in the tropics is very
frequently a malady of the dusty months.
_Causes._—The disease is very often transmitted from some carrier of
the causative organism, which occurs in the throat and nose, and is
distributed by coughing, spitting, or sneezing. Infected material, such
as handkerchiefs, may play a part, and the spread of the disease is
greatly favoured by overcrowding, especially of sleeping quarters.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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