Mother's Remedies: Over One Thousand Tried and Tested Remedies from Mothers of the United States and CanadaRitter, Thomas Jefferson
Science
Mother's Remedies: Over One Thousand Tried and Tested Remedies from Mothers of the United States and Canada
Ritter, Thomas Jefferson
Etiquette; Formulas, recipes, etc.; Medicine, Popular
that only the head and heels support the weight of the body. The body may
become so rigid that it can be lifted by a single limb as you would a
statue. It is fortunate that there are few cases, comparatively, of
lockjaw as the distorted face and general contractions of the body are
painful to witness.
Recovery.--The mortality in lockjaw cases runs about eight per cent.
Sometimes death is caused by exhaustion from the muscular exertions; the
patient is seldom able to sleep and sometimes wears out in a few days.
Sometimes suffocation brings a sudden end to his sufferings and usually
one or two days to ten or twelve days is the limit. Among the lower
classes where sanitary science is seldom observed, and even among the
better classes, lockjaw has been known to occur in infants. It usually
comes on, in ten to fifteen days after birth, and the child seldom lives
more than a few days, It is hard to account for such cases which may come
on suddenly from the slightest excitement such as sudden noises, etc.
MOTHERS' REMEDIES.--l. Lockjaw, Successful Remedy for.--"A very good and
successful remedy for this disease, is to apply a warm poultice of
flaxseed meal, saturated with laudanum and sugar of lead water, to the
jaws and neck."
2. Lockjaw, Smoke as a Cure for.--"Smoke the wound for twenty minutes in
the smoke of burnt woolen cloths. This is considered a never failing
remedy."
[INFECTIOUS DISEASES 233]
PHYSICIANS' TREATMENT.--If from a wound cut open and use antiseptics.
Isolate the patient and have absolute quiet. Antitoxin is used with
success in some cases of lockjaw, but this and other remedies or measures
must be handled by a physician, Opium is sometimes given and stimulants
such as brandy, whisky, etc. As it is a case of life or death in a very
short time, we cannot advise depending upon home treatment. A preventive
caution that must always be observed is the use of antiseptics and the
strictest care of all injuries and wounds that might result in lockjaw.
This is a disease where an ounce of prevention is worth a thousand pounds
of cure, because by the time the disease is recognized as lockjaw and has
really made an appearance, it may be too late for medical skill. While you
are waiting for the doctor you may apply cold cloths or even an ice bag to
the spine. If the spasms are severe let the patient inhale chloroform to
kill the pain and quiet him. In the meantime secure the best physician
within your reach, and follow his directions carefully, be calm and self-
possessed when in the presence of the patient, for you must remember that
he has full possession of his mental faculties and will notice every
evidence of fear or worry in the faces of those who are nursing him. This
will only add to his sufferings, affect his nervous system and undermine
his general vitality. Read carefully the nursing department in this book
and you will gain some valuable hints and knowledge regarding the sick
room.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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