Cheraw gazette. [volume] (Cheraw, S.C.) 1835-1838, 1836-01-05
MEDICAL.
Egom the Register and Library OF -A0el'a' aio
Chirurgical Science:

Chiyurgical Science:
Nep and efcacious nssthoa q "eaNns
Croup.-The following observanons' from
the pen of Dr.. Lehman, stall surgeon IN
Toree,., arc well deserving Of no,ice. &C
cording to my experience,says Dr. 'ehman, N,
there is no better way Of treating Group 0e 81
its commencement than by the application OF
hot watc, 70 the larynx. [ttroat} Ih!s method
has the advantages of being simple, ettica-
c;ous, and easily applied, and its good ef-
tects are not productive of any injury to the
constitution. The proper time for the ap-
p!ication of this method is at the very COM
nlencement of the disorder, when, as IS usu'
ally the case, the child is awakened sudden.
ly during the night BY It's invasion, no time
should be lost, when VIC observe that the
breathing is anxious, disturbed, and attend
cd with the well known croupy sound, and
a cough Of ringing character, &c. The
symptoms are too well known to require
enumeration here; suffice to say that the
most speedily fatal cases arc those, where
the child goes to bed, apparently quite well,
and not laboring under any catarrhal symp.
toms, and is awakened from q deep sleep
by N attack Of Groups Such cases often
prove fatal in twcnty-four hours. Even
when thus intense, the disease may be ar
rested in its progress by the immediate ap-
pIcation Of hot water, in the following
manner: a sponge about the size of
large fist, dipped in water as hot as the hand
can bear, must be gently squeezed halt dry,
and instantly applied beneath the little sui
ierer's chin, over the larynx and wlndplpe;
when the sponge has thus been held for
lew minutes in contact with the skin, its
temperature begins to sink, and it requires
to be dipped again in the hot water. 1t Is
better to have second sponge ready, so
that they may be applied alternately. lif
a sponge cannot be procured, Hammer, ioia-
cd flve or six times, may be used.J a
perseverance in this plan, during from ten
to twenty minutes, produces vivid redness
Of the skin over the whole front of the
throat, Just as if a small sinapism had been
applied. The redncss must not be attend
cd or followed by vcsication; in the mean.
time the whole system feels the influence OF
the topical treatment; warm perSplration
breaks out, which must be encouraged oy
warm drinks, as whey, weak tea, &C., and
4 notable diminution takes place in the ire
ouency and tone of the cough, while tho
hoarseness always disappears, and the
rough, ringing tone of voice subsidies a..
long with the dyspnGa Tor difficulty OF
breathing] and restlessness; in short,
all danger is over, and the little pa.
tient falls asleep, and awakes in the morn
ing, without any appearance Of having SO
recently suffered from so dangerous an at
tack. IT, on the contrary, a slight cough
still remains next day, it may be easily got
ten rid of by means Of diaphoYesc and an
uphlogistic remedies suited to q teverlsh
catarrh. When the suitable application OF
hot water, in the manner above recommen-
ded, does not produce wel.marked and ev-
idcnt relief at furhest at the end of twenty
five minutes, then nothing more can be ex-
pected from q longer perseverance in it, and
the increasing cough, hoarseness, anxiety
and dyspnGa of the child, must be met by
other means. must observe, however,
continues. Dr. Lehman, that this method
has not yet failed in my hands, when op-
piled in the commencement Of the disease,
and it has been practised in several families
! attended, in many cases successfully, and
before my assistance could be procured.
We have never triod the remedy above
prescribed for Group; nor should we wait
TO experiment with it if VIC had other rcnle-
dies at hand. If VIC had not NC should
certainly Try it; and we know it could do
noharnl in combination with other remedies.
Our aim in giving it to our readers is to
recommend trial Of it to parents in the
country whose children arc attacked by the
Group when they happen to have no medi-
cine.
Group, unless arrested q. once, is apt to
prove severe and very dangerous disease
In practice Of IA years We have no recol'
lection Of having failed in single instance,
ofpromptly asresting it, when called at the
commencement Of the attack, as VIC com.
monty have been, by the following simple
treatment.
Toa teaspoonfull Of 1picacuanila [IIipo]
We add five or six tablespoontus Of warm
water, and give one, every ten or fifteen
minutes til it produces venting; naindne
10 s:isup theipicecuanha before pouring Out
'"e ethinkit probable tha: .hase n;ghs attacks O
Group aso frequently not generally brought on BY
the ch'lfs throwing otFthe cover; perhaps after be
ing too thickly covered and rett;up into pe,spra