The Hawk-eye and Iowa patriot. (Burlington, Iowa) 1839-1843, 1840-03-26


There are letters from dandy off
Ger, overwhelmed with the vulearit,
land filth of his situation from a frol
|lcsome Midshipman, enjoying the fur
OF SO many sea-sick lubbers; of pref
Ity Quakeress, with her head haIf-turn
ed and heart half-won by dashing
Captain of Dragons; from Butchers
lawyers, Clerks, Locofocos, &c. &c,
that will, in the perusal, "relax the
wrinkled brow of care.''
| EXTRACT FROM THE NOTEBOOK OF A
PHYslcIAN.-Feb. 9th, 1S4O.-I have
lJust witnessed a case of much inter
est, especially TO parents. 1t is one
OF common occurrence, and hence OF
| greatS Importance.
About 8 O'Clock this morning, l was
hurried to the residence of Mr. H.,
to visit child said to be extremely ill.
This call was by no means unexpect-
ed, for, on the day previous, when
prescribing for an older brother, OBJ
served that this child, though playful
and apparently very well, had occa-
slonally a deep sonorous hoarseness
when coughing, always alarming to
the physician, as indicative of the
commencement of the worst form of
Group. | urged the mother to confine
ut to the house, and take some means
Iot preventing the DEVELOPMENT of this
alarming disease, but she said the child
was well, with the exception of a
slight cold, which would soon pass
OFT. | explained to her my opinion of
Its situation, and urged her to apply
something stimulating. to it's throat,
but this she refused to do. observing
that she did not like to give her chill
dren medicine for so slight an affec-
ton. The physician who has once
heard the peculiar metallic sound or
rather cough of Group, in it's incipient
stages, cannot easily forget it. In
this case it was so evident that | was
certain the child was playing on the
very brink of destruction. The pa
rent, however, thought otherwise, for
he was a fine, fat, healthy child, two
and a half years old, and had never
suffered from any previous disease.
When | arrived at the door, was
met by the mother, exc!aiming, ''Oh.
doctor, what you told me this morn
ing was too true-I wish | had taken
your advice. My dear boy cannot
live an hour Upon entering the
room found the child in the arms of
a friend, its head thrown back. it's
countenance livid, its forehead shin
ing, its eyes closed, it's tongue purple
and swollen, its gums pale, and its
whole surface bathed in profuse per-
spiration. 1t soon raised its head, as
if afraid Of suffocation, but after few
moments OF extreme restlessness,
threw it back as if in despair it had
determined to await its fate. The
brazen vibratory sound of yesterday
had given place to loose cough,
which too often leads the inexperien-
ced ear astray. The mother thought
if the phlegm could be removed, it,
would speedily recover. In this stage
of the disease, its heart beat with vi
olence, its pulse was frequent, small
and f1uttering, its respiration extreme
ly difficult, and its thirst almost intol-
cradle.
From these symptoms it was evil
IDENTIFY in the last stage of Group, and
its parents were informed that moth
ing short Of Almighty power could
save its live. All the means of cure,
however known to the profession.
were Immediately resorted to, but
without any beneficial effect. Its
suferings continued to increase, it's
countenance became more anxious,
and its eyes often turned upon me
with the most piercing and brilliant
expression, as if imploring for relief.
No situation can be more trying to
the feeling physician. The entreaties
of the mother, the anxious silence of
the father, the supplicating anguish of
the sufferer, and the mixture of hope
and despair IN every countenance,
while all eyes are turned towards the
physician, as if art or science could
contend with the strong arm of ON
are truly affecting. This
case, however, was one of short du-
ration. In three hours from my first
visit it became quiet and ceased to
struggle against its melancholy fate.
Thirty minutes more and it expired,
leaving the smiles Of innocence rest.
ing upon its countenance.
The progress of Group is often Sc
rapid, that a hoarse cough should al.
ways, be a source of great anxiety to
the parent. If the mother had taken
my advice in the above case, and had
linflamed its throat with hartshorn,
mustard; or spirits Of turpentine. OF
had even kept q towel repeatedly