, 1869-02-19

There is 20 disease probably which causes
so great fright 70 mothers as the Group Of
children. Occurring. as it generally does, at
that hour Of the night when the house is
FIRST hushed 10 sleep, the loud hoarse cough
Of the child sends dismal alarm to the ear
OF every sleeper, and awakens the soundest to
q sudden conception Of danger. The fright,
fortunately, is generally much greater thau
the occasion justi6es, for in ninety-nine out
Of huSdred times the disease is only that
comparatively triAing one, the false sAd not
the real Group; the former being a very ire-
qucnt, and the latter a rare complaint.
The false Group is distinguished from the
true By the suddennoess OF its invasion aud
its occurring almost exclusively in the night.
In the false there is no fever; in the real
there always is. The false comes and goes
with the paroxysm The real is Of a coutinu
Gus and increasing severity. The false never
lasts over two or three days, with intervals
Of perfect health the true never ends be-
fore a week, and sometimes lasts six. The
false is seldom if ever fatal, and the true is
most commonly so.
W ullC mONuCAo Oah NuhO OoAAohC liOul luc
fact that the genuine Group is so rare an af>
fection that it is probably the false with
which they have to deal, it will be satisfac-
tory to them, if unable 10 distinguish between
the two diseases. to learn that what is proper
to be done for one before the doctor comes
is proper for the other.
Though the disease of false Group appears
eha oed..or,, ,b
than it does in reality to the patient, it is,
however, sufficiently serious-ior it occasion.
ally, though rarely, causes death-to call
for the use of every meahs of prevention
and cure.
The most common cause of the affection is
sudden change from heat to cold, and among
very young infants excessive crying is said
to bring on occasionally an attack~of Group
Exposure and great muscular and vocal effort
must be carefully avoided. The scanty dres-
ses worn by children in this country, leaving
the busts, arms aud leggs bare, greatly pre-
dispose to the disease. 1t is SAID to be very
rare among the Gemrsns, who dress their
children more nationally, never exposing
their necks and limbs.
The daily cold bath properly applied is an
excellent forti6er of the youthful constitution
and preventive of Group. The water should
moi be colder than So or 60 degrees Fahren-
heit, and the child should be thrust rapidly
into it and taken Immediately out again, vel
rubbed. aud quickly dressed. 1t is essentially
important that children should have TIE
freest opportunity of breating the purest air
They should never be allowed to pass Their
time by day or night except in perfectly well
ventilated apartments. The diet should be
simple but substantial, consisting of well
baked bread, milk, and due supply of roast
ed meats.
During parozysm, the simplest treatment
is all that is necessary. A flannel wrung
out of hot water aud wrapped about the neck
of the child, and few tea-spoonsful OF gun
syrup made of powdered gumarabic, sugar
aud water, given from time to time will be
all that is necessary for immediate relief
Most people dose their children with ipecac'
uanha until they vomit. This is rarely nec'
essary, and it is doubtful whether it is evel
| beneficial. ....