Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1869-03-20
Group Before the Doctor Comes.

There is no disease probably which caus-
cs SO great fri CHIT to mothers as the Group
Of children. Occurring, as it generally
does at that hour of the night when the
house is first hushed in sleep, the loud
hoarsc co,,.h h ofthe child sends dismal alarm
to the ears Of every sleeper. and awakcns
the soun,lcst to IL sudden conception of
danger. The fright fortunately, is gen
orally much greater than the occasion ju;-
titles, for in nincty-nne out of hundred
time the disease is only that comparatively
triRng one, the ./alse and not the real
Group; the former being very frequent
and the latter rare complaint.
The false Group is distinguished from
the true by the su'ldcnncss ofits invasion
and Its occurring almost exclusively III 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
continuous and increasing severity. The
false never lasts over two or three days.
with intervals of perfect health; the true
never ends before a week, and sometimes
lasts six. The false is seldom if ever fatal
and the true is most commonly so
While mothers can take courage from
the false that the genuine Group is so rare
an affection that it is probably the false
with which they have I, deal. it will he
satisfactory to them, il unable to dist'n-
yuish between the two disc1scs olcarn that
what is proper t" be done f'w one before
the doctor comes is proper for the other.
Though tho disease of false Group APP
pears more formidable to the ordinary OBJ
server than it does in reality +" the patient.
it is, however. sufficiently serious--f"r it
occasionally though rarely causes death
tnrall for the usc of every means of pre-
vcntion and cure.
The most common cause of the affection
is n sudden change from heat to cold. and
among very yonng infants excessive crying
is said to bring on occasionally an attack
of Group. Exposure aud great muscular
anI vocsl effort must be carefully ayoi'le |.
The scanty dresses worn by children in
this country. leaving the busts, arms and
legs bare. greatly predispose to the dis
case. 1t is said to be very rare among the
Germans. who dress their children more
nationally. never exposing their nccks and
limbs. ......
The daily cold bath properly applied is
an excellent fortifer of the youthful con
Stitu,on and prevention of Group. The
water should not he colder than 81 or q
degrees Fahrenheit aud the child should
he thrust rapidly into it and taken immc-
diatcly out again. well rubbed. and quick
IL dressed It is essential y i'm, ,,ortant that
children should have the trccst opporuni-
tv of breathing the w,lestair. They should
never he allowed to pass their time by day
or nj ght except in perfectly well ventilated
apartments. The diet ctshouldbc simple yet
substantial, consisting Of we'll baked bread,
milk. and II due supply of roasted meats.
During paroxysm. the simplest treat
ucnt is all tina: il necessary. 4 0anncl
wrnmg out Of hot water aud wrapped about
the neck of the child. and n fcw teaspoons
ful of gum syrup made of powdered gum
arabic, sugar and water, given from time to
time will be all that is necessary for immc-
diatc relief. Most people dose their child
ron with irccacuanha until they voIt.
This is rarely necessary. and it is doubtful
whether it is over beneficial. ......
t% The Washington Ercning Express
Al ~