The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1872-03-07
THE TREATMENT OF SMALLPOX.
Lecture Delivered at 1E on,ertOn Fever
Isospital, London, Eng.. by DIR.
Alexander Collie, Resident Medic al
officer.
the L ndcr Lane t, Sept. &c, 1870.

Fr, the L ndcr Lane t, Sept. &c, 1870
In the mild variety of smallpox treatment
is not Of importance, II nc taM que DE-
rseur.r en- rcpeSs.' The patient should be
kept in bed until crustation is completed
should he fed On light and easily digesilDle
food and should have his linen changed
daily and fresh cool air in abun lance. No
drugs will be required, except, perhaps a
purgative pill or a little castor oil. In the
black smallpox oil treatment is useless, and
our efforts shoul be directed simply towards
palli,ting the PATIENTS sutfrring-. Coll W.
ter will probably be most grateful and that
ought to be given freely. An egg beaten up
in a little whiskey aud water will relieve
sensations of exhaustion, but beyond this our
art is powerless. Large doses Of stimulants
are simply wasted. In the severe or conhu
ent smallpox however. treatment is Of the
highest Importance. Here our management
will sometimes determine the result. The
patient should be placed in large, well
ventilated room, a room with opposite win
dows if possible, and these should be kept
open hy night ana by day and in all seasons
If the weather is very cold, Keep q good fire
in the room, aud let the patient have an ex
ira blanket. but keep the windows open; aua
if the weather is mild, treat the patient ab-
solutely in the open air Nothing is Of so
much importance as pure air, amt that in un-
limited quantities In this hospital we have
! l-a ind, he isrilr
and by day throughout the months Of ebru-
AIRY, March, April SC: and this has been at
tended with the very best results, for our
mortality is the lowest Of all the smallpox
hospitals in London, and were receiving our
/ patients from the same sources. and some
time before the epidemic reached its height.
lnclu!ing every death. our mortality is only
II per cent; and if We were to strike off
those who died Of seauele. and those who
died six, twelve, and twenty -four hours after
admission, it would be considerably less. Up
to July - the mortality in the d.Fcren. hos
pitals has been as follows: Hampstead, Io.I
pcr cent Stockweu, l7.6: Homerton, II |
Mrs. Gladstone. Smallpox Hospital. Ill;
stoekvell Fever Hospital, la,5i Homer
ton ditto, II g.
| The patients bed may consist of feathers,
! or hair or flock N lttress; and there ought
! to be two beds in the room, in order that the
/ patient may be changed from one bed to the
/ other and the bed made--a matter of great
comfort to.a sick person. The sheets ough:
/ to be Of the finest and softest mste-ial. The
coverings should be light, and all curtains
should be removed. The rcoEl ought - bs
absolutely cleared OF rugs, carpets. cushioned
chairs, w4rlroses, pictures. and eyerythi c
which might .aibor particle of dust or 8
smallpox 5eab, Secure two competent and
/ efficient nurses, one to act by day and TIA
/! cher b. night, and remember that, usually
relatives make bad nurses. Inquire frs
about the bowels, and, as rule, give gen
tie purgative. but DO no, purge.
Do nc, place your patient On low diet