The Lincoln County herald., 1872-11-13
A Cure for the SnaIl.Pox.
PHILADELPHIA, October 20, 1S

Noticing that the smallpox is prevail.
ing in your city, offer through your
columns Q few suggestions based on my
own personal experience with the pesti.
lence here last winter, which will save
many life if hoeded. The great fatality
attending smallpox, and 10 fact any
dreaded disorder, Is that this very dread
causes even tho stricken ones nearest re
lations to neglect the patient. 1t may
seem a bold assertion, but l make it
confidently, that if taken in time and
properly nursed, not five in every one
hundred Of tho worst smallpox cases you
ever heard Of, will prove fatal. Ard all
this without q doctor ever seeing them
at all. Now for the modus.
l. The patient tegius to feel queer,
languid, out Of sorts-but cannot tell
Why. Shortly the head begins to ache,
next o chillinsss creeps up the back, next,
aches, perhaps excruciating in intensity,
seize the limbs, and the head by this
time is in perfect agony. This is the
first opportunity to advance against the
disorder. At once get the patient to the
room al,ooys used for s'eeping--for his
or her life's sake do not, as is generally y
done, knock up q pallet away up in a
lumber room or dreary garret-so as to
prevent the spread Of the family; for,
by that time every member Of that house.
hold who is susceptible Of the disease at
all, has got Il, and will 20 through the
course Of the disorder though you send
him instantly fifty miles away. Such an
act Of barbarity and cowardice takes
away the very hope aud encouragement
that the sick one needs.
2. Now give strong emetie-mustard
water, tarter emetic, or ipecasuanha.
3. When the stomach 10 thus cleared,
let the patient rest ten or fifteen minutes.
Then put the feet and legs into Il bucket
full of strong mustard water-hot-at
least eight ounces Of the most powerful
mustard in the bucket. Lave the legs
with this water up to the knees. Do
this ten or twelve minutes.
4 Cover the patient up with the bed
clothes. Presently he or she is chilly,
or hot put on or take of covsrlets to
suit.
5. Now then the skin is beginning ia
get red spots like piu points upon it.
scattered evenly, or gathered into
patches. IF the latter, the case ia what
is called bad, or by physicians continent.
6. Drisk | Water! water is the
plaintive, or wildly shouted plea. Give
it promptly not in huge draughts al
long intervals, but in lille sips every few
minutes. Explain kindly to the patient
} the reason for this, and that you vii
give him one of these lille drinks jus
as often as he wants. During the mex
twenty four or forty eight hours, give
} three or four hot mustard water foot
baths, and every now and then, wher
drink is wanted, change the plain colo
water for toast water, plain black colo
tea, or thin, gerry thin, cold oat, mea
Cruel in which there is no butter. Which
ever of these the patient prefers give hin
} till he tires of it. The Cruel is tn,
, most strengthening. Between these Civ,
) him sips Of cold, strong beef tea with ,
, pinch Of salt 10 it, or chicken tea. Il
, he fall asleep don't leave the room, but
, watch carefully till he wakes, when a
OuCe HuuVtSS eOuo hluu WOIuo VI uopS
7 and assurance to him.
Watch carefully for what may b.
called the "turning craving" Of the dis
order. This is the sudden expression o
q desire by tho patient for some particu
lar article Of food or drink--an egg,
broiled beef.steak, raw onion, . friet
potato, an apple, &c. The moment tn
wish is made known, give it promptly
but carefully, in small quantities. A.
general rule, though tho patient starts Il
cat this with avidity, few bites or sip
!; will satisfy him, and he pushes it away
3 Sure recovery has now set in, and tb'
' only care thereafter is to keep the patien
q cleanly aud moderate in his eating anc
drinking.
I To prevent itching and pitting A
t soon as the pustulss begin to fll up pa
s them with a small cloth dipped repeat
0 odly in barley water. and then anoiu
] them we'll with sweet oil applied b.
Q means of q stout a'her. In cases o
children, incloss the hands aud forearm
10 old, soft, but strong linen or muslil
! bags we'll oiled. Don't be afraid Of tn
bed clothes, for they are generally de-
stroyed.
] Asto what are termed dlsinfsetants, If
! could not obtain bromo chlsralum, orsom
D ether odorless disinfoctant / would no
Q use any at all. Carbolic acid and chlorid
! of lime, the most commonly used, ar
e far more nauseating than the smell q
! small pox itself. l firmly believe tia
r more people died of carbolic acid i
, Ph,ladslphia here last winter than Q
9 small pox.
, From the moment Of attack the rosl
j. should be kept dark, and morning an
! uight it should be thoroughly ventilated
the patient being covered cempletsl
ever with the bed clothes, while the wir
9 dows and doors are opened for at los'
4, ten minutes each time.
Now, sir, l would like to have oil VII
. may follow this advice report the rssul
= to you for publication for | feel csrtai
| II l. L. Il