Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1874-12-03

TREAfAExT OF OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
ria has prevailed so long and terribly
in Brooklyn and New York that the
opinions Of the wisest and Inexperienced
physicians should be sought, in the hope
Of finding some remedy for it. Among
the poor, had air and food are among
the most active causes of the great
mortality from it; but still il win only
too often single ont and hill its victims
among The children of the rich, claanIy
and j1dicious.
IN eeery case Of the disease Of course
IS 81 Gog f.ed,
1S9Sfe1s x1y Sly e56d hone -nAds
soups, be they of beef, mutton. chick
en-, are Just as good, and often far bet
ter than beef tea; and they may be
changed from one to tho other as they
fall upon the patients taste. Good,
undiluted milk is quite as useful as
soup of any kind; and it may always
be prevented from turning sour. or ma
king the patient bilious or feverish, by
the addition Of a large pinch of soda to
each teacurful of milk.
Beef tea, soup or milk should be ta-
ken frequently, and in as large quanti-
ties as the stomach will bear and di-
gest without causing disgust or nau-
sea.
If stimulants are required, and they
are generally wanted early and abun-
dainty, milk punch is the best; but it
should always be made with the addition
of soda or lime water to the milk for the
reasons above stated.
If milk punch becomes distasteful,
barley water, rice water, arrow root,
&c, may be used as bland vehicle for
administering stimulants.
Then of all the remedies that long
experience-over 80 years-has proved
eminently reliable, chlorate of potash
is the best; but it should be given in
one way only, and also thoroughly
1t should be given dry upon the tongue,
pure, not mixed with sugar and not in
solution. BY giving it in this way, it
dissolves slowly in the mouth and grad
ually and efficiently in contact with all
the diseased parts of the throat.
1t is slightly disagreable at first; but
the youngest child soon becomes accus-
toned toit. Ittakesaway the supposed
necessity for forced local application to
the throat, and if the little patient be
taught to oren its mouth widely, with
out straining, and to draw in its breath
deeply at the same time, the curtain of the
palate will be drawn up, and the whole
back part of the throat, down to the
windpire, will be exposed to view,
without the use of any harsher means
to obtain a.view of the parts involved
BY the disorder. -. -.s.-.......
This treatment must be persisted in,
the chlorate Of potash be given in doses
of two or three, ,fve or more grains every
hour at first until some decided i'm
provement commences, or for one, two
or three. or even more days, without
hesitation or faltering. Often no ap-
parent improvement seems to take place
for one, two or more days; sometimes
not until nearly up to the fourth day.
But courage and perseverance will al
most certainly be rewarded with sue
cess: certainly four or five times out of
six
This treatment is considerate, but
efficient; the child never becomes afraid
of its physicians or attendants; and gen.
orally, with little management. takes
or does all that is required of it, be-
cause its handling is always gentle, or
at least not harsh or distressing.
If the debility be very great. muriate
tincture of iron may be required. If
the mouth be dry, giycerine may lie put
into it frequently.
II NAV be true that in the most des-
titute, filthiest and careless classes the
beginning of diptheria may be the be-
ginning of death, but l am very sure
that vast number of lives can be saved
by the treatment above indicated.