Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1878-02-06
DspAshsrla what :. %.

Believing that much Of what is called
domestic medicine-frequent and Ill
advised dosing--to do much more harm
than good, the American AyrienHarisf
has, as a general rule, kept its columns
free from the many recipes sent as ''the
best thing in the world,r and "sure
cures" for various diseases. While We
are opposed to frequent medication for
every little ailing, we think that every
mother shcnld understand the general
laws Of health, and sufficient Of diseases
TO know when il Is safe for her to apply
some simple remedy, and when the
case is sufficiently grave to make it ne.
eessary to call in medical aid at once.
In many cases the success Of the physi.
clan depends upon his being called al
once, while it is toe often the case that
he is not sent for until all the medical
knowledge Of the parents and nighbors
is exhausted, and the patient still grows
worse. There is no disease In which
immediate aid is more imperatively de-
manded than diphtheria, which has
been, the past season, and is now, in
some nelghborhoods, and even whole
townships, especially frequent, and Of
ten very malignant and fatal. In one
family, within a mile or two Of the
writer's residence, every one of a family
offour promising children has been tax
en- away within about q week. Diph.
iberia is eminently contagious, and ev.
cry preeaution should be taken to pre-
vent it being communicated from one
to another. When the disease prevails in
a locality children should be kept as far
as possible from contact with others, and
a. persons in whom it has not manifes-
ted itself, are able to communicate the
disease, ali fondling Of children, and
"kissing the baby" by callers, should
be avoided. Before there ia any diff.
Guilty of breathing, there is constant
pain at the side Of the throat, and this
is accompanied by very fetid breath.
and the appearance of whitish spots
upon the sides the throat, (fauces),
the buck part ofthe throat, or the ROOF
ofthe mouth, is an indication sufficient
ly strong to call for medical examiua-
ton at once. The remedies employed
By physicians are various, but none il
so generally used, and none have boon
found. if used in time, more reliabl,
than the Chlorate Of Potash. While VT
doant advise any parent to assume the
responsibility OF treating so grave dis
ease as dlphtheria, we may suggest how
they can essentially aid the physician,
and this is OF especial importance to
those who live at long distance from
the doctor, and where many hours must
pass before he can arrive, for in this
disease hours are of great importance.
ChlOrate of Potash. to be had at all
drug stores, is a salt in small, white,
scale-like crystals, which are not very
soluble in water. 1t may be kept on
hand in the form Of crystals, or when
the disease is prevalent in the neighbOi-
hood, it may be we'll 10 keep a solution
ready for use. 1t takes about l6 parts
Of cold water to dissolve one part OF
CELEBRATE, and it is to be used ia satur'
ated solution. To prepare this, 1t is
only necessary to add to water more OF
the Chlorate than it will dissolve. Hall
an ounce put into four-ounce vial IL
water will dissolvd. As long as any
remains undissolvee, the solution is
known to be saturated-i. e., the water
can take up no more. II the ordinary
water is hard, use rain water. Upon
the appearance Of symptoms which seem
to indicate diphtheria, dose of this
may be given every hour, a teaspoon
full for child three years and older, and
half teaspOOnful to those under three.
1t is to be given undiluted, and without
any sweetening or other admixture, as
its taste is not very unpleasant. Drink
Of any kind should not be given for
some minutes aftera dose, as 1t is desir'
able that the solution should reman In
contact With the surfaces Of the throat
and mouth as long as possible. Children
old enough to gargle the throat, may
take the dose every hour, and every
half hour sse the same as gargle. This
is only intended to aie the physicians
treatment, and is ADVISED only for ca
ses in which some hours must elapse
before they can be attended. When the
doctor comes, tell him exactly what
has been done, and how many doses
have been given. Those situated quito
beyond the reach Of medical a. :, can not
do better than continue the administra-
ton of the solution every hour, day and
night, until the spots in the throat begin
to disappear, whom their frequency may
be diminished to two, and later to three
hours, giving all the while the most
nourishing food. This advice has the
sanction Of the most eminent medical
authorities, but We repeat, it is only to
be followed until the doctor comes, and
at the first appearance of diphtheria, OF
what seems to be that, lose no time;
bnt send tor medical aid at once.