Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1879-02-26
For the Freeman.
A Chat with the Family.
No. II.
BY AGRICOLA.

The aim of the writer in preparing
this series of articles upon hygiene, has
been to impart to the reader practical
information upon n subject of vital i'm.
portance. Every family and every indi-
vidual should be familiar not only with
The laws of health, but also with the more
common remedies for the common ills of
| life. And it is of special importance thai
all should know how to treat ct>es of as
phyxia Cor suspended breathng) whether
from drowning cnll-gas or other causes
and also cases of poisoning. Such cases
often occur under circumstances where
the physician cannot be reached in time 10
save the patients life. Every man and
woman, therefore, should become so much
of II physician rs to be able to apply these
remedies without delay.
Consulting the best authorities, | will
here just describe the treatment hat should
be followed in cases of drowning, When
possible, the patient taken from the water
should he treated instantly, rs waste oil
time in moving him may prove fatal. And
first, everything about the neck and chest
should be removed. The patient should
be turned upon his face. His tongue
should be drawn gently forward for the
purpose of cleansing the mouth His nos
trils should be cleaned. Next lay the pa
lient upon his back; raise his arms above
the head. and ut the same time draw NJ
his shoulders; then bring them back again
| This process should be repeated from tif
teen to twenty times Il minute. Blow into
| the mouth or nostrils, and continue thu
process us long rs there is any hope of ex
citing respiration. 1t will prove useful to
pass vial of hartshorn under The nostris
at intervals, for the purpose of exciting
nervous action When respiration is es-
tablished, the next endeavor should be to
induce warmth and circulation. To this
end, the patient should be rubbed vigor-
ousy from the extIemeties towards the
heart, SO rs to aid the return of the venous
blood. The application of mustard, bot
ties of hot water, and heated bricks 10 the
feet and legs, and ruhbing these parts with
hot liquor would tend to the same results
As soon us possible, the patient should be
covered with dry clothing. Dry blankets
are preferable, that friction may he con
linued under them, until the patient is fully
restored. In nil cases, the physician should
he summoned us soon as possible. But i
the treatment specified be neglected, in
the mean time, he will doubtless find the
patient dead on his arrival.
have spoken of the use of disinfcctants
as indispensable to the health of families.
l will specify more definitely. Venlla-
ton is of the first importance. White
washing the walls, and sprinkling the
floors with solution Of half II fluid ounc,
of carbolic acid in two quarts of water, or
placing common unslacked lime in shal
low vessels in the rooms, are very useful
Pieces of charcoal are also useful for
absorbing gases and other impurities. For
other places that need purifying, we may
use either liquid compound of clarnated
soda, or of the permanganate Of polassa
of carr olc acid, or of the sulphate of iron.
or of the chloride of lime. Tar and the
common petroleum are also good disin.
fectants. Articles of clothing that have
been used by the sick, and especially those
sick of contagious diseases, should he
heated to Il temperature Of two hundred
degrees, in some oven, and in extreme
eases, the only safe course is either to burn
or Juru the articles. Heaps of filth mus
be removed or completely covered witt
charcoal. Chloride Of lime. frees, and
will rende: sewers and drains safer.