Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-02-01
THE HOME DOCTOR.

FEVER AND AGUE.-There are some
situations where fever and ague prevails
every season, and this is the case in the
vicinity of creeks and swamps. An ac-
quaintance of ours, who has resided for
several years on one of these creeks,
never has had single case of fever and
ague in his family, while all his neigh
bors have been more or less affected
with it every season. He attributes his
immunity from this troublesome dis
ease to the use Of a good fire in his
house every chilly and damp night in
summer and fall. When the Indians
travel at night or early in the morning
in swampy regions they cover their
nose and mouth with some part of their
garments to warm the air which they
inhale, and this they say prevents chills
and fevers.
AIR AS A STIMULANT-The exciting
and stimulating properties of pure oxy-
gen are we'll known, and every one has
felt the invigorating influence Of fresh
air, yet no practical application has
been made of these beneficial proper
ties of substance so cheap and uni
yersal. When the body is weak, the
brain fatigued, and the whole system in
state of lassitude, just 60 into the
open air, take few vigorous inspira-
tons and expirations, and the effect
will be instantly perceived. The indi-
vidual trying the experiment will feel
invigorated and stimulated, the blood
will course with freshness, the lungs
will work with increased activity, the
whole frame will feel revivifed, and
natures stimulant will be found the best.
SODA FOR BURNS. All kinds of burns,
including scalds and sunburns, are al
most Immediately relieved by the appli-
cation OF solution Of soda to the burn
surface. It must be remembered that
dry soda will not do unless it is sur
rounded with cloth moist enough to
dissolve it. This method of sprinkling
it on and covering it with wet cloth is
often the very best. But it is sufficient
to wash the wound repeatedly with a
strong solution. It would be well to
keep bottle of it always on hand, made
so strong that more or less settles on
the bottom. This is what is called a
saturated solution, and really such So
luton as this is formed when the dry
soda is sprinkled On and covered with Z
moistened cloth. DR.. Waters thinks
the pain of burn is caused by the
hardening of the albumen of the flesh
which presses on the nerves, and that
the soda dissolves the albumen and
thus relieves the pressure. Others
think that the burn generates an acrid
acid, which the soda neutralizes.
LEARN ABOUT THE PULsE-Every
intelligent person should know how
to ascertain the state of the pulse
in health; then, by comparing it with
what it is when he is ailing, he may
have some idea of the urgency Of his
case. Parents should know the health
pulse of each child-as now and then
a person is born with peculiarly slow
or fast pulse, and the very case in hand
may be of that popularity. An infants
pulse is 40; child of 7, about 80; and
from 20 to 60 years is 70 beats min
ute, declining to 60 at four-score. A
healthful grown PERSONS pulse beats 70
times a minute; there may be good
health down to 60; but if the pulse al
ways exceeds 70 there is disease; the
machine is working itself out, there is
fever or inflammation somewhere. and
the body is feeding on itself; as in con-
sumption, when the pulse is quick, that
is over 70, gradually increasing, with
decreased chances of cure. until it
reaches 10 to 120, when death comes
before many days. When the pulse is
over 70 for months, and there is slight
cough, the lungs are affected. There
are, however, peculiar constitutions, in
which the pulse may be over 70 in
health.