Connecticut western news., 1881-02-23
MEMBRANEOUS GROUP.
The Lime Treatment, and How to
 Use It.

Membraneous croup is a dangerous disease. It frequently baffies the best medical skill, though obstinate cases are often cured. It is found that the membrane will slowly dissolve in so- lution of lime; and the vapors of lime have proved beneficial in many cases. This remedy should be applied at once, and thoroughly persisted in. Dr. Mayer informs us that in one obstinate case he put the child in @ small room, and filled the room with lime vapor for thpAA days and niohts- in succession. by stacking lime, pouring water upon good-sized Jumps frequently, so as to keep the room filled with it. He also, by gas stove and tea-kettle, kept up a stream of steam, so that the little pa tient was constantly breathing very damp atmosphere and the vapors from stacking lime. The child recovered.
 We know of another case in which the patient was put under tent raised over the bed, and Jumps of lime nearly as big as quart pitcher were slacked every half hour inside the tent, for sixty hours, and hot steam was also carried inside of the tent during all that time. The patient recovered, though the case was obstinate.
 The "tent in the case was simple arrangement. Four strips. like furring, were lashed to bed-posts, and cross pieces placed over them, raising the framework about three feet from the bed. Over this blankets and sheets were placed, making tent close enough for the purpose.
 In another case, treated by Dr. Steven, the patient was kept in the vapor of diss olving lime and steam fol six days and the child recovered.
 We mention these facts for the bene. fit of any family who may decide to use the lime and steam. It is of no use tc use the lime sparingly or at intervals It must be constant, night and day fol not less than two days, and usually fol three days. A barrel of lime is some times used in single case, and no cast could be well treated with less than hal barrel. It costs but little, about $1. '; per barrel.
 The lime, good-sized lump or two is slacked in an open pan or pail on tn
 bed inside the tent. It is done by pour
 ing about quart of hot water upon it
 It will sputter and fume for perhap
 five or six minutes, filling the tent witt
 it's fumes. Steam from a boiling tea
 kettle outside is also introduced, by
 tin tube, that can be carried under tn
 side of the tent. (Every family wit
 children should have something of thi kind for such an emergency. The ket tie lid is soldered down, so that tn steam will be forced to escape throug
 the tube, which is made to fit like ca over the nose or spout of the kettle.) A hole is made through the lid, S
 that the water can be renewed, and thi is tightly corked while the steam is be ing made This double work of stear and lime is kept up unfailingly. Tn stacking of the lime, inside the tent } must be repeated every half hour. Thi regularity and persistence is all-impol 5 tant Such cases really require tn physician to stick by and see the wor : thoroughly done; but the parents ca 5 do it all, if they carefully remembe 3 and follow the directions. The one in t portant thing is, if this remedy tried, to see that it is very thorough f Times,