Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1881-02-16
Group

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name of Group: but properly distin-
guished by physicians by different
names, as spurious Group and true
Group, The latter is always seri-
Gus disease and usually a fatal one.
We have described it in some for
mer essays. 1t is known as Group
or membraneous crop. True Group
physicians dread because it yields
so little to their treatment.
Spurious or spasmodic is the
most common Of Group, il it il wor-
thy Of that name. The spasms is
in the vocal box, so that when this
box becomes diseased in any way
the voice is changed. In simple in
tammation Of the larnyx the voice
is hoarse, in spurious group it i.
limited in its tones so as be hardly
heard. One difference between true
and false Group is that in the one a
membrane is formed, but in the
other no membrane il formed,
Spasmodic Group usually occurs in
nervous children under four years
age. Mothers may not know the
difference but they should know it.
1t is somewhat amusing to notice
how much some think they know
about it, and how often they pre-.
scribe some simple remedy and
think they cure what physicians
fail to do. Some Of these wise moth
ers strongly recommend ipecac as a
sure cure for Group without regard
to kind. We wish to insist upon
mothers recognizing the difference
in these two forms Of Group and
realize that they are not amensble
to the same treatment, gsx
Spasmodic Group or the growing
disease comes on suddenly usually
in the small hours Of night, is a
vary amenable malady. when COM
pared with membraneous crop. The
Growing disease is sometimes called
"false Group" but as a matter Of
fact, it is not Group at all. The
name 'crOnp' spilled to spssm Of
the CLOTHS or Growing disease should
be dropped. 1t leads to a vast
amount Of anxieties and sufsriDgs
on the mothers part. A striking
feature of the malady is the growing
sound produced as the air enters
the larynx, and so le. us call it the
Growing disease or spasm Of the
CLOTHS,
The onset often occurs during
sleep. The child is alarmed and agi-
tsted. He struggles for breath and
often crampings Of the upper and
lower limbs. Now and then the
entire body is convulsed. These
symptoms do not in all cases occur.
The air pipe SO easily felt in the
front part of the throat has upon its
upper part an elastic box, useful in
producing tones of voice. The up
per part or opening Of this box is
called the CLOTHS, The characters
tic symptom Of this disease is a
spasmodic or sudden contraction Of
the CLOTHS or opening Of, the air.
pipe so the air cannot enter. This
spasmodc action resembles that of
cramp. # often comes and gees.
The spasms Of the CLOTHS may come
suddenly and then continuing but
a moment, may suddenly abate, al
lowing the g'ottis to be open
and the air to enter freely without
any unusual sound. Sometimes in
tie same child and even in the same
attack the spasms may lessen grad
ually and then the air as it enters
the larynx causes a growing sound.
The attack does not always occur
wien the infant is asleep, usually
it does. 1t may come when the
child is awake and alarmed by be-
ing tossed up and down. or when
something initiates the throat and
AID especially the CLOTHS. After
one attack fhe sufferer is apt tc
have a second, third or more, IN.
less the lrritability Of the CLOTHS il
cured. Very rarely the spasm o.
the CLOTHS may not relax, and &c
tie child dies from suffocation OIL
couvulsions. Usually no cough oc
ours and the patient bresthes freely
between the spasms.
The Treatment really needed il
very simple. Give the child hot
water blanket bath of ten or twenty
minutes, duration. Then wipe il
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