Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-01-07
Row to Treat Nh0Oping Cough.

varies in each:
1. The preliminary stage.
2. The acute stage.
8. The stage of convalescence.
At first then, as already said, the
SYMPTOMS will be those of common
cold of more or less severity. This is
the time to call In doctor if there be
whooping cough about, and more es-
pecially If the child has been exposed
to infection.
Keep the patient in quiet, clean,
warm well-ventilated room, and on 3
lower scale of diet than usual. Do
not force food. There Is far too much
of this food-forcing going on in nur-
series, under the impression that the
strength must be kept up; but If there
be no appetite, there will be no power
OF digesting what is swallowed, and
matters are made worse, and often
times the door is thus opened for the
most dangerous complication to walk
IL.
See that the child is warmly
clothed and kept warm at night. and
the chest covered with a piece of cot
ton wool, with oiled silk over it. Ii
there be wheeling, a stimulating lin
iment should be we'll rubbed in, and
frequently, to both front and back of
the chest, and front of the neck. A
morsei of flannel should also be worn
round the neck.
The diet should be low and easily
digested, and sweating should be en-
couraged at night.
Some easilytaken aperient will al
do good-salts and SIENNA, castor oil,
or syrup of SIENNA; the first is the
best.
These Who live far away from a
medical man shonld know and re-
member in all cases OF bad cough,
when the chest is checked with phlegm
and there is much difficulty ia breath
ing, vomit of mustard in warm
water.
Bathing the feet in hot water will
also do good at this stage.
Get an ordinary cough mixture,
but be certain to tell the chemist it is
for a child, and must contain no
opium. Avoid quack medicines and
raixtures in every shape and form,
md do not give sleeping draughts :;
they are highly dangerous at all
times.
The second stage should be some
what differently treated. The cough
mixture may be continued unless it
blunts the appetite; the diet must be
more nourishing, but easily digested.
The child should be kept quiet, and
perfectly free from annoyance or ex-
element of any kind, and from every
thing that tends TO irritate AS re-
CARDS medicine, 1t would be danger
Gus TO suggest anything for this stage;
the best plan is either to leave the
disease to nature, or let your own
family physician prescribe. If any
thing of the nature of serious com
plication should arise, medical
aid must be summoned.
Whether, when the distinctive
whoop is no more heard, danger of
infection to other children is over, is
question that medical opinions vary
on. It is better to be sure than sorry,
however, and / advise that the child
who has had whoopng cough be kept
away from its former companions I'M
til it is once again well and strong.
We may shorten the stage of conva-
lescence by proper treatment.
The class of medicines called anti
spasmodics do good in this last stage.
Belladonna has been recommended
in persistent whooping, but it is q
dangerous drug, and should only be
prescribed by medical man.
A little dose of bromide of potas-
SUM, from three to ten grains, ac-
cording to the age of the patient, will
often secure more quiet night 1t
should be given-nnder medical adj
yice-abOut an hour before sleeping
time, simply mixed IN a little cold
water.
TONES do great COCOA at this time.
If the child is pale and anaemic-Iook-
ing, iron in some form is good. From
three to ten drops of the tincture of
iron In half wineglassful of water
three times day is an excellent
tonic. But eunine also acts as a
charm, and 1t may be given in con-
junction with the iron, Or the cit
rate of iron and quinine may be used
instead. Dose; From two to four
grains In water. Dose of quinine:
From. quarter to half grain thrice
day IN a little drop of sherry. A
bit of biscuit to be eaten at the same
time. Cod liver oil is very valuable
in cases Of convalescence from or in
lingering wheoping cough. Begin
with teaspoonful of the brown oil
three times day after food, and
gradually increase up to dessert
spoonful or more, for cod-liver oil is
more of the nature OF food than med
icine.
But cod-iver oil amalgamated with
extract of malt is better far than any
thing else; it is pleasant to take too,
and so the child will not object to it.
A change of air, as soon as the lit
tie patient is able to bear it, will do
much good.