The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1886-01-13
THE HOME DOCTOR.
How 10 Jreat Whoopins Cougl

Whoopng cough has three distinct
stages. and the treatment indicated varies
in each: /. The preliminary state. 2.
The acute stage. 8. The stage OF con-
valescence.
At first then, the symptoms will be
those of common cold of more or less
severity. This is the time to call in doc
tor if there be whooping cough about,
and more especially if the child has been
exposed to infection.
Keep the patient in quiet, clean,
warm, well-ventilated room, and on a
lower scale of diet than usual. Do net
force food. There is far too mWch of
this od-forcing going on in nurseries,
under the impression that the strength
must be kept up: but If there he no ap-
petite, there will be no power of digest
ing what is swallowed. and matters are
made worse, and oftentimes the door is
thu, opened for the most dangerous
complication to walk IN.
See that the child is warmly clothed.
and kept warm at night, and the chest
covered with piece Of cotton wool,
with oiled silk over it. If there be whee-
zing. stimulating liniment should be
we'll rubbed in, and frequently, to both
back and front of the chest, and front of
the neck. A morsel of flannel should
also be worn round the neck.
The diet should be low and easily d.
gested, and sweating should be encour-
aged at night.
Some easily taken aperient will also do
good salts and SIENNA, castor oil, or
syrup of senna; the first is the best.
Those who live far away from medi-
cal man should know and remember in
all cases of bad cough, when the chest
is choked with phlegm. and there IS thus
much difficulty in breathing, vomlt 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 q
child, and must contain no opium. Avoid
ouack medicines and mixtures in every
shape and form. and do not give sleep
ing draughts; they ars highly dangerous
at all times.
The second stage should be somewhat
differently treated. The cough mixture
NAV be continued unless it blunts the
appetite; the diet must be more nour-
ishing, but still easily digested. The
child should be kept quiet, and perfect.
ly free from annoyance or excitement OF
any kind, and from everything that
tends to irritate. As regards medicine,
it would be dangerous to suggest any
thing for this stage; the best pan is
either to leave the disease to nature, or
let your family physician prescribe. If
ANYTHING OF the nature of serious COM
plication should arise. medical aid must
be summoned as soon as possible.
Whether when the distinctive whoop
is no more heard, danger of infection to
other children is over, is a question that
medical opinions vary on. 1t is better
to be sure than sorry, however, and :!
advise that the child who has had
whooping cough be kept away from its
former companions until it is once again
well and strong. We may shorten the
stage of coavalescence by proper treat
ment.
The class of medicines called anti
spasmodics do good in this last stage.
Belladonna has been recommended IN
persistent whooping. but it is a danger,
Gus drug, and should only be prescribed
by q medical man.
A. little dose of bromide OF potassium,
from three to ten grains. according to
the age of the patient, will often secure
a more quiet night. 1t should be given
under medical advice-about an hour
before sleeping time, simply mixed in
little cold water.
Tonics do great good at this time. II
the child is pale and manufacturing:
iron in some form is good. From three
to ten drops of tincture of iron IN hall
wine glassful of water three times a day
is an excellent tonic. But quinine also
acts as charm, and in may be gwen IN
conjunction with the iron. Or the citrate
of iron and quinine may be used instead.
Dose: from two to four grains in water.
Dose of quinine: from quarter to hall
grain thrice a day in little drop OF
sherry. A bit of biscuit to be eaten at
the same time. Cod liver oil is very
valuable in whooping cough. Begin with
a teaspoonful Of the brown oil three
times a day after food, and gradually
increase up to a dessert spoonful or more,
for cod liver oil is more of the nature OIL
food than meliciue.
But cod liver oil amalgamated with ex-
tract of malt is better far than anything
else; it is pleasant to take. too, and so
the child will not object to it.
A change of air, as soon as the little
patient is able to bear it, will 90 much
good.-A Family Doctor, IN CasssIrs.