Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-04-27
POINTERS ON HEALTH.
Saltpeter Found to be Very Effective
in Chiils and Fever.
TREATING TUMORs ON THE BRAIN.
Chloride Of Lime Should be Confined II
Used as q DiSinfectant.
A GOOD WASH FOR IRRITABLE EYES


specific for chill and fever. There appears,
however, to be danger OF its losing its pre-
eminence. "Down South" In certain
ma.arial districts, number of physicians
have been for long time using potassii
nitras-saltpeter-in Of quinine; and
they find it acts better. 1t is reported, says
writer in the Boston Herald, that as high
as 65 per cent of all the cases treated by
saltpeter have been cured by the admins
tration of single dose; the remaining IS
per cent it had no effect upon-no matter
how many doses were given.
And it seems that the remedy acts with
marvellous rapidity, if it acts at all: II
given early in chill, it will cut it short.
Quinine will not do that, unless it is given
simultaneously - always a questionable
method of administration. Another interest
ing fact is, that the saltpeter is only required
In medium dose-30 grains. DIR. Hunter
rightly says that disorder extending over
period OF months or years, characterized
by regular periodic malarial paroxysms and
presenting the characteristic evidences OF
chronic malarial poisoning should be in
simultaneously cured bv the administration
OF comparatively infnitesimaI quantity Of
potassii nitras, rapid restoration to health
without relapse. does not accord with our
experience in the use of medicine and may
justly be held as new and unusual. OF
course no one yet knows why this remedy
acts as 1t does. Saltpeter in old times was
quite often used as medicine, but not much
OF late years, and never before, as far as we
know, in this disease Science has yet failed
to prove Just what causes malaria. Al
though the germ theory is the popular one,
%hAra - Il
There is good deal of work yet to be done
in this field.
TUMoRs ON THE BRAIN.
Tumors and assesses may develop in the
brain as in other parts of the body. OF
course, skull bones are unyielding, and,
therefore, when a tumor forms, it is at the
expense of the brain substance. which in the
immediate neighborhood of the tumor NAV
at first resist the pressure, but sooner later
soltens down and becomes practically de-
stroyed. A variety of symptoms accompany
brain tumors, among them headache, YER
tlgo, vomiting and paralysis. Very gener-
ally, when the trouble is first forming, the
fact ia not recognized, Tor the reason that
the symptoms excited may indicate only
digestive disturbances. The termination in
most cases of brain tumor has been fatal,
sooner or later. In some instances their
growth is slow, but in others quite rapid;
some patients die within a few months, but
others live for many years.
The only tumors in this situation which
are at all likelyto yield to the treatment ara
those which owe their origin to syphilis. A
number OF cases are now on record in which
trephining has been performed, and the
tumors In the brain removed through the
openings made in the skull. OF course the
operation can only be successful in certain
line of eases-where the tumors are small,
accessible, and dangerous parts are not in
volved; still, in the fact that good results
are promised even in one case out of many
we have much to be thankful for, and there
is reason to believe that, after more extended
research, the operation will be successfully
practiced In larger proportion of cases than
now.
One of the first things for people to learn
is not to trifle with drugs unless they know
absolutely all there is to be known about
them. Two cases of poisoning are reported
from emulsions, comparatively harmless.
The victims did not shake the mixtures and
got only the deadly Ingredients which had
risen to the top.
THE BEST DIsINFECTANT.
Chloride of lime is the safest. az we'll an
one of the best, of disinfectants. 1t owes its
merit to the free chlorine gas which it con-
tains when fresh and gives off slowly into
the air. When used in sufficient quantity
in room or closed space, it combats much
Of its impurities. As for the germs of dis
ease, this agent is something of an enemy to
them, although not powerful one It in
customary in contagious diseases to lay the
chloride OF lime about in saucers. Some
good is certainly done in that way, but it il
by the quantity OF lime used which,
in order to have a very decided effect, must
be considerable. It acts exceedingly we'll
in solution with water as disinfectant OF
wash clothing" which has been within the
atmosphere of a sickroom containing pa
tient i'll with an infectious disease. Some
use it in solution, to disinfect water closets
and bath pipes; but it is scarcely fit for that
purpose, as the chlorine corrodes lead and
iron.
The fact should be remembered that in
using chloride of lime it must be confined in
order to render it eficacious as a disinfect-
ant. We occasionally see it sprinkled about
in foul places, such as open drains, on heaps
Of filth, etc.-plaees freely exposed to the
air. In such situations it is absolutely
powerless to do good. 1t must be in prao-
.ically closed space, where the gases arising
rom it can be confined until they can do
their work.
AN EFFICIENT EYE WASH.
Irritable eyes, due to strains, ust, cold
Ind variety Of other causes, are quite COM
non. Among the domestic remedies which
Ire the most popular are applications Of
Earm milk. tea, sassafras pith water, etc.
3orax ana camphor water, an agreeable and
'ficient remedy, has long been used BY
physicians. An eye wash, very nearly, IL
Tot quite, as serviceable, can be made by
dding one drachm of the crystals of boracic
cid to a pint of soft, boiled water, This
hould be boiled and kept in q cool place.
Three or four times day half a cupful of
be solution should be heated, and the ewes
'athed with it as hot as can be borne.
Apropos of this, people will do we'll to re-
member the fact that some kinds of sore
yes are highly contagious. And the in
ectious poisons, not being easily killed, are
ften transmitted from one person to an
ther on towels, wash basins, ETC.. used In
ommon. Probably all know that skin dis
ases are often conveyed in that way, but
w. however, can know that the same in
rue with diseases of the eyes, which are
,uch more to be feared.
A COMMON DELUsIoN.
When dlarrnea occurs during the period
dentition it is quite generally attributed
} that process; and it is popular belief
nat the affection within certain limits ia
enehcial to teething children, for the rea-
IN that. in consequence of the circulation
the blood being more active in the bowels.
is less SO in the brain, and diseases OF the
liter are, therefore. not SO likely to occur.
There is no good reason tor belle wing
lat diarrhea is ever caused by teethine:
or can it be accepted as salutary during
he period OF dentitlon. Believing to the
'ntrarY, many mothers have allowed the
ouble to run on In their children and 50
.AoI = L.