Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-01-11

his recognition of professional obligations,
he would never have been able to acquire
the facts which were so generously given.
The physician tells US that the so-called
influenza is not a disease, but disorder,
the principal pathological conditions,
which physicians can best interpret. Heat
regulation modified, production increased,
dissipation lessened, neuralgia intra cram
ial, and arms and legs, rhumatoid disturb
ances, vomiting neurosal, bronchial irrita-
ton developed, exudations increased,
cough largely reflex.
Coming now to facts of special interest
to laymen, is this a new disorder, ia
which we are strangers?
No. 1t is the old-fashioned mucous
fever"
Is this affection dangerous?
No 1t is very uncomfortable, but
safe, disorder.
Does it ever cause pneumonia?
No; it somewhat increases the suscepti.
bility, incident to the season of the year
to broncho-pneumonia, in the old, feeble
and young.
Is this prevailing disorder infectious?
Yes. 1t is not, however, contagious. II
is probably caused by heterogeneous
which are conveyed in the air. A person
exposed to them is likely to have the dis
ease, but cannot take it from another suf.
fering from it,
Now, as to the treatment As soon as
one feels the first symptoms Of the disor.
der, he should at once 60 home, either
take hot full bath or oot-bath, and get
into bed and stay there for three days
This matter of confinement in bed for the
length of time stated is an important one
there would be some danger in leaving ii
sooner. He will do we'll then to send for
a physician; but if he must treat himself
let him take the one remedy of all-ace-
tanilide. 1t is safe if used in any
thing like reason. Druggists have on sale
adult may take one tablet every hour, il
needed, for several hours. Acetanilide
lowers the fever and relieves the pain in
the head and body; and it also quiets
restlessness. Probably the good effects
OF the drug will be apparent after
the second or third dose; if So
it need not then be taken oftener than
two, three or four hours, as the case may
be. If the attack seems very obstinate
and does not yield within six hours, one
tablet of acetaHildie may be taken every
hour during that time. After that, it is
best to dose little less often, and take a
tablet, say every three or four hours, il
needed Of course, just as soon as i'm
provement is noted the intervals between
the doses should be heightened, and the
giving of medicine should be discontinued
altogether as soon as The fever is rapidly
abating and the pains are subsiding.
Some time during the first twenty four
hours it viii be well to take purge; two
or three compound cathartic pills will act
freely.
As to the dietetic treatment of the Sin
fuenza," the starvation sort is the best, at
least for persons attacked while in fairly
robust health. Milk will meet all the re-
quirements. Stimulants are forbidden,
except, of course, they be ordered by a
physician. The headache in influenza"
is not likely to yield until the associate
symptoms have abated. Some rellef
can be obtained from an application OF
menthol-one drachm in ten drachms
OF alcohol. This should be applied with
Su1dl1 SDOuSCs IlOl lOOL Ddklo
tered once in six or eight hours at first
have some good effect, easing the head a
little and tending to quiet the restlessness.
Of course, mustard pastes can be applied
to the back and other painful parts in this
as in every other affection presenting like
symptoms.
Now as to preventive treatment. 1t is
positive fact that those who live gener-
GU ly and exercise but little, and so allow
their systems to become choked up with
waste, are the most liable to take cold. 1t
appears, also, that those who take cold the
easiest are the readiest victims to the pre-
vailing distemper Hence to eat lightly
and only of simple and easily digestible
foods would suggest itself as one of the
important essentials. To exercise freely
in the open air is another. The bowels
should be kept active. If they are nat
urally SO they need not, of course, be in
terfered with, but if not they should be
stimulated, either by laxative foods, fruits,
ETC., or by some gently-acting medicine.
Carlsbad salts in water, before breakfast, or
one compound cathartic pill at night, will
do all which is required. Hot drinks, be
they tea, coffee, or alcoholic stimulants,
should be eschewed. To dress properly,
live in pure air, and be discreet under ex-
posure, are other essentials to health, and
SO are important as preventive meas
ures.
The fact is emphasized that the medi-
cinal treatment recommended in the fore
going is for adults only. Since the Gin
fiuenza" increases in the old, feeble and
young the susceptibility to broncho-pneu-
monia, members of those classes should be
invariably intrusted to the care of physi-
clans; none others ought to assume their
treatment, so great is the responsibility.