Morning journal and courier., 1891-05-14
TALKS WITH THE DOCTOR.
Pneumonfa-Its Symptoms and I
 Treatmcnt-Croup.
From the New York World

From the New York World.l
 In talking about this fearful disease want to say at the outset that I shall not advise you to doctor yourself. This is too serious matter for an apprentice to handle; it's progress is so rapid and so apt to end fatally that you want the most skillful practitioner, and you need him at the earliest possible moment after the dis ease manifests itself I can, however, tell you something about pneumonia, so that you can perhaps avoid it, and, after all, that is better than the attention of & whole school of physicians.
 There are many conditions of the sys- tenn which are especially inviting to an at tack of pneumonia, such as gout, gouty | rheumatism, diabetes and certain forms of | fever, but above all alcoholism. The use | of alcohol, or any sort of liquor, seems to put the system in particularly receptive | shape for pneumonia, and fast flyers and club men are frequent victims.
 | Our climate is so changeable, too, that l people are prone to be careless about their dress and expose themselves most reck- lessly.
 l As to symptoms of pneumonia, it usual | ly makes itself known by a severe rigor or chill, high state of temperature comes on immediately, face flushed and severe headache, pains in the back and all the members seem sore and aching. The | pulse is full and strong, appetite all gone, there is nausea at the stomach and some times vomiting.
 ] By the end of the first day there is pain in the side, although sometimes this is ab- sent or not severe enough to attract much attention, and coughing commences; there is also now difficulty in breathing, and the drawing of long breath will give acute pain. On account of this pain the breath ing becomes faster and faster, the respira- tion being short, shallow and unsatisfacto- ry. But before this stage you must have sent for the best medical help you can get, and then follow his directions to the let ter. If there is one especial reason for failure in physician's practice it is be- cause his instructions and directions are not carried out
 The particularly dangerous characteris- tic of croup is, like pneumonia, its sud denness. Its action is so rapid, and the little patient is so soon in a condition that is very near to death that parents ''lose their heads" and from extreme fear and anxiety are unable to ceolly go to work with their best judgment. There are two sorts of croup, one in which the hoarse- ness and choking is caused by 8 sort of spasm or contraction of the glottis and known to physicians as pseudo -croup or false croup, and in this there is little or no formation of membrane. With false croup there is much tightness, the same harsh, brassy cough, the breathing is breezy, difficult and rapid. The attacks come on with catarrh and hoarseness. and are apt to recur several nights, sometimes coming on in the daytime There are many causes for an attack of false croup
 sometimes it originates from the stomach
 An exceptionally hearty supper or some
 indigestible food eaten during the evening
 may set up an irritation which will bring
 on the symptoms of false croup, but o1 course the usual cause is exposure and wei feet. It is really mild disease and quick
 ly subsidies under proper treatment, and is
 not apt to be followed by dangerous com plications.
 , For immediate relief, wet a towel ir cold water and wiring it out just dry
 enough to prevent its dripping, and fold 7 it about the child's neck, then cover thi. ) with dry towels or flannel cloths to pre- 3 vent the pillow, &c., from being wet. II a many cases this wet packing of the throa
 is all that is necessary. Leave it on unti D the breathing is easy and natural, and b 3 sure to rub the child dry and warm afte