The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1891-03-27
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Fewer mixtures containing such medi-
cines = the sweet spirit Of nitre, spirit
mindereri. etS, are far less often used
BY physicians Of today than il olden
times. To some extent other medicines,
have displaced them, but baths are now
much relied upon, and, again, the FOYER
In many cxses Is not considered u ir.
gently demanding special treatment.
Is inflammation somewhere within the sys.
ten. AS, for instance. in pneumonia
there is fever, and it is the consequence
Of inflammation in the lungs. The fever
OF pleurisy is attributable to the inflam-
nation of the coverings Of the lungs
called the pleura. Fever sometimes 90.
ours without inflammation, as in typhus
fever, remittent fever, and q few other
diseases; but, as said, In much the
largest proportion Of cases Of fever there
iss.either local or general inflammation;
1t is easy to understand that when
fever occurs a. . symptom Of infamma-
tion It San not be overcome until its
cause Is removed. Sometimes in such
cases the fever runs very high, and.
threatens the life Of the patient; in
which event medicines to lower it are
imperatively demanded. But il it is not
intense it is scarcely important enough
10 treat.
Physicians now distinguish more
closely in febrile cases than could those
who havs gone before them, thanks to
the advances which have been made in
the medical art, and, as q result, not
only is there less dragging in fever
and, for that matter. in all diseases
but remedies are given with nicer dis.
elimination.
The popular fever medicine with the
layman Is sweet spirit Of nitre which is
harmeless enough If used within reason
and only occasionally; and, yet, prob.
ably not in n case out Of ten in which
it is administered does it do any good
whatever.
In fever occurring in consequence Of
q cold the remedy is either a hot bath
Or an old.fashioned rum sweat. These
are among the most means of aborting
the tronble.
For sudden rises in fever which has
been running for several days, instead
Of restoring to drugs on their own re-
sponsibility, those who have patients in
charge would do we'll to depend upon
sponge baths of tepid water and alcohol,
or the latter alone. If the fever runs
very high the sponging ought to be
done every ten or fifteen minutes until
the great heat of the skin has measurably
lessened. This always proves grateful
to a fever patient and usually promotes
refreshing sleep.
Probably the most common cause Of
fever in voting children is constipation,
or, at least. sufficient action of the
bowels. Fever in them is, therefore,
often greatly lessened, if not wholly re.
moved by q cathartio. And when a
child is suddenly taken i'll with high
fever, the mother, while awaiting the
coming of a physician, is scarcely likely
to do any harm, and may do great good,
by giving a brisk cathartic. This is
justitiable, except where the patient is
very young, in which instance dosing
by the mother is rarely allowable.
The conclusions, therefore, for lay
men to accept are that for them to drug
for fever is never wise. Where it is in
tense they should call in physician, or {
they will not do this, they should apply
only such simple remidies as those adj
vised, which are at least harmless
Boston Herald.