The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1891-11-28
HOUSEHOLD MEDICINE.
Some Timely Hints of Interest
to Parents.


Bilious fever is one Of the most
common affections among children
And, strangely enough, its true ma
ture is rarelyrecognized by parents,
probably because its signs are some.
what vague. 1t is generally caused
by exposure, and, more frequently
than otherwise, soon after eating.
If child takes cold while its stom-
ach contains food, that organ stops
work for time. Its contents then
decompose and become source of
irritation.
Not only is the stomach disturbed
by the products of these changes,
but the liver and all associate or
gans are more or less upset. More
over, evidently some Of the hurtful
products are absorbed, and, in con-
sequence, the blood for the time be-
ing is impure. The symptoms that
result are loss of appetite, offensive
breath, headache, dizziness and gen
eral malaria, or what many mothers
term "dumpishness. " There is also
more or less fever.
A noticeable feature about the
fever is that it generally comes on
first during the afternoon or even
ing, and declines after midnight.
The following morning the child
seems to be very much better, and
very likely desires to be up and
dressed and to- play about for
time. Near noon, however, it loses
much of its spirit, and by night the
fever is on again, and runs as it did
twenty-four hours before.
The fever comes and goes like this;
and the child's condition changes
correspondingly, now better and
again worse, for week or longer;
finally, if it has been properly treat
ed, an improvement is noted. There
are the same remissions, but the af-
ternoon fever and depression grows
less from day to day; each succeed
ing day, also, the little patient seems
stronger and brighter during the
forenoons. And in this way the
trouble seems to wear off.
Attacks Of this sort run from ten
days to several weeks, if left to
themselves; but under proper treat
ment the course is very much short
ened. Almost without exception
parents assume that their children
when suffering from it are rapidly
losing strength, and ought to be fed
generously. They, therefore, insist
upon their taking beef tea, eggs
beaten up in milk and other inva-
lids food, and in consequence their
trouble is aggravated.
Whereas, the dietetic treatment
should be of the starvation sort.
And, as a rule, were they deprived
of food altogether two or three days |
they would rapidly mend.
During such attacks the digestive
powers are very weak, and the food
not being quickly disposed of, as it
ought to be, decomposes and then
intensifes the existing trouble. The
proper course is to feed very SPAR
ngly, and only the lightest foods.
Milk and lime water are allowable;
also the juice of ripe fruits in season.
Beef tea and other meat products
IRE forbidden, also all fatty foods,
or the liver being for the time Grip
,led they would pass through the
,ody unchanged. Cornstarch, ar
'owroot, and light custards are am
,ly sufficient for support.
AS for medicines, only a mild
axative is needed. The bowels are
generally constipated, but they open
eadily upon the judicious use of
my form of magnesia. Whatever
axative is given, it is better to ad-
minister it in small doses, two or
hree times daily, than in one large
lose. To favor it's action and wash
,ut the waste avenues, large guam
tiles of warm water should be
AIKEN daily.
Not only do parents assume that
uch patients need generous feed
ng, but they have the mistaken
lotion that they must have tonics,
nd the same are sure to do harm.
f they will only give them chance
O get we'll, and restrict themselves
O the treatment advised, a cure in
very instance will speedily follow.
A Stranded Actor.