The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1891-06-20
Treatment of Group.
4 ,oetor in Sew York world.

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'f'i.e particularly dangerous Characteristic
Of Group Is, like pneumonia, its suddenness.
Its action Is - rapid, and the little patient
Is 30 soon in condition that Is very near
TO death. that parents ''lOse their heads,
and from extreme fear and anxiety are
unable to coolly 20 to work with their best
Judgment. There are two sorts Of Group
one in which the hOarseness and choking
are caused by sort Of spasm or contrac-
ton of the CLOTHS, and known 10 physicians
as 2seudo-croup or false Group, and in this
there Is little or no formation Of membrane.
With false Group there is much tightness,
the same harsh. brassy cough, the breath
ing Is Wheezy, difficult and rapid The
attacks come on with catarrh and hOarse-
ness, and are apt 10 recur several nights,
sometimes coming on in the daytime.
There are many causes for an attack OF
false Group. Sometimes it originates from
the stomach. An exceptionally hearty
supper or some iDdigestible food eaten
during the evening may set up an irrita-
ton which will bring on the symptoms OF
false Group, but of course the usual cause
is exposure and wet feet. 1t is really a
mild disease, and quickly subsidies under
proper treatment, and is not apt to be fol
lowed by dangerous complications.
For immediate relief wet towel in cold
water and wiring it out just dry enough to
prevent its dripping, and fold it about the
child's neck, then cover this with dry
towels or flannel cloths To prevent the pill
low, etc. from being wet. In many cases
this wet packing Of the throat is all that is
necessary. Leave it on until the breathing
is easy and natual, and be sure to rub the
child dry and warm after taking of the
pack. 1t is well to put light wooden
bandage about the throat for the remainder
of the night, but never accustom child to
being bundled up" lfthe cold pack does
not prove sufficient to give relief at once,
give repeated doses of sirup Of ipecac,
larger or smaller according to the violence
of the spasm, until vomiting cnsucs.
An excellent cough medicine to keep in
the house, and one which works well in
cases of false Group, is the old fashioned
mixture Of sirup Of squills and paregoric,
or a mixture Of glycerine and water in equal
parts. If with this treatment the child
does not get easy, and fall into natural
sleep, but, on the contrary, the choking
sensation continues or becomes worse, you
may conclude that you have case on hand
Of true Group, and the sooner you get
doctor the better.
False Group you may relieve tonight, and
tomorrow morning there may be no trace
of it; tomorrow night and the next night
and for several nights it may come on again
as badly as ever. 1t is not 80, however,
with true croup-there is no "let up In
this case; the condition gradually gets more
and more severe until death ensues from
suifocation, or until the disease submits to
treatment The average duration Of case
Of real Group is about seven or eight days,
and many methods and remedies are adj
yised.
Both false and true Group may be guard
ed against in great measure. 1t Is mis-
take to accustom children to such bundling
and wrapping up when they go out that
active exercise is not easily taken, and Of
course would not have you 20 to the
other extreme and not clothe them warmly
enough; but if they are strong and lively,
the latter course is really the safest, pro-
vided they can come indoors to rest and
get warm. Look to it that their feet are
attended to when they come in from play
ing in the wet, A good rubbing. or better
still, bathing in alcohol and water, and then
rubbing, and dry, warm stockings, will often
prevent a case Of Group or some other form
of cold.
If they are weak, or not really active
and strong, course of strip iodide of iron
will usually bring them up. See to it that
they are regular and rather lax in their
bowel movements, for nearly every prepa-
ration of iron has tendency to promote
constipation.
Death is almost always caused by suf-
location, on account of the closing up Of
the CLOTHS by the membrane, which forms
so rapidly that constant attention with
the probang or spray is necessary to impede
its growth. Whichever method of apply
ing is used, any application that is irritating
is dangerous and should be avoided, as, for
instance, nitrate Of silver and several of
the mineral acids.
Probably the best solvent is freshly
made lime water, and it may readily be
applied in form of vapor without any ap-
pafatus. Small pieces of fresh, unslaked
lime may be put into wide mouthed
bottle--a pint glass fruit jar will answer
and water poured upon it to slake it, and
the patient may then breathe the fresh
vapor as it arises. In cases of true Group
this is probably the best course to pursue
until the doctor comes. Tincture of iron
(full strength may be applied to the men,
brane with camel's hair pencil or pro-
bang. The latter instrument is simply a
bit of fine soft sponge, fastened securely
with silk thread to the end of piece Of
whalebone or reed about as long as a lead
pencil, and is simply swab.
With this swab diluted Tactic acid may
be applied to the membrane, and next to
lime water it is probably the best and
safest solvent that can be used. To pre-
pare it for use simply add the acid to
water until it has a decidedly sour taste.
During an attack Of Group it is necessary
that we should do everything to keep the
patient nourished, as the tremendous exer
ton of breathing, together with the appre-
hension of fatal result, are most exhausting.
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When the sixteenth State, Tennessee,
had been admitted to the Union in the
latter part of 1916, another star was added