Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-01-31

food altogether fer from "a to 4S hours is
much the wisest course. The ''stufhness in
the head" due to the swelling of the lining
membrane of the nasal passages, can gener-
ally be considerably relieved by the use of a
snuff composed as follows:
Menthol, grains; pow dered boracic acid,
! drachm; subnitrate of bismuth and pow
dered benzoin, of each ~ grains.
Danger in Family Towels.
If ga pinch" of this is snuffed up every
two or three hours it will have an imme-
diate and pleasurable effect, also do much
to shorten the run of the attack En- pas
SAINT, it is we'll to say that very many cases
of cold in the head are caused by germs;
hence they are contagious. Oftentimes if
one member of family is attacked, several
others in turn fall victims. In many such
instances the first transmits the contagion
by the means of kissing or otherwise. 1t
follows, therefore, that in all cases of "cold
in the head"this danger should be duly
recognized, actual contact with others be
guarded against and the handkerchiefs,
towels, ETC., used by the patient be speedily
boiled for the purpose of destroying all
germs with which they may be contami-
mated.
Bronchitis very generally follows attacks
of "cold in the head" the inflammation
quite rapidly extending downward. The
first marked evidence that the bronchial
tubes are involved is "rawness" in the
middle of the chest just below the throat.
There is also dry, hard cough. which the
victims are wont to say is so painful that it
seems as though it was tearing open the
chest" During this stage the lining mem
brane is reddened, somewhat swollen and
dry. In about 43 hours, however, its
natural Socration raanpaors au6 with
there comes relief, and the sufferer begins
to raise" freely.
Treating Pain In the Chest.
The painful sensations in the chest call
for the use of mustard pastes, twice daily.
If the patient is confined to his room, after
the pastes are removed, a towel rung out of
warm water should be spread over the en-
tire front of the chest. Over this should be
put dry Turkish towel; ard the same, in
turn, should be covered by several thick
nesses of flannel This is an old-fashioned
method of treatment, called "wet packing
the chest" and it is one of the most effica-
cious known. To lease the cough" syrup
of wild cherry bark will suffice. One tea
spoonful should be taken every three or
four hours. If, after the soreness in the
chest has subsidized, expectoration is not as
free as it ought to be to afford relief, one
third OF teaspoonful of the syrup of squlll
may be taken with every dose, or every
second dose, of the wild cherry.
To some this treatment may seem far too
simple to be effective. They should know
the SIMPLER applied the better. Cough
mixtures as generally made up are largely
responsible for tardy convalescence from
bronchial attacks. The most OF them con-
tain opium. which checks the cough, it is
true, and affords some temporary relief, but
in the end 1t usually does more harm than
good. The cough is salutary symptom
an effort on the part of nature to free the
bronchial tubes of the mucous secretion,
which if allowed to accumulate would canse
much discomfort, even if it did not threaten
life by preventing the incoming and out
going Of air. If medicines are used they
should be such as merely modify the cough
ard render it less painful. The syrup of
wild cherry bark will generally do this.
Fla1seed tea will also act we'll to this end;
and it should be taken freely and often. If
these measures do not bring relief, then the
services of physician should be sought.
Boston, 1892. DIR. FRANK.