The record-union., 1894-11-24
ICE CURE FOR PNEUMONIA.
Important Discovery by a PhiIa-
delphia Physician.
Its Use Greatly Reduces the Rate of
observation-disclosures Feel Immedf-
ate Relief-Advauuages of the APP
pIication of a GIycerIne Spray in
Chronic Nasal Complaints.

ne L6Qu60Cy nowadays IS TO COnSlUer
pneumonia not so much local complaint
as general disease affecting the whole
organism, and the term pneumonia fever,
which is often applied to it, gives a good
idea of the conception that is now enter
tanned of this morbid manifestation. Re-
cent archaeological researches have
shown that pneumonia patients present
in their sputa special microbe, the pneu-
mococcus, and that this microbe can be
cultivated and inoculated. This gives a
satisfactory explanation of the epidemics
OF pneumonia, which we were at a loss to
account for on the hypothesis that the
disease was simple Inflammation of the
pulmonary tissue
Thereupon it was not long before a
comparison was made between typhoid
fever and pneumonia fever, and since
both the complaints are of an infectious
nature, and have both a well defined
temperature curve, 1t is easy to tOrSee
that antithermic and antisepnc remedies
would render great service IN both.
Quinine and saloI have many indications
in the two diseases. but it remained TO be
shown III what manner refrigeration,
which renders such service in the treat
mert of typhoid fever, could be applied
IN the treatment of pneumonia.
BY A PHILADELPHIA DOCTOR.
This has now been done by Mr.. Mays
of Philadelphia, who claims that the APP
plicatiOn OF cold is a powerful means of
Influencing the course of pneumonia.
Its action is obtained by applying ice to
the chest, and it has the same effect on
the death rate of pneumonia as it has in
typhoid fever. 1t Is claimed to modify in
a short time and in very marked man
ner the physical signs, pain, oppression.
cough and eXpectoration. Furthermore.
the patients submit to is quite willingly,
on account of the feeling of relief that it
produces.
Mr.. Mays has treated in this way fifty
cases of pneumonia. and has in no
instance seen any unfortunate result
from it, even when prolonged for more
than two weeks. He shows that be TAX
ing into account different statistics g.
mortality OF 2.S2 per cent. can be OBJ
tanned, which represents the application
OF ice to the chest in pneumonia as
method Of treatment eight times more
favorable than those hitherto known.
THE NASAL GLYCERINE SPRAY.
What is commonly called "a cold in
the head'' is the inflammation of the
mucous membrane lining the cavity Of
the nose, and IL is characterized by q
mucous secretion, generally OF short du-
ration, but which, Ill some circumstances,
may last indefinitely. The principal
cause of the latter condition is the exist
ence of alterations covered with scabs,
the secretion of which undergoes decOm-
position and gives rise to the character
iStic odor. The difficult point in the
treatment of all cases Of this sort is to free
the nose completely by means OF nasal
irrigations Of the matter covering the
damaged mucous membrane, and this the
Dafjnnf 1nnGnallU nahlp n do thj 9
reason this condition Often requires treat
ment for which the patient is obliged to
have recourse TO specialists.
But according to NJ. Musehold of Ber-
lin this complex treatment may be no.
ticeably simplitied by means of the APP
plication of glycerine, which, on account
OF the microscopic properties Of this sub
stance, rapidly softens the crusts in the
nose and renders their removal very
easy. In order that the patient may be
in position to make these applications
personally, NJ. Musehold prescribes
glycerine and boraX, diluted with water
until it can be used in a small spray.
The sprays should be directed into each
of the nasal cavities two or three times a
day, using one or two cubic centimeters
of the following preparations:
Neutral 20 grammes
Do oi 20 Sfalnmes
Distilled 80 grammes
"A lew minutes after LnlS little operation
the crusts are sufficiently soItened to be
easily removed by means of a nasal irri-
CATION. Under the influence of this treat
ment it is claimed that the disagreeable
symptoms of the disorder improve or dis
appear rapidly.
THE NAL DIES MoNTAGN ES."
The greater number of persons who
make the ascent of high mountains suf-
fer from peculiar sensations and SymD-
toms, which constitute what has been
called the "mal des montagnes," char
acteriZed by extreme fatigue, violent
headache, nausea or vomiting and syn
cope.
Up to quite recently this complaint had
been attributed to incomplete throwing
off of the carbonic acid gas resulting from
extreme fatigue, the gas consequently be-
ing present in the blood in excessive
quantities. NJ. Regnard OF Paris has
shown that the real explanation of this
phenomenon is quite different. From
experiments which this Psychologist has
just reported to the Societe de Biologie it
appears that the ''mal DIES montagnes'
depends. on the one hand, on the rarefac-
ton of the oxygen Of the air, and, on the
other, on the fact that tourists who are
not in the habit of mountain elm bling
consume too great an amount of this gas,
1t should be noted that all Alpine