The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-10-08
Medical Notes

following resolution. which was passed
unanimously:
Resolved, That the state board of
health consider the propriety of quar-
antining against human beings and do
nestle animals with tuberculosis enter
ing the state"
| DR.. Crowley says: "In year 10000
consumptives enter our state, pro-
miscuously spreading the germs Of their
disease. The climate may save one
to thirty lives or prolong a life q few
months or a year, but how many others
who have not been previously infected
will die from this reason? We are NOR
bidly afraid Of diphtheria, scarlet fever,
smallpox, cholera and yellow fever. We
quarantine these cases because they kill
SO quickly, and our people appreciate
this, but lingering tuberculosis diseases
that eventually kill twice as many as all
these together are permitted to continue
unchecked, Notwithstanding the efforts
of science.
Patients, I think, ought not to attend
churches or theaters or public social
gatherings, nor should they occupy pub
lie conveyances, such as railway cars,
without especial provision being made
| for them.
II do not believe that patients suffering
from consumption should be permitted
to enter hotels without rooms being pro-
tected by health officer of the COM
munity, acting in accordance with the
general laws Of the state"
|
Is called to the fact that an infant may
become as firmly addicted to opium as
an adult and feels it's withdrawal as
keenly. Investigation at the Babies
hospital. in New York. shows that over
half Of the patients under six months
of age have been systematically drugged
with opium in the form Of paregorio
or soothing syrup. Infants have been
seen accustomed to paregortc In state
bordering upon a frenzy twelve hours
after the nurses enforced absence. In
fants acquire the opium habit sometimes
through the mother who, without realtz-
ing the harm, obtains quiet and rest for
herself by Quieting her child with some
preparation of opium; sometimes through
the nursery maid, who knows not. nor
cares not, what the result may be as
long as she Is spared trouble.
A nurse VINO DOdCSCS Oh Der dUi1ly "
keep an infant quiet should be an OBJ
ject of suspicion, for the presumption Is
strong that she gives them opium, and
this is proven If, during her absence,
children become restless and wakeful.
STILL for the relief of pain, no drug
equals opium, and when actual pain Is
present 1t may be given to children
without danger, but its constant use for
the lesser ills and aches cannot be too
strongly condemned. 1t should never
be used for sleeplessness, which Is bot
caused by actual pain. Under any cir
cumstances opium should be given to
children with caution, for they are more
susceptible to its influence than adults.
Buckley, speaking Of the old tar and
| zinc ointment, says that, If correctly and
faithfully applied, 1t is still one of the
best applications for eczema. 1t consists
of tar ointment two drachms; oxide or
zinc, one drachm, and cold cream, six
! drachms AS ordinarily used, ointment
is not properly applied. 1t should be kept
| in very close and constant contact with
! the parts and the common method OF
| 81, caring 1t on the surface and then plac-
| ing cloth over it seldom suff1ces. To be
| effective, ointment should be spread on
| the woolly side of lint and be firmly
bound in place with a gauze bandage.
|
self when affected with an itching skin
disease, Buckley recommends the use of
| q small pillow case, with an opening rip
! ped at the closed end to allow the head
! being passed through. The pillow case Is
| drawn over the baby and secured in
place by safety pin between the legs.
| one or two pins secure the arms In place
| at the sides and make 1t impossible for
| the child to reach It's face, or even its
/ of no
| Gus continuance, but it is of the greatest
! service and the little patients quickly
become used to it
| Whenever large parade takes place In
a city the streets are necessarily blocked
| for some time and prevent the passage
| of physicians as well as others. A de-
| lay Of a few minutes, to say nothing of
hours, may mean death or serious COM
| plications to person who is Ill, and 1t
| Is often imperative that a physician
should reach his patient as soon as pos
sible. The Philadelphia County Medical
| society," at a recent meeting, discussed
! this subject and appointed committee
| of five members to confer with the mayor
to obtain a concession of the right of way
and precedence for physicians. In many
cities physicians on professional errands
are given right Of way and these prec-
| edents should be sufficient to obtain a
right of way in all cities and towns Such
| a privilege would necessitate the adoption
of some distinctive mark or badge worn
upon the person and displayed upon the
carriage.
! A favorite bug exterminator at present
Is a solution of corrosive subImate in
alcohol corrosive sublimate two ounces:
| alcohol, one pint)
It Is not uncommon for physicians to
be called to cases where. through care
! lessness, this extremely poisonous solu-
ton has been put in a beer bottle and
mistaken for beverage Too great
care cannot be exercised in handling and
keeping such preparations. The best
way is to put poisonous liquids in cor
rugated blue bottles, properly labeled
| poison" An extemperaneous arrange
ment is to roll a piece Of coarse sand
paper around the bottle with the sand
side out, keeping 1t In place by rubber
bands. In applying this solution to any
article feather should be used and
burned up when the work has been done
1t would seem a good method to use
an atomizer, but serious cases of poison
| ing have occurred in this way, the opera
| tor inhaling the vapCr, causing serious
| irritation and Inflammation of the eyes,
nose, throat and lungs.
DR.. Winslow has recently publish
case where chloroform was given to the
patient in a small room in which three
| gas flames were burning. In q short
time those in the room were conscious
of choking. irritating sensation in the
throat and chest, causing incessant
coughing and gasping for breath At
| first it was thought that coal or flu
minating gas was escaping, but the
trouble was traced later to the chloro-
form. The patient suffered no harm
whatever. Chloroform vapor is acted
llnnn by burning gas and certain cha noes