The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1900-09-13
VALUABLE SUGGESTIONS.
THE FAMILY DOCTOR
Typhoid Fever Discussed, and Other
Useful Hints,

O00A VI A8A060s
F. w. J. St. John, NJ. d. in Farm Journal.
Typhoid fever is specific, Infectious,
variable fever, lasting from three to
four weeks, and accompanied by ulcer
alton of glands in the small intestines,
a rose -colored eruption upon the abdo-
men, dry, brown tongue, diarrhoea
and often delirum. Any of these con-
excepting the fever and intes-
final liberation, may be absent.
The disease is caused by a germ,
which usually enters the system with
the drinking water. The time elaps-
Ing between the entrance of the germ
and the beginning of illness averages
about fourteen days.
Tho symptoms are as follows: A
person in whom the disease Is develop
ing usually complains of pain in the
head and back some uneasiness N the
bowels and usually there is some diar-
rhoea. The patient is soon obliged to
take the bed. The fever, which is at
first slight, increases day by day until
at the end of the first week OF foyer the
evening temperature has reached lob
LOG.
At about this time rose-colored spots,
resembling flea bites. appear upon the
abdomen. The fever during the second
week does not abate, but in favorable
case during the third week gradually
falls.
During the progress of the disease,
the tongue becomes dry and brown,
the intestines become distended with
gas, and there Is often delirium. There
is a great loss of flesh and bodily
strength. Relapse often occurs when
the patient seems to be improving.
This is probably due to the other in
testinal glands taking up poison from
the existing disease.
Treatment: No remedy known to
the medical profession will cure ty-
phoid fever, consequently good nurs-
ing is all-important.
The diet should be entirely liquid,
milk being the best when it agrees.
Sponge baths several times a day are
always irdicated. No drugs are neces-
sary except particular symptoms call
for them.
Pure boiled water should be freely
allowed. A physician should see the
patient daily.
All the sheets and clothing used by
the sick person should be changed at
least every forty-eight hours, and after
being soaked in dlsinfecting solution
for few hours, boiled for an hour
during the process of washing. All
passages from the bowels and bladder
should stand for few hours in strong
and then be buried where
there can be no possibility of their
any source of water supply.
After convalescence, the sick room
should receive thorough distinction.
FOOT NOTES.
The idea that bathing Is contralndi-
Gated during an attack of the eruptive
fever, quiets restlessness and does not
"drive In" the eruption.
The normal temperature OF the hui
man tody, as shown by thermometer
placed under the tongue, is SO 2-5 de-
grees F. The temperature of the blood
Itself is slightly higher. A tempera-
ture in disease below I03 is considered
safe, above los very dangerous.
The pulse is caused by the pulsa-
tions of the heart and not by the
breathing, as is often supposed. The
average normal pulse rate, or number
of heart beats in an adult is seventy
two per minute.
Many persons take poisonous drugs
In larger doses than prescribed. Bet
ter follow directions or sometime the
result may be disastrous.
If by accident carbollc acid is spilled
on the hands or taken internally, the
best antidote is alcohol, If Immediately
used. Externally wash the parts with
pure alcohol. If the acid has been
swallowed take the alcohol as strong as
possible, internally.
Unless the bottle containing spirits
OF nitre is kept tightly corked the nitre
will soon lose its virtue.
There are some persons in whom the
tongue is habitually coated, and others
where the tongue will remain clean
when the person is ill.
The young NJ. D. just out of college
may know more than the physician OF
twenty years. experience, as the former
is "up-to-date," yet the "old fogy"
CURES BLOOD POISON.