Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1902-05-21
IN CASE OF BRONCHITIS.
Method of Treatment Prescribed by
Physician Which May Be Self
Administered

Bronchitis occurs most frequently
late in the autumn or early in the
spring, or when the weather is the
most changeable. 1t is often nothing
more than an extension downward
of an ordinary cold, but may be an
accompaniment Of many diseases, no.
tably of typhoid fever, measles, whoop-
ing cough, la grippe, diphtheria and
scarlet fever. The Inhalation of ir-
ritating gases or other substances
may also precipitate an attack, as may
also diseases of the kidneys and heart.
Bronchitis is specifically an inflam-
nation of the mucous membrane lin
ing the large and small bronchial
tubes. This disease begins with acute
attacks, which. prolonged and fire.
quently recurring, become chronic.
Many elderly people in our northern
climate are afflicted with the chronic
form, which is really at the bottom
of the so-called winter coughs" This
chronic form produces organic
changes in the tissues of the tubes
that generally defy all efforts at alb
solute cure, albeit much alienation
will result from intelligent manage
nent and treatment, says A. P. Reed,
NJ. D., in Ladies' World, New York.
Bronchitis, whether acute or chron-
lie, is rarely fatal in healthy grown
people, but considerable fatality at
tends it in both young and old, owing
to the increased liability to serious
pulmonary complications. People who
live an outdoor life are less subject to
this disease than those leading seden-
tary lives. The symptoms Of an ordi-
nary cold are all we get at the very be-
ginning of an attack of bronchitis.
Not until the inflammation extends
to the tubes, producing much hoarse-
ness, do we get a fever temperature,
with it's rroportionate rise of pulse.
Then there is more or less tightness
of the chest and sensa ton of raw
ness and soreness directly under the
upper part of the sternum or breast
bone. and very troublesome cough
troublesome because painful and irri-
tating. At first this cough is dry, but
after few days an abundant secretion
of a mucoid or even puslike nature
forms, lessening the severity of the
cough, and giving the patient imme-
date relief from the severe chest
symptoms. The course Of the disease
varies with the conditions under which
it develops. A simple acute case, un-
complicated, runs an average course
of about two weeks. In mild cases the
treatment is simple. Hot footballs,
drinks of hot lemonade, mustard or
turpentine on the chest, a dose of
nh -
perhaps all that is needed-that is,
provided this treatment is instituted
early. In severe cases, of course, a
physician should be promptly called.
These severe cases are characterized
by an increasing fever, increasing
chest discomfort and general discom-
fort. In the very young or the old, no
chances should be taken, physician
being called promptly if the case is at
all severe. If the cough does not
loosen by the treatment already out
lined, the following prescription would
probably give good results: Chloride
of ammonium, one drachm; codeine
sulphate, eight grains; strip of tolu,
two ounces; sirup of licorice to make
the mixture up to four ounces. The
dose of this for an adult would be
one teaspoonful every three hours;
for a child ten years of age, from a
third to half a teaspoonful. Te
younger children it should be given
in drops.
If, after subsistence of an attack, the
patient is left in weakened state
give the following tonic in the case
of adults and children over IL years
of age: Tincture of nux vomica, one
drachm; phosphoric acid dilute, one
drachm; hydrochloric acid dilute, one
drachm; compound tincture of gen
tan, one ounce; elixir of calisaya
enough to make the mixture up to four
ounces. Give one teaspoonful of this
in wineglass of water after meals
The diet in this disease had best be
of liquid character during the &C
tive stage-milk being a good thing
to use largely. An egg-nog once day
or twice day varies this nicely.
ScaIloped Turnfps.