St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1904-10-22

'SA%i tS"Sl 0k InC beA0C VI tAO NJ 0AA
DOWNWARD. The cold towel next to the
skin. and tee Cry one under it will keep
the bedding and clothing dry. Now let
the patient lie upon this and rest deli
ciously comfortable If he desires to
have this changed after it becomes
heated for the other cold cloths, do not
hesitate. but keep on with the cooling
process, ard your perseverance will
be rewarded by seeing the changed look
in the eye, and hearing the words OF
gratitude from the lips. You may have
turned the tide of the fever, even though
the orthodox time for it to run has not
passed, and you have certainly given the
sufferer a great lift on the road to re-
covery
It is well at this time to look after
the condition of the feet. They will
probably be found quite warm and
comfortable, but the blanket is grow
ing cool, and nothing is more upcom-
Portable than cold wet blanket when
the thing desired is warmth. If,
therefore, it is beginning to grow cool,
and the feet are comfortable, it has
accomplished its purpose and should
be removed. The feet should then
be wrapped snugly in warm, dry
blanket, and they will probably retain
the present temperature. for during
this heating and cooling process you
have established an equilibrium of the
circulation and the blood is passing
in natural manner throughout all
portions of the body. The congestion
at the principal point of danger, the
head, has been relieved.
A complete cure has not, however,
been effected in this short hours
work, and there must be no relaxation
of your efforts if you wish to be sue
cessful. The time of your work in
scoring the first point must depend
upon two things: First, the feelings
of the patient, and second, upon your
own judgment The entire time re-
quired may not be over half an hour,
or it may take an hour and a half.
Using all of the gentleness possible,
not allowing the patient to lift hand
or foot to help himself. or to raise his
head when changing the towels, with
one hand gently, tenderly, lift the
hot, feyerish head, and with the other
remove one bandage and replace it
with the other. You can do this very
skillfully after few trials.
When you cease from the first
period let the patient rest, if SO dis
posed. for an hour or perhaps longer;
then carefully note his condition. The
fever is probably still there, but he
feels more comfortable. The feet are
still warm. and. if the body is hot and
dry, again start the cooling process.
This time it may not be necessary to
use the not fermentation at the feet,
but the cooling process would better
be directed almost wholly to the spinal
column. ~
1t is we'll to have, in this case, an
old night-robe, that may be cut open
the full length OF the back, and. of
course, there should be no under
clothing on the body. Some people
are in the habit Of wearing an under
shirt at night; some even Of wearing
the same one that they have worn
during the day This should never
be permitted under any circumstances
while living in civilized country, and
especially must this not be allowed in
a case of sickness. So, now, that you
have everything convenient, gently
he wit 11y hic ,il d.
remove the now hot and dry towel
previously placed there, and put in its
stead another cool one and allow the
body to resume it's former position.
If laying on the side is preferred, you
can easily press the cold compress
along the spinal column by the use of
pillows and other bedding. Repeat
the changing Of these towels on the
spine as rapidly as they seem to grow
warm. The patients own feelings will
be your best guide AS long as he
feels that the right thing is being
done, and likes the process, by all
means proceed When he feels that
he would rather rest. let him rest,
there are some people who
are always fearful of troubling people
when effort is being made in their
behalf t4a
If your patient is of this kind, then
you should use your own judgment,
and cease only when you see that the
patient is really weary and would be
better off resting. Ii he is delirious,
this treatment will restore the mental
balance, and he will soon be able to
direct as to his feelings.
By far the greatest number of fail
ures occur in such cases from giving
less of that which cools, than enough,
rather than from OVERRIDING it.
There is often great fear of con-
tagion from fever cases, and this fear
is sometimes sufficient to deter from
Is usually greater than the actual dan-
ger. In the future papers l shall give
the method to be pursued in order to
reduce the chances Of infection to the
lowest possible point. In the mean
time use plenty of fresh air, get all
The sunshine into the room that is
possible to let in. and remember the
agents spoken of in previ-
Jus lessons BY doing SO. the danger
will not be much, ii any, more than it
IS while walking a crowded street.
All communications for this depart
nent should contain at least four cents
n stamps, and should be addressed to
Dr.. David H. Reeder. Laporte, Ind.