St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1904-10-22
PSI g.
Home Health |
| Club
b. DAVID d. READER, Ph. D..M.D.
- La Ports, Ind.
Those whom shall keen esnecjallv IL
~

" So.
those whom Ishall keep especially in
view while preparing the papers on
the Intelligent use CT water in the treat
men OF disease. will be, first: Such
hoDie class Of parents as are deeply in
terested in not only restoring to health
the loved ones of their own family. but
Keeping them in a condition to ward
OH any attack or danger Of contagion
second: Those who would care for their
own cases of emergency. Third: The
Senerous-hearted, willing ones who are
always seeking to alleviate the suffer-
1ngs OF the afflicted; those whose chief
delight is to restore to health and use
fulness the suffering ones of the COM
munities. .s.-. ......, -..-f .... ..
In this paper I will not attempt to
give specific instructions for the cure
OF any particular form, but will give
simply the preliminary steps which may
with safety be applied in almost ali
cases of fever.
we will say that young man or
woman has been taken with some sort
OF fever, and is lying moaning upon
the bed, rolling the head restlessly from
side to side, while the eyes have an ex-
cited and troubled look; or perhaps the
patient lies quite still with the eyes
closed OF course you call the family
physician. and he looks at the coated
tongue, notes the temperature OF TIE
body. counts the pulse beats, name S
correctly the kind of fever with viii; Il
the poor sufferer is afflicted, leaves sore
medicine, and starts to take his depart
ure. With anxious aspect you follow
him to the door, and are told that it is
a serious case. 1t may be possible til at
the remedies left will work off a pro-
aonged attacks. but at the best, it will be
several days before relief comes, and
1T may be 9. IA or 81 days. according to
what may develop during the next "a
hours rsrtwE
1t is certainly very discouraging
Times are hard Perhaps it is an
eldest son; one whose earnings help
to supply the daily bread, or
the means wherewith to pay a Goc-
tors bill are very scant. What is to be
done! Much. aye, very much. Let us
surprise the good doctor when he comes
tomorrow, or note how his kindly face
will glow with happiness when he sees
his. patient. for tell you. as matter OF
fact, there is not one physician in ten
who does not receive call with mere
or less dread, and to whom signs OF
improvement and recovery are as well
come, as to any member of the family
Physicians are the butt of many a
coarse joke, but many of them work
for hours, after they should have been
taking much-needed rest, and that, 100.
in cases where they can never hope for
financial reward
Now for the patient. You return and
lay your hand upon his brow It is
dry and hot He says your cool hard
feelsgood. and this gives us hint You
also examine his feet. and they feel
like fee to your band, He says your
warm hand feels good to his feet This
gives another hint.
A hot fermentation applied to the
feet and a cold compress to the head
surely this is the demand OF nature
How can it best be accomplished?
Do not rush for the hot-water bag ard
place it at his feet. while you wiring a
it upon the burning brow. Either of
these is good as far as they go. but they
will not suffice in this case. as well try to
put out the fire Of a burning barn With
dipper Of water. &N
A hot fomentation means in this case
an old wooden blanket, saturated with
boiling hot water. and then wrung un-
til the water does not drip from it.
Place an old quilt or oilcloth upon the
bed under the patients feet and legs.
and upon this spread the blanket. lay
ing the feet thereon; fold the blanket
up over them, being careful not to scald
or burn the skin; wrap them up nicely
in this steaming-hot blanket, well up
to the knees, il the cold reaches that
far up. and as soon as they are COM
Portable, turn your attention to the
process of lowering the flame that is
the vitality and is manifest
w doing its worst work in or near
the danger point-the brain. Secure a
bowl of ice-water, if it is convenient;
if not, get the coolest water that is to
be had; have. ready two towels OF the
usual width and about one-half to two
thirds OF a yard in length. Fold these
lengthwise to about four ply, thus max
ing long, narrow bandage. Place
both Of them in the cold water. wiring
one of them out. rather tightly. SO that
It will feel comfortable; place the mid
die Of this at the back of the patients
head. down near the base of the brain.
and bring the two ends together over
The forehead Press 1t gently to the
lead all around. and continue changing
The position of your hands in pressing,
80 that the cool cloth may come in
.lose contact with every portion OF the
head which it covers.
This may at first give only slight
feeling Of relief, but that it is relief
s distinctly certain. As soon as the
irst towel has lost the feeling of cold
,ess. change it for the one remaining |
n the water, and again repeat the
The changing OF towels will
probably be required as often rs once
very minute for 10 ,or Is minutes, |
yhen there will be very sensible de- !
.rease in the temperature Of the head.
4 tier thisthe process should be continued
4 intervalso two to three minutes for at |
east half an hour when your patient
rim hesdn tn feel as II he would prefer