Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1904-11-24

Home Health
o. Club s ..... !.
By DAVID q. lEADER. Ph. D.. ND.
La Porte, Ind.


view while preparing the papers on
the intelligent use of water in the treat
men Of disease, will be, first: Such
noble 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 condition to ward
off any attack or danger OF contaglon.
Second: Those who would care for their
own cases of emergency. Third: The
generous-hearted, willing ones who are
always seeking to alleviate the suffer-
ings of the afflicted; those whose chief
delight is to restore to health and use
fulness the suffering ones of the CON-
munities. ".
In this paper l 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 all
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, rSaling 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 the
body, counts the pulse beats, names
correctly the kind Of fever with which
the poor sufferer is afflicted, leaves some
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 that
the remedies left will work off pro-
!onged attacks, but at the best, it will be
several days. before relief comes, and
it may be g. II or 81 days, according to
what may develop during the next "a
hours.
It 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 doc
tors bill are very scant. What is to be
done? Much, aye, very much. Let US
surprise the good doctor when he comes
to-morro or note how his kindly face
will glow with happiness VIXEN he sees
his patient, for tell you. as matter OF
fact, there is not one physician in ten
who does not receive call with more
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, too.
in cases where they can never hope for
financial reward.
Now for the patient. You return and
lay your hand upon his brow. 1t is
dry and hot. He, says your cool hand
feels good, and this gives us hint You
also examine his feet, and they feel
like ice to your hand. 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 and
place it at his feet, while you wiring a
handkerchiefou out of cold water and place
it upon the burning brow. Either of
these is good as far as they 60, but they
will not suffice IN this case, as we'll try to
put out the fire of a burning barn with
a dipper of water
A hot fermentation 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, if the cold reaches that
far up, and as soon as they are COM
Portable, turn your attention to- the
process of lowering the fame that is
consuming the vitality and is manifest
ly doing it's worst work in or near
the danger point-the brain. Secure a
bowl of ice-water, il it is convenient;
if not, get the coolest water that is to
be had; have. ready two towels Of the
usual width ard about one-half to two
thirds of yard in length. Fold these
lengthwise to about four ply, thus max
ing a long, narrow bandage. Place
both of them inlthe-cold water, wiring
one sof 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 it gently to the
head all around, and continue changing
the position of your hands in pressing
so that the cool Cloth may come in
close 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
is distinctly certain. AS soon as the
first towel has lost feeling of cold.
ness, change it for the one remaining
in the water, and -agaiD repeat the
process. The changing Of towels viii
probably be required as often as once