The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1905-06-23

Home Health
i Club
By DAVID d, FEEDER. Phi. D., Nd.
La Porte, Ind
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0 POISONING.

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caused "blood poison" Only a small
percentage Of the cases so called ars
blood poison, however. The disease
when really present, is indeed a very
serious affection; but is, as a rule, cas-.
fly overcome if properly handled.
True blood poison Is, in most cases
caused by the toxic matter from an ul,
cerated condition, or from any wound,
being taken up by the circulation and
carried throughout the entire system.
1t may occur as the result Of careless
ness, uneleanliuess, or the improper
dressing Of a wound
A genuine case can be determined by
the following symptoms, i. e., in the
beginning, there is a decided chill or
slight shivering; this may become OF
frequent occurrence, while profuse per
spiration marks the intervening inter
walls; the pulse is very rapid, some.
times reaching even as high as $50
beats per minute the breathing is
quiekened, and the countenance as,
cumes an apprehensiye expression; the
glands swell, the sore or wound and
its immediate vicinity become red and
angry in appearance. In prolonged
cases, there is probably q hectic fever,
frequent chills, sleepIessness, loss of
appetite, and resulting emaciation. The
skin becomes yellow and spotted; the
joints swollen; the tongue furred,
there is great thirst; q cough produc-
tive Of much pain in the chest, togeth-
ser with pr%ostratton, mental and phys
ical, When these symptoms present
themselves, $here il undoubtedly a
case of genuine blood poisoning to deal
with, and it Is a serious affair.
But. first, it is better to take up those
cases which are blood poison in name
only, A small pimple or red blotch
appears on the back of the hand OF a
certain person, for instance. As is in
variably the case, the fingers of the
other hand are called into service, and
the pinple is given a severe squeeze,
hoping thus to remove the pus. In
stead of producing the desired effect,
the patient is surprised and chagrined
to find that the place afflicted has
only become enlarged and more angry
looking This is shown to a knowing
friend, with a recital Of the facts, and
1t is e%mphatically pronounced blood
poison, which la a great mistake.
The cause of the difficulty is iuaetiv-
fly Of the skin The blood comes to
the hand with It's burden Of yitali2ing
particles. distributing them where
needed, to find that a certain minute
portion of the skin is not performing
its duty Of eliminating noxtous sub
stances, but is allowing them to accu-
mulate. Thus, a portion of all the
blood that touches this particular spot
is itself polluted by contact, So, you
see, the skin only Is at fault.
When d case is reported as blood
poisoning the first thing to be done
is to seek proof that this is the trou-
Bile. So the case is examined, The
tongue is found to he clean, smooth
and perfectly natural; the eyes are all
right, the pulse is normal So where.
pray, is evidence of the disease that
has been SO readily charged to the
blood? Assuming that the pimple was
first given a squeeze, and the n~oxi0us
matter thereby spread. the blood which
now reaches this point is corrupted in
larger quantities; and the case rapidly
assumes an alarming aspect, But this
is not yet blood poisoning, though the
case is in a fair way to develop into
such.
What is to be done? Upon exam.
ination, it is found that the whole
trouble lies in a portion Of the skin
falling to perform its duty Of eliminat-
ing noXious or WORKOUT substance. So,
if this is the cause, the way to bring
about the result desired is to emove
that cause. Therefore a means Of ex-
pelling this corrupt and corrupting
substance must be discovered, and the
particle Of skin restored to working
order.
For this purpose few better results
can be secured than the following
method: Brush the afflicted part
well with a soft camel's hair brush,
dipped in about half a cupful of d.
luted acetic acid or good strong vine
gar. After having thoroughly cleansed
the part in this manner, apply directly
to the sore a p~oultice of either boiled
turnips or potatoes, mixed with a
very small quantity Of the acid. BY
this application for a night or two, the
sore is thoroughly cleansed. Each time
the pouitice is removed the spot'should
be again treated to a gentle brushing
with TIE diluted acid. In the course
of a very few days, the case will yield
rapidly to the treatment.
BY this method Of treatment the poi
acid which has been playing
the whole of the havoc is removed,
and replaced by one which c~leanses
and restores everything to a healthy
condition, and is Of a healing nature
itself. Many physicians prefer car
boIic to aeetle acid, but | cannot I'M
derstand why this is SO. Strong car
bolic acid has q tendency to eat
away the sides Of a sore, while acetic
acid is healing In Its properties.
There is many and many a poor suf-
ferer. who reputed to he afflicted with