Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1906-03-28
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,esHealthl
Club |
D DAVID b. REEDER. Ri. D.. Ind.
La Porte, Ind.
PLEURISY.

PLEURIsY.
The affection OF pleurisy, or pleu-
ritis, is an Inflammation of the pleura
The pleura is the membranous lining
Of the chest and covering of the
lungs.
The trouble may have one of sew
eral or combination of causes, in
asmuch as there are several kinds of
the disease. There is the idiopathic
1.-THE disease proper), and then there
IS pleuritis as a complication of some
other trouble, such as pericarditis Cn-
t1ammation of the pericardium) scar
letlna, measles, Bright's disease, pneu-
monia, variola, ETC., and there are
some few cases where acute pleurisy
is the result Of tubercular infection,
and also of alcoholism.
Id1opathic pleurlsy is caused by ex-
posture or an injury. The latter,
however, is hardly correct, as it
would then be result of another alb
normal condition. It may also seem
rather questionable to some to say
that pleuritis is the result of exposure.
OF course, am speaking of the lido
pathic disease, and not as a compli-
cation. A great many are confident
they have seen various cases where
there had been no exposures, and yet
severe pleuritis resulted.
A great many cases are contracted
even while the patient is sitting toast
ing his feet before a fire. But this
does not change the exposure clause
in the least. The door or window
which was open, allowing cold
draught to strike him, was not taken
into consideration.
A great many. are chagrined to find
they have contracted case OF pleu-
riSy after having teen out in the cold;
they have taken unusual precautions,
and cannot understand why they
should have this i'll result Let us in
Vestigate.
II people knew better how to pro-
tect themselves, it would be a hard
row indeed for the doctors to hoe.
Numerous people wear what they are
pleased to term chest protectors. All
of us know how they are constructed;
they are a protection merely for a
small portion of the chest, and just
where protection is least needed.
The question now is: Does this lit
tie article protect one from exposure
which would be likely to affect the
pleura? The pleura does not require
nearly so much protection where this
article lies as it does elsewhere. This
membrane is much nearer the surface
at the sides and under the shoulder
blades than in the chest.
This is the reason why some per-
sons are SO chagrined to find that,
although they have taken the precau-
ton to wear a chest protector, they
have contracted severe case of the
difficulty now under consideration.
This cold causes, first, congestion,
after which the pleura relaxes, thus
permitting gorging of the blood ves-
sells, which would not otherwise ap-
pear. This causes excessive heat and
inflammation. The affection may be
of only portion, or of one entire
side, or both.
The remedies usually prescribed are
blisterings of some sort, probably
mustard or cantharides. Bromide of
potassium is also frequently pre-
scribed for this trouble. But would
consider these remedies Injurious
rather than otherwise.
There is a simple remedy which is
as nearly infallible as any remedy
can well be, and it has the additional
merit of being very simple and HARM
less. The condition existing in pleu-
risy after the trouble is fully estab-
lished is excessive heat in the region
affected, and that which needs to be
done is to overcome this.
The patient whom we are to treat
is in bed and suffering intense pain;
the respirations are short, weak and
rapid-reaching S. per minute, per-
haps-the pulse rapid, but small; a
slight fever; a continuous coughing,
producing great distress. As the pa
tient lies fiat on the back we know
both sides are affected.
The back, and, in fact, the whole of
the upper portion Of the chest are
thoroughly washed with vinegar.
Then a flannel blanket of sufficient
size to fold into four-ply, and yet be
large enough to cover the entire back
and chest, is secured. This is wrung
out of cold water and gently placed
into position, being tenderly pressed
down upon the surface. It is rather
surprising how quickly this becomes
heated, as it was not realized how
much heatreally YVES there. But there is
another flannel all ready to replace
this one as soon as it becomes the
least heated. It IS now placed on and
gently pressed to the skin, the one
just removed being placed in fresh
cold water. This process is contin-
ued until all Of the pain disappears.
This is not all that is necessary.
however. If this, and this alone,
should be used in every case, I fear
there would be much cause for regret,
It frequently occurs that there is a.
greater drain placed on the general
heat of the body by this cooling than