Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1906-01-17

Home I|eal|'tI|;'hII
Club
| D DAVID d. lEEDfR. n. D.. NJ.
Ia Porte, Ind.
ERYSIPELAS
: . -.

"t1ter OF repute classes 1t as an
acute, specific, infectious disease,
with inflammation of the derma
tskln) and simultaneous tissues"
which is substantially correct as ap-
Piled to the common form of the dis
ease, which usually attacks the face
only. There is another kind, how
ever, which is technically termed cell
lulftis, in which there is deep-seated
pain on account of the inflamed and
apparently caked condition of the
deeper tissues. I remember an at
tack of this character which once
came under my observation. The pain
was apparently right over the appen-
dix, and the patient came to me bad
ly frightened on account of the fam
lily physician having suggested ap-
pendicitis and a surgical operation.
Not being willing to trust myself in
opposition to his physician, went
with him to skillful surgeon and
asked his opinion, and after a care
ful examination he said that the
appendix was not involved, but that
a catarrhal condition of the bowels.
with temporary attack of constina.
ton, had caused inflammation at the
head of the cecum, which a saline
cathartic and active exercise would
overcome. AS soon as the patient was
convinced that surgery was unneces-
sary, he was ready for rational treat
meRt. The case was one of cellulitis,
and Of this he was quickly convinced
when I attempted to manipulate the
flesh of the abdomen. Two thorough
treatments with an external applica-
ton for the reduction of the inflamma-
ton cured the case. Deep massage,
with thorough hot lamentations or an
antiphlogistine plaster will usually
cure all such cases. For the other
kind of erysipelas I can commend the
treatment of the Home Health club,
and also the following which was sent
by an active club member:
Dear DR.. Reeder: The following Is
a Russian cure for erysipelas, called
a cure by sympathy Papa went
to the textile mills at Revil and other
places in Russia to overlook ma
chineTy. The cold seemed to strike
his face, and he had, for the first
and only time in his life, erysipelas.
The maid called the doctor, who made
a new red flannel (not white, must
be red) mask with holes for eyes,
nose and mouth. Then he rubbed
two large pieces of common lump
chalk together until it all was reduced
to fine powder. Not a particle of
grit Or lump must be found in it. Doc
tor then told papa to lie down and
close eyes and mouth, then he spread
thickly the powdered chalk over the
entire face and parts affected, at the
same time chanting or charming, tor
the Russians are superstitious, over
the chalked face. He then placed the
red flannel mask, tied on with string,
and pleasing, cooling sensation soon
came. AS this sensation passed, the
mask was taken off, when it was found
the chalk had disappeared. The face
was again covered with powdered
chalk, and mask put on and repeated
as was required. In a few days he
was better and out of doors in the ex-
IRENE cold, again attending to BUSH
ness. No medicine given, but papa
paid his Doctors bill with thankful
ness. have myself cured cases of
erysipelas on leg and on a foot by
this means without chanting. Brother
followed the ice-breaking boat to Rus
STA 10 papa for his improvement on
leaving school, and the cold gave him
erysipelas in his leg, and the doctor
cured him also by the use of chalk and
red flannel, but it must be the proper
thick, furry, red, Atwood flannel, not
cotton sold for and called flannel
trust that many who suffer with
erysipelas will find the Russian meth
Cd valuable. It should be harmless
in any event, and is certainly not ex-
pens,ve.
CLUB NOTES.
II Miss A. B., of Wisconsin, who in
closed rs cents in postage in her letter,
will write again, giving name and ad-
dress in full, will very cheerfully
comply with her request.
1ndiana.-Dr. David H. Reeder, La
porte, 1nd.-Dear Doctor: Ihave been an
eager and appreciative reader of your
lectures since their first appearance in
this paper, and especially was I de-
lighted with the lectures on plants and
their medicinal value.
When I was young girl, many a
long walk I took with my mother
through fields and woods, gathering
herbs and roots and barks, which were
to be the family medicines in case of
sickness during the year to come. She
always gathered most things in August
and September, but roots in early
spring.
My mother raised IL children to
manhood and womanhood, and called
doctor only once. Then she got
frightened in a case Of typhoid fever,
but she had it so we'll broken up that
the doctor made but one visit, and
said there was no need of his coming
at all. He was an honest doctor. We
are glad that there are many such.
Will you kindly give me the formula
for compound strip of gentian, what
you call 1.-The good old herb remedy? ?"
I suppose you have given it in some
of your lectures; I meant to have kept
them all, but we have moved from the
farm to the town home. and some