The Washington herald., 1916-11-22

the attack may be, it Is wise to take all
proper precautions against the develop
ment of anything more serious. A laxa-
tive Is one of the first and most useful
remedies, and the best is a dose of castor
oil, or a simple saline, such as magnesia
l do not believe in cough syrups; they
AFFECT the digestion and frequently con-
tain opiates that may establish a life
long taste and habit; Uhis assertion is not
as "far fetched" as it sounds, but is a
well known facO. For the cough, few
drops of wine OF ipecac in a little cherry
laurel water will be all that is needed.
Poultices of hot faxseed or cornmeal
placed on the back of the chest for half
an hour at intervals of three or four
hours, removed carefully and followed by
an application of camphorated oil or oil
of turpentine, rubbed in thoroughly both
front and back, then the entire chest
covered with cotton WOOL is very good
treatment. teaspoonful of turpentine to
an ounce of sweet OIL is about the pro-
portion in which it is used. A hot mustard
foot-bath. may be given in addition to
this and usually tranqualiZes the child
and insures it quiet sleep.
Warm. mucilaginous drinks, are very
soothing to the infiamed bronchial
tubes, and should be given the child fire.
quently during its waking hours and when
it is restless and sleepless at night. The
drinks may be as hot as the child will
accept, made of slippery elm STEPPED in
boiling water and strained, or of barley
or gluten; the addition Of a little sugar,
and some preparation like wine or ipecac,
or elixer of calisaya, makes 1t not only
more palitable, but more beneficial in
every way.
The child should be confined in a warm,
well-ventilated room, with a sunny ex-
posure; the higher up from the ground
the room Is located, the better. Great
care must be taken in arranging the
child for the night. The bed clothes
must be so managed that it cannot throw
them of towards morning when the sys-
tenn is most depressed, and when there
Is the greatest danger of taking more
cold. A child's vitality is lowered at
night. its circulation is less, its resis-
tence to disease is less. A person sleep
ing and chilled, is much more liable to
take cold than one who is awake, and
this Is especially true Of a sick child.
While, Of course, we are in the habit of
lowering the temperature in the bedroom
at night, it is much safer and better to
keep 1t at about the same degree day
and night during the child's illness, for
cold air is not necessarily pure air, nor
Is air which Is warmed made pure by
cooling it. However, the thing Of great
importance and the one to be aimed at,
is to see that the air in the room is
constantly changed, and this is a prob
lem in ventilation that all must solve
for themselves in accordance with their
circumstances. An open fire place is an
ideal ventilator, as 1t creates a constant
draught. We cannot all have open-fire
places. so we must use our wits to es-
tablish a current of air that will bring
in fresh, warmed air, and carry out the
used up, impure air.
When the child is well enough to leave
the sick room 1t must be guarded against
dampness and chilling draughts. Plenty
of exercise in the sunlight is advised In
very young children bronchitis may be a
serious disease, and frequently Is follow
ed by grave lung f"-'1Nle For that rea-
son, IL cough continues over a week, II
must not be allowed to go on without
seeking medical advice