FoodNetArchive

The household (of the Detroit free press)

1886

Page 230 · 1 recipe record on this page

Presented as published in 1886. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
should know the health pulse of each child — as now and then a person is born with a peculiarly slow or fast pulse — and the very case in hand may be of that peculiarity. An infant's pulse is one hundred and forty ; a child of seven about eighty, and from twenty to sixty years it is sev- enty beats a minute, declining to sixty at eighty. A healthful grown person's pulse beats seventy times a minute ; there may be good health down to sixty, but if the pulse always exceeds seventy there is disease; the machine is working itself out; there is fever or inflammation some- where and the body is feeding on itself; as in consumption, when the pulse is quick, that is over seventy, gradually increasing, with decreased chances of cure, until it reaches one hundred and ten or one hundred and twelve, when death comes before many days. When the pulse is over seventy for months, and there is a slight cough, the lungs are affected. Persons desirous of ascertaining the true state of their lungs are directed to draw in as much breath as they conveniently can ; they are then to count as far as they are able in a slow and audible voice with- out drawing in more breath. The number of seconds they can con- tinue must be carefully observed. In consumption the time does not exceed ten and and is frequently less than six seconds. In pleurisy and pneumonia it ranges from nine to four seconds. When the lungs are in sound condition the time will range as high as from twenty to thirty- five seconds. VALUABLE ADVICE TO MOTHERS. Emetics are useful under various circumstances. In cases of croup, and some other diseases, and also to relieve the stomach of any irri- tating substance which has been swallowed, such as indigestible food or poison. There are several articles used for this purpose that can be obtained readily anywhere. Ground mustard, common salt and warm water. If a child or any member of the household has accidentally swallowed any poison there are two things to be done, dilute the poison and get it out of the stomach as quickly as possible. A few minutes' delay may settle the question of life or death. There are various anti- dotes to particular poisons, but in many cases the nature of the poison is not known, and we must act upon what is called general principles. There are two kinds of poison which are distinguished by their action, viz., corrosive and insensible. Corrosive poisons destroy the coating of the tongue, throat and stomach, and occasion great pain, with great prostration. Hartshorn or ammonia is an example of this class. Insensible poisons produce insensibility and are not generally attended *with any pain. Laudanum and the various preparations of opium are examples of this class. In the first class of cases give a teacupful of warm (not hot) milk ; in two or three minutes another ; continue until the stomach is full and then insert a feather or a finger into the throat 260 MEDICAL. and vomiting will ensue. If milk is not at hand don't wait, but use cold water. After vomiting has taken place give the whites of half a dozen eggs or a tumbler of sweet oilEmetic for Corrosive Poisons, which will tend to neutralize any poison remaining in the stomach.