Pain in the face is likely to be ot one of
three kinds : toothache in a decayed tooth
(or more than one) ; inflammation of the
jaw ; or neuralgia. For the first, the most
certain remedy is, to apply to the hollow of
the aching tooth the end of a bodkin or
darning-needle, around which is wrapped a
little bit of cotton dipped in pure creosote.
As this will burn the lips or gums if it
touches them, care should be taken to have
it overflow as littie as possible ; and a glass
of cold water must be at hand to rinse the
drop or two away, if such does escape into
the mouth. If the creosote reaches the
right spot, it will quell the pain at once.
Oil of cloves, used in the same way, is nearly
as effectual ; and rather less so is laudanum .
For inflammation of the jaw, advice had
better be taken at once from a dentist or a
physician. A hot poultice of flaxseed-meal,
into which has been poured a teaspoonful
of laudanum, may be safely applied to the
painful side of the face, and covered with
oiled silk (or oiled paper, or thin sheet-
rubber) to prevent it from drying up and
getting cold too soon.
Eai^ache is most common in young child- •
ren. A simple first remedy for it is a drop
of warm sweet oil poured from a bottle or a
teaspoon into the ear. If that fail to relieve,
a drop, (or in a child two or three j^ears old,
two drops) of laudanum may follow it.
Pain in the joints is usually called rheu-
matic; although this word is not always
definitely used. When there is no swelling,
or heat (signs of inflammation), wamn ap-
plications are likely to do good. For the
pain of the joints in inflammatoiy rheuma-
tism, the most relieving thing is laudanum ;
laying on the joint a bit of rag, doubled and
wet with laudanum, and binding over it a
piece of oiled silk. It will not do to put
laudanum in this way over too many parts
at once ; as some of it is absorbed, a large
amount of it might narcotize the patient.
Neuralgic pain in any part of the body
is generally but one symptom of a general
condition, depending on a predisposition of
the nervous system and (in most, not all
cases) poverty of the blood.
The former, being constitutional, is to be
attended to by all the ways we have of
favoring the general improvement of health
and strength. Poverty of blood is treated
also by good nourishing food and iron . For
the immediate relief of attacks of neuralgia,
many things are helpful, while nothing is
certain in every case ; except that, if driven
to it by great suffering or exhaustion from
pain, anodynes (as opium, or morphia, or
some of their preparations) will stupefy
sufficiently to " drown " the agony.
Temporary weakness often brings on at-
tacks of neuralgic pain in those disposed to
have them. Such persons should never
wait too long for a meal. Likewise, hot
food, as a cup of hot milk, or cocoa, or beef-
tea, at the very beginning of the attack,
may stop its progress.
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22
THE FAMIL Y DOCTOR
Page 145
Presented as published in 1901. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
Pain in the face is likely to be ot one of three kinds : toothache in a decayed tooth (or more than one) ; inflammation of the jaw ; or neuralgia. For the first, the most certain remedy is, to apply to the hollow of the aching tooth the end of a bodkin or darning-needle, around which is wrapped a little bit of cotton dipped in pure creosote. As this will burn the lips or gums if it touches them, care should be taken to have it overflow as little as possible ; and a glass of cold water must be at hand to rinse the drop or two away, if such does escape into the mouth. If the creosote reaches the right spot, it will quell the pain at once. Oil of cloves, used in the same way, is nearly as effectual ; and rather less so is laudanum .
For inflammation of the jaw, advice had better be taken at once from a dentist or a physician. A hot poultice of flaxseed-meal, into which has been poured a teaspoonful of laudanum, may be safely applied to the painful side of the face, and covered with oiled silk (or oiled paper, or thin sheetrubber) to prevent it from drying up and getting cold too soon.
Earache is most common in young child- • ren. A simple first remedy for it is a drop of warm sweet oil poured from a bottle or a teaspoon into the ear. If that fail to relieve, a drop, (or in a child two or three j^ears old, two drops) of laudanum may follow it.
Pain in the joints is usually called rheumatic; although this word is not always definitely used. When there is no swelling, or heat (signs of inflammation), wamn applications are likely to do good. For the pain of the joints in inflammatory rheumatism, the most relieving thing is laudanum ; laying on the joint a bit of rag, doubled and wet with laudanum, and binding over it a piece of oiled silk. It will not do to put laudanum in this way over too many parts at once ; as some of it is absorbed, a large amount of it might narcotize the patient.
Neuralgic pain in any part of the body is generally but one symptom of a general condition, depending on a predisposition of the nervous system and (in most, not all cases) poverty of the blood.
The former, being constitutional, is to be attended to by all the ways we have of favoring the general improvement of health and strength. Poverty of blood is treated also by good nourishing food and iron . For the immediate relief of attacks of neuralgia, many things are helpful, while nothing is certain in every case ; except that, if driven to it by great suffering or exhaustion from pain, anodynes (as opium, or morphia, or some of their preparations) will stupefy sufficiently to " drown " the agony.
Temporary weakness often brings on attacks of neuralgic pain in those disposed to have them. Such persons should never wait too long for a meal. Likewise, hot food, as a cup of hot milk, or cocoa, or beeftea, at the very beginning of the attack, may stop its progress.
4^5