CoivD is often a powerful antiphlogistic,
as old writers called whatever tends to
reduce inflammation. It must, however, be
steadily applied, to have this effect. Dash-
ing cold water on a part and then leaving it,
in a place not itself freezing cold, will from
reaction, make it warmer than before.
When the brain is inflamed, a good plan is
to shave the head, or at least cut the hair
very short, and keep it half covered with
light rags soaked in ice- water. P'or stead-
iness of effect, the rags must be dipped in the
cold water every few minutes. A more
effectual method — more convenient, how-
ever, for the abdomen than for the head — is
to lay over the inflamed part a coil of light
rubber tubing, through which cold water is
made to pass. This is done hy placing one
end of the tube in a vessel of w^ater some-
what higher than the body, and allowing
the water to pass out at the other end, which
is placed lower.
Diet was formerly much relied upon,
and low diet was made very low — almost to
starvation. We know now, that inflam-
mation is possible in feeble as well as in
strong bodies. Not every one can bear
doing long without food, or even with too
THE FAMILY DOCTOR
29
little food. Also, strength is necessary to
shake off disease, so to speak. It is not
strength, but excitement, that we want to
reduce. A really low, thin diet, therefore,
is only suitable for a strong person, and in
no case for many days together, during
illness. It is important, however, when
fever is present, with which the power of
digesiw7i is always weak, to give food in a
simple, liquid form, so as to cause the
stomach no trouble in appropriating it.
Purging medicines act like an unstim-
ulating diet, in cooling the blood, and thus
promoting a quieter action of the heart and
arteries. This favors the reduction of the
excitement which attends a violent inflam-
mation of any part. The cathartics which
have the most effect of this kind are the
Salines y as Epsom salts, Rochelle salt,
citrate of magnesium, cream of tartar, etc.
Taking blood, either from a vein in the
arm (venesection) or by leeches or cups,
LEECHr:S APPLIED.
from an inflamed part (local blood-letting),
is a very ancient remedy. Once overmuch
used, the reaction in our time has gone quite
too far against it. It is a very valuable
means of reducing inflammation.
Cooling or Sedative Medicines.
Cooling (sedative) medicines are in
place chiefly in inflammatory affections of
the breathing organs, as pneumonia, bron-
chitis, and pleurisy. Tarta?- emetic is the
most powerful of these. Once it was very
largely used. Its harsh action upon the
stomach and bowels has caused it to be now
given mostl}^ in very small doses ; from the
one-sixteenth to the one-fourth of a grain
only, for adults, at an early stage of a vio-
lent inflammation attended by fever. Tar-
tar emetic is not suitable to be used as a do-
mestic medicine.
Ipecacuanha resembles it in its dispo-
sition to bring on v'omiting, but is very
much milder and safer. Ipecacuanha is a
very proper article for family use, under
many circumstances.
Page 155
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
CoivD is often a powerful antiphlogistic, as old writers called whatever tends to reduce inflammation. It must, however, be steadily applied, to have this effect. Dashing cold water on a part and then leaving it, in a place not itself freezing cold, will from reaction, make it warmer than before. When the brain is inflamed, a good plan is to shave the head, or at least cut the hair very short, and keep it half covered with light rags soaked in ice- water. For steadiness of effect, the rags must be dipped in the cold water every few minutes. A more effectual method — more convenient, however, for the abdomen than for the head — is to lay over the inflamed part a coil of light rubber tubing, through which cold water is made to pass. This is done hy placing one end of the tube in a vessel of water somewhat higher than the body, and allowing the water to pass out at the other end, which is placed lower.
Diet was formerly much relied upon, and low diet was made very low — almost to starvation. We know now, that inflammation is possible in feeble as well as in strong bodies. Not every one can bear doing long without food, or even with too
little food. Also, strength is necessary to shake off disease, so to speak. It is not strength, but excitement, that we want to reduce. A really low, thin diet, therefore, is only suitable for a strong person, and in no case for many days together, during illness. It is important, however, when fever is present, with which the power of digestion is always weak, to give food in a simple, liquid form, so as to cause the stomach no trouble in appropriating it.
Purging medicines act like an unstimulating diet, in cooling the blood, and thus promoting a quieter action of the heart and arteries. This favors the reduction of the excitement which attends a violent inflammation of any part. The cathartics which have the most effect of this kind are the Salines as Epsom salts, Rochelle salt, citrate of magnesium, cream of tartar, etc.
Taking blood, either from a vein in the arm (venesection) or by leeches or cups,
LEECHr:S APPLIED.
from an inflamed part (local blood-letting), is a very ancient remedy. Once overmuch used, the reaction in our time has gone quite too far against it. It is a very valuable means of reducing inflammation.
Cooling or Sedative Medicines.
Cooling (sedative) medicines are in place chiefly in inflammatory affections of the breathing organs, as pneumonia, bronchitis, and pleurisy. Tartar emetic is the
most powerful of these. Once it was very largely used. Its harsh action upon the stomach and bowels has caused it to be now given mostly in very small doses ; from the one-sixteenth to the one-fourth of a grain only, for adults, at an early stage of a violent inflammation attended by fever. Tartar emetic is not suitable to be used as a domestic medicine.
Ipecacuanha resembles it in its disposition to bring on vomiting, but is very much milder and safer. Ipecacuanha is a very proper article for family use, under many circumstances.