Weakness, in fever, is not quite the same
thing early in the attack as towards its end.
In the first place it is an oppression of the
system ; after a while there is more or less
exhaustion. The first is best relieved by the
means above referred to. At that stage,
with persons of average strength, the
amount of food taken may be small and its
character light. (Persons always feeble
will need to have concentrated food from
the beginning.) As the attack goes on,
even towards the end of the first week usu-
ally, and in scarlet fever and small-pox
495
32
THE FAMILY DOCTOR
sooner, the system loses strength, and sup-
port is necessary. What shall the means of
that support be ?
Liquid, strong food in small quantities
and often is the rule. Milk (with lime-
water in it if the stomach be very weak) and
beef tea are the things to stand by. Strong
mutton broth and chicken soup (with all fat
fully skimmed off) will do for variation.
Supporting treatment for great debility
has always, with physicians, included the
use of something alcoholic, wine and whis-
key being mostly preferred. Opinion in the
medical profession on this subject has
tended of late years (in the minds at least, of
its safest leaders) towards a lessening of the
amount of alcoholic stimulation in fevers,
and towards resorting to it in fewer cases.
Once it was almost a universal practice to
give whiskey in all cases of typhoid, as well
as of typhus, fever. Now, many cases of
typhoid fever are found to get through well
without it.
On such an important matter, in every
actual case, the judgment of a physician
should be obtained. The safest rule in
home management of the sick will be (unless
in extraordinary emergencies) not to give or
take alcohol in any form unless advised by
a competent physician.
Cough.
How many different kinds and cases of
cough there are, w^e have already mentioned
when considering it among the symptoms of
disease. It cannot be treated exactly alike
under all these different circumstances. As
a symptom it is unpleasant, and often weari-
some ; and it is well to know of some do-
mestic remedies which are safe and useful in
many cases.
First, a dry cough must be softened and
loosened. The three best home remedies
for this purpose are ipecacuanha, squills, and
wild cherry bark. Of the syrup of ipecacu-
anha, for this effect (not to cause vomiting)
the dose is from a quarter to a half teaspoon-
ful. Of syrup of squills, which does best at
a later stage than ipecac, half a teaspoonful
to a teaspoonful. Of syrup of wild cherry
bark, a teaspoonful. This last may be given
along with syrup of ipecac at first, and with
syrup of squills afterward.
496
There is also real usefulness in the sooth-
ing effect upon cough of licorice, and of pure
and well-made candies; hoarhound candy
for example. The advantage of these is
that a little of either can be taken very often,
so as to keep up a nearly constant influence
of the kind desired. Although such things
only touch the swallowing part of the throat
{pharynx^ , not the wind-pipe {larynx^, yet
the nearness and sympathy of these two sur-
faces cause the extension of the effect from
one to the other. Spencer's chloramine pas-
tilles are useful in this way.
Page 159
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
Weakness, in fever, is not quite the same thing early in the attack as towards its end. In the first place it is an oppression of the system ; after a while there is more or less exhaustion. The first is best relieved by the means above referred to. At that stage, with persons of average strength, the amount of food taken may be small and its character light. (Persons always feeble will need to have concentrated food from the beginning.) As the attack goes on, even towards the end of the first week usually, and in scarlet fever and small-pox
sooner, the system loses strength, and support is necessary. What shall the means of that support be ?
Liquid, strong food in small quantities and often is the rule. Milk (with limewater in it if the stomach be very weak) and beef tea are the things to stand by. Strong mutton broth and chicken soup (with all fat fully skimmed off) will do for variation.
Supporting treatment for great debility has always, with physicians, included the use of something alcoholic, wine and whiskey being mostly preferred. Opinion in the medical profession on this subject has tended of late years (in the minds at least, of its safest leaders) towards a lessening of the amount of alcoholic stimulation in fevers, and towards resorting to it in fewer cases. Once it was almost a universal practice to give whiskey in all cases of typhoid, as well as of typhus, fever. Now, many cases of typhoid fever are found to get through well without it.
On such an important matter, in every actual case, the judgment of a physician should be obtained. The safest rule in home management of the sick will be (unless in extraordinary emergencies) not to give or take alcohol in any form unless advised by a competent physician.
Cough.
How many different kinds and cases of cough there are, we have already mentioned when considering it among the symptoms of disease. It cannot be treated exactly alike under all these different circumstances. As a symptom it is unpleasant, and often wearisome ; and it is well to know of some domestic remedies which are safe and useful in many cases.
First, a dry cough must be softened and loosened. The three best home remedies for this purpose are ipecacuanha, squills, and wild cherry bark. Of the syrup of ipecacuanha, for this effect (not to cause vomiting) the dose is from a quarter to a half teaspoonful. Of syrup of squills, which does best at a later stage than ipecac, half a teaspoonful to a teaspoonful. Of syrup of wild cherry bark, a teaspoonful. This last may be given along with syrup of ipecac at first, and with syrup of squills afterward.
There is also real usefulness in the soothing effect upon cough of licorice, and of pure and well-made candies; hoarhound candy for example. The advantage of these is that a little of either can be taken very often, so as to keep up a nearly constant influence of the kind desired. Although such things only touch the swallowing part of the throat {pharynx^ , not the wind-pipe {larynx^, yet the nearness and sympathy of these two surfaces cause the extension of the effect from one to the other. Spencer's chloramine pastilles are useful in this way.