Mother's Remedies Part 7

6. Croup, Coal Oil (kerosene) and Sugar for.--"Coal oil and sugar; put a few drops on a teaspoonful of sugar." The coal oil produces vomiting, relieving the trouble. If the first dose does not have this effect upon the child, repeat it.

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7. Croup, Pork and Onion Poultice for.--"Put pork and onions on the throat. Drink plenty of hot water." Bind the pork and onions on the throat, acting as a poultice. The virtue of this can be increased by cooking the onions and pork together. Onion syrup may be given internally to produce vomiting, even in very small babies.

8. Croup, Bloodroot for.--"One teaspoonful powdered bloodroot mixed with mola.s.ses or sugar. Have taken this myself and it relieved at once. If one dose does not seem enough it may be repeated." This is a very effective remedy, but is very weakening. Care should be taken not to repeat dose any oftener than absolutely necessary.

9. Croup, Time Honored Remedy for.--"Pulverized alum and sugar or honey or mola.s.ses; mix together and give half teaspoonful doses or less. For infants use only in emergency cases." This is one of the good old-fashioned remedies that nearly every mother has used. It acts simply by producing vomiting and causing the air tubes to relax. Repeat in five to twenty minutes until it causes vomiting.

10. Croup, Ipecac for.--"One-third teaspoonful of powdered ipecac dissolved in one teaspoonful of water, one tablespoonful of sugar; pour on one teacupful of boiling water and let boil down to a half cup, Dose: One teaspoonful for adults; children in proportion every two hours; or, if needed to vomit children give again in ten or fifteen minutes." If you cannot secure the powdered ipecac, the syrup can be bought at any drug store, and is already prepared, Dose: Ten to fifteen drops as the case may need.

11. Croup, Vaselin for.--"Vaselin rubbed on the chest, cover with a hot flannel, and take 1/4 teaspoonful of vaselin internally occasionally."

Dissolve vaselin and repeat dose if necessary to produce vomiting.

12. Croup, Ice Application for.--"Ice applied to the throat is almost instant relief." It is best to break the ice up fine and sprinkle salt on same, putting it in a cheese cloth bag, binding on the throat with a flannel, and change as soon as it shows signs of wetting.

13. Croup, Salt for.--"Parched salt put on the throat hot." The parched salt acts the same as mustard plaster, by producing a redness on the throat. Salt is something that we can always have on hand and by using this remedy we are always prepared for an emergency in case of croup.

14. Croup, Castor Oil Breaks up.--"Castor oil, given before bedtime, is good. Dose.--From one-half to one teaspoonful. I have taken this when I was small." Castor oil is good when the bowels are constipated or the stomach is full.

15. Croup, Coal Oil, Turpentine and Snuff, a Canadian Remedy for.--"A little coal oil and a few drops of turpentine soaked up by snuff, and used as plaster. Makes the child sneeze after a few minutes. The poultice loosens the phlegm and the sneezing throws it off."

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PHYSICIANS' TREATMENT for Croup.--Active. 1. Dr. Douglas says wring cloths out of cold water and apply very freely to the throat, and recommends the following syrup:

Syrup of Ipecac 3 fluid drams Hive Syrup 4 fluid drams Water 1-1/2 ounces

Mix, and give one teaspoonful every half hour until the child vomits, then repeat the dose every two hours as needed.

2. Place the child in a hot bath, wrap hot or cold cloths about the throat and put one teaspoonful of common soda in a gla.s.s of water and give one teaspoonful every fifteen minutes until relieved.

3. Dr. Holt of New York, says.--The room should be very warm, hot cloths or poultices should be applied over the throat (Adam's apple and below) and either a croup kettle or ordinary teakettle kept boiling in the room.

This is more efficacious if the child is placed in a tent made by a raised umbrella or some like method with a sheet thrown over it, and the steam introduced beneath the tent. If the symptoms' are urgent ten drops of the syrup of ipecac should be given every fifteen minutes until free vomiting occurs.

Whenever the symptoms reach a point where the breathing becomes difficult, a doctor should be summoned without delay. It might be some other disease.

4. Home Treatment.--One-half teaspoonful of alum mixed with mola.s.ses or honey will produce vomiting and help. This is very good when the croup is due to indigestion. At the same time, fry onions in lard and put them on the neck in front, or hot wet cloths may do. The alum can be given once or twice if necessary, half an hour apart, about in one-fourth or one-half the first dose.

5. Goose grease, or lard dissolved, and enough given to produce vomiting will do good. This idea is not only to cause vomiting but to cause a sick feeling after and at that time, which will cause the spasms to relax. A very good thing to do in addition is to put the child's feet in hot water, while local applications are put on the throat. These things tend to relax the muscles and this relieves the spasm.

6. Steam is Very Useful. It relaxes the spasm by local contact and by producing general sweating. Cover the child's head and a pitcher with a shawl and inhale the steam from the boiling water in pitcher. You can put in the pitcher one teaspoonful of oil of tar or one to two teaspoonfuls of tincture of benzoin. This can be kept up for some time.

COLD IN THE CHEST. (Acute Bronchitis. Inflammation of Bronchial Tubes).-- This is an acute inflammation of the larger and medium sized bronchial tubes.

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Causes.--Youth and old age are more predisposed to it. Lack of fresh air and exercise, dusty work, poor general health, dampness and changeable weather in winter and early spring. It may be secondary to cold, pharyngitis, measles, typhoid fever, malaria, asthma, and heart disease.

Symptoms.--There is a feeling of oppression with chilliness and pain in the back, a dry, tight feeling beneath the breastbone with a dry harsh cough. This may cause headache and pain, and a raw feeling in the chest, chiefly in front. There may be a temperature of one hundred or one hundred three or less. After a few days there is a thick, sticky secretion; it is profuse. The other symptoms, except the cough, subside. This generally stops in ten days in a favorable case, or it may become chronic. In infants or old people it may extend to the smaller tubes causing broncho-pneumonia. There is more danger in infants than in older people.

MOTHERS' REMEDIES. Bronchitis, Camphor and Lard for.--1. "Grease a cloth well with lard to which has been added some camphor gum, then sprinkle on some dry baking soda and lay it on the chest. The camphor and lard should be made into a salve, then put on the soda. The lard and camphor gum penetrates the affected parts, relieving the inflammation and tightness in the chest. It is well in children to put a layer of cotton cloth over the chest keeping them warm and getting better results from the remedy."

2. Bronchitis, Grandmother's Remedy for.--

"h.o.a.rhound 5 cents worth Hops 5 cents worth Wild cherry bark 5 cents worth Licorice root 5 cents worth

"Boil and simmer altogether in two quarts of water long enough to get the strength out of the ingredients, strain, add three cups sugar, then add enough good whisky to keep from souring, say a half pint." This combination is not only good for bronchitis, but for the cough left from the effects of bronchitis. The h.o.a.rhound, wild cherry bark and licorice root have a very soothing effect on the bronchial tubes, and the hops quiets the nervous system. This is also good for a common cough.

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3. Bronchitis, Antiphlogistine Plaster for.--"Antiphlogistine is fine for bronchitis, where there is any inflammation, pleurisy, any kind of a scratch, especially rusty nails; pneumonia, Set can in water long enough to heat, but not hot, spread on with case knife as thick as a silver dollar, spread cotton batting over it, keep on twenty-four hours, before changing. This is a very useful remedy to keep on hand." Antiphlogistine is very good to apply to the body wherever inflammation is present, as it withdraws the blood from the organ or part of the body that is affected.

It does this by drawing the blood into the external circulation. It has the same effect upon the diseased parts as the old-fashioned mustard, but does not blister. In using the mustard plaster you are in fear of blistering, and then having the outward blister and inward inflammation to contend with. The antiphlogistine can be purchased at drug stores. Set the can in warm water until it is warm, then spread on a piece of cotton cloth and apply to the affected parts, where it may remain for twenty-four hours, then repeat if necessary. Should always be put on warm, but not hot. It usually drops off when dry and no longer effective.

4. Bronchial, or any Severe Cough. One of the best Home Remedies.--

"h.o.a.rhound (herb form) 1 ounce Irish moss 1 ounce Flax Seed (the seed not pulverized) 1 ounce Boneset 1 ounce Licorice Root (cut up fine) 1 ounce

Place the above in some suitable pan or dish for such purpose in a gallon of cold water, and put it on the back of the stove, so that it will simmer slowly until reduced to one-half gallon, which may require one day or more, then strain and place in a bottle, or bottles. Dose.--One winegla.s.sful three times a day. Add a little sugar if desired." This is a very fine cough remedy, as the h.o.a.rhound loosens the cough, the flax seed soothes the membrane, and the boneset by its general action on the system produces sweating. The Irish moss is a sort of food for the whole system and helps to build a person up.

5. Bronchitis, Camphorated Oil and Steaming for.--"Bathe the chest and throat up around the head with camphorated oil; drink water and steam the throat and mouth over hot water. Have tried this recipe and found it effectual. Have a bronchial cough now and am treating it myself." The camphorated oil seems to have a very soothing effect upon the chest, in fact it acts about the same as camphor and lard, only is more pleasant to use, and can be bought already prepared. Drinking plenty of water cleanses the system by acting upon the stomach, bowels and kidneys, carrying off the impurities. The breathing of steam is very soothing and healing to the throat and air pa.s.sages.

6. Bronchitis, General Relief for.--"Dose of castor oil every night; one teaspoonful for child. Grease well with camphorated oil or any good oil."

The castor oil is very good for carrying off the phlegm from the stomach and bowels that children always swallow instead of coughing up like an older person. It is well in addition to the above remedy to give a little licorice or onion syrup to relieve the bronchial cough.

7. Bronchitis, Lard Poultice for.--"Take a piece of cotton batting large enough to cover chest and fit up close to the neck; wring out of melted lard as hot as the patient can stand it, and apply. Change as often as it gets cold. Also give dose of castor oil."

8. Bronchitis, Mustard Plaster for.--"Mustard plasters are very good."

This acts as a counter-irritant, as it draws the blood to the surface and relieves the inflamed bronchial tubes.

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9. Bronchitis, Well-Known Remedy for.--

"Cod Liver Oil 2 ounces Ginger Syrup 2 ounces Mucilage of Gum Arabic 2 ounces Oil of Cloves 6 drops

Dose :-Teaspoonful before meals and at bedtime."

This is a very good remedy, as the cod liver oil by its general action tones up the whole system. The ginger tones and stimulates the stomach and takes away the sickening effect of the cod liver oil.

10. Bronchitis Remedy and General Tonic.--"Take small doses of glycerin and one teaspoonful three times a day of codfish oil." This remedy, though simple, is very effective. The glycerin and codfish oil are both soothing to the affected parts, and the codfish oil is a very good tonic to tone up the general system.

1. PHYSICIANS' TREATMENT for Bronchitis. Sweating Remedy for.--Take a hot bath and then go to bed, and take hot drinks after. See that the bowels are open. Nourishment is especially important in infants and old age. You can sweat them as directed under la grippe. Drink hot drinks, such as h.o.a.rhound, ginger, flaxseed, hot lemonade or slippery elm. These will produce sweating and will give much relief. An onion poultice applied over the breastbone where the pain and tightness are, will do good.

2. Steaming Remedy.--Inhaling steam from plain boiling water is good, or you can add one to two teaspoonfuls of compound tincture of benzoin or turpentine. The steaming will be more effective if you make a tent, by fastening four sticks to the cradle or bed and cover with a sheet, introducing the steam underneath this at the foot of the bed, etc. A rubber tube can be fastened to the kettle. In this same way you can produce, if you wish, sweating by putting the end of the tube under the clothes elevated a little above the patient. Be careful not to scald the patient.

3. Steaming With Pitcher.--If the soreness of the bronchial tubes is not relieved by this means, inhalations of steam arising from boiling water may be practiced, either through a cone, one end of which covers the top of a pitcher, and the other end of which covers the mouth and nose of the patient, or by covering the head and pitcher with a towel. The usefulness of this method may be much increased by the addition of from two teaspoonfuls to one tablespoonful of compound tincture of benzoin to each pint of water in a pitcher. This latter method can also be used in tonsilitis, pharyngitis and quinsy.