HANDY MEDICAL NOTES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 804, 28 November 1882, Page 3

HANDY MEDICAL NOTES.

Sudden deaths, “ Hall’s Journal of

Health ” says, do not come from heart 1 • ' disease—tone case in 20 —-but from conV . gestion of the lungs or brain, or from n 1 /-apoplexy. More die from congestion ~ ‘ of the lungs than of the brain, and more of congestion of the brim than apoplexy. Sudden death from heart : , disease is usually caused by rupture of some large hrtery near the heart; from congestion of .the lungs by instantly . stopping the breath; from congestion ' of the brain, by causing pressure of the brain, which paralyses and instantly destroys life; from apoplexy by hemorrhage in the brain. Heart disease most frequently results from neglected or .improperly treated rheumatism. It , i more • often follows mild rheumatism ■ than rthe - severe kind, because severe ■ - rheumatism receives prompt treatment, ■ while the mild form is often neglected and left to work its way to the heart. Persons who suppose themselves suffering from heart disease because they have a pain in the region of the heart, or •. > palpitation, seldom have any disease of ‘ ■ that organ. In nine cases out of ten they are suffering from dyspepsia—nothing more. Congestion of the lungs is most frequently caused by a sudden change from the heat of an ill-ventilated ’* room or railroad car or horse car to the cold air outside, without being pro- =;: ■ tected by sufficient clpthing; hence - many persons thus seized drop dead in the streets. Congestion -of the brain 1’ most frequently results from trouble and •anxiebf'bf mind, producing sleeplessness, followed by the engorgement of the small blood vessels of the brain, sudden loss of vital power and almost instant death. Apoplexy may be an inherited disease, or it may be induced by too free living, or its opposite, too - great abstemiousness. Paralysis may 1 affect only a Small portion of the body, ‘ , from a finger or toe to an entire limb, ~ or it may disable half the body or the 1 whole body, when death soon follows. When 'half the body is affected by paralysis we may be certain that the seat of the disease ,is in the opposite

side of the brain, because nerve fibres K ' cross. Partial paralysis is often temporary when caused by the rupture of a ;(■ araall.blocd vessel, if the clot is got " - rid -Of by absorption or otherwise. * 1 Although this is a disease that all classes „ . of people are liable to, its most destructive work is done among the depraved and -dissipated. There is no ■ ddubt that the habitual use of tobacco ; t is one,of the most prominent causes of paralysis and other nerve diseases. A severe cold is soonest cured by remaining within doors in a warm room and near a fire unfit all signs of it have dis- - appeared. Then care should be taken to prevent a relapse by having the feet warmly clad, and the whole body, and particularly the chest: and back of the neck, well protected; when going out. A recent cough will almost always yield to the following treatment within two or three days:—Mix in a bottle four ounces of ; glycerine, two ounces of of morphine. Shake well Dose, for '^anradult —one or two - teaspponsfuls ‘ every'tWp ori three hours; Half this

, , quantity .to children from 10 to 15 : years old. ■ ■ It is not safe to give it to infants or children * under 10 years of age. To stop bleeding, if from a - ' cavity in the jaw after a tooth has been 'extracted, shape a cork into the proper form and size to cover the cavity, and long enough to be kept firmly in place when . " believe is our own invention, and we have, never known-jt to fail. It has . us ihdespefaSte cases. When an 1 J ' artery is cut the red , blood spurts out , at each pulsation. Press the thumb firmly over • the artery near the wound, and on the side toward the heart. Press hard enough to-stop the r!’ bleeding,, and wait till a physician comes. The wounded is often able to - do this himself if he has the requisite knowledge. Simple fractures may be adjusted by almost anyone. Get the limb' as nearly as possible in the natural position,- and then send for the < • There is no great urgency in

J such cases. In fracture of the skull 'with compression and loss of consciousJi/- httss, examine the wound, and,, if posl raise the broken edges of the '-skull ,so as-to relieve the pressure on >■; ’the brain. - Prompt action will often save life. In case of poisoning, the : ; J _ simple rule ,is to get the poison of the stomach as soon as possible. Mustard and salt act ,ji.- ' promptly as emetics, and they are always at hand. Stir a tablespoonful in n ' a*glasS of water and let the person “ • "'"Swallow it quickly. If it does not produc|e' ybmiting in five minutes repeat “the dose." After vomiting give whites of two or three ' eggs and send for the doctor.' Burns and scalds are soonest relieved ■’ by an application of cold water.' Dry of soda, or baking soda, sprinkled over the burned jspßt is ihejajest remedy, and is said to ' ‘■CiPt very- effectual. These means are Tpnly temporary. - In -severe cases a Stc l'pbysici&i should be sent for.