HEALTH NOTES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1682, 6 March 1917, Page 1

HEALTH NOTES.

SORE THROAT. This (‘omnion affection is due to many causes, and in the majority of cases it is only part of some general affection, and not, perhaps, properly speaking, local at all. The common “relaxed” throat is known to all of us. It is usually characterised by a dull aching, with a sense of stiffness and actual pain in swallowing, and not infrequently with the sensation of a “lump in the throat.” On investigation it will be found that the mucous membrane at the back of the throat is unusually red, tense, and shining, though in the later stage it may appear dull, flabby, or swollen. There is no fever in this condition. For this particular type of throat gargles and sprays of various kinds are used, hut gargling with hot water gives relief immediately. Painting the throat three or four times a day with glycerine of tannin is generally very effective. Astringent lozenges are also very useful. RHEUMATIC THROAT. The rheumatic sore throat will also be found in most cases of incipient rheumatism. When pains in any of the joints are experienced at the same time the diagnosis is easy. In the case of children, however, these are often absent, but there is generally a considerable amount of fever present. The rapid onset of a sore throat, with high fever, and a tendency to sweating in a young child, sometimes attended by delirium in the evening, should always put one on one’s guard against rheumatism. In these (-uses it is very important to have the heart examined at once and repeatedly, and to give s/Wicylate of soda in efficient doses. Many an individual becomes a sufferer from chronic and incurable heart disease from want of early recognition of the rheumatic state. The application of a hot fomentation, sprinkled with hall a drachm of the oil of gaultherium, is an exceedingly comforting measure in these conditions, but the constitutional treatment with salicylates must be followed, too. S KPT EC THROAT. The septic throat generally occurs in (hose who are “run down” and exposed to microbic infection. These are frequently associated with defective drains. Local antiseptics are required, and constitutional tonics. Oargling with Condy’s fluid, painting with boro-glyceride or with carbolised glycerine, or the sucking of forma mint lozenges, will usually suffice for the local treatment. If the glands are swollen hot fomentations may be applied, or a good long, woollen slocking may be wrapped round the throat. In all cases a brisk purge should be given in the first instance, and the patient should be kept in bed on a virolised milk diet as long as the temperature is above normal. The indiscriminate use of medicines internally is much to be deplored; they seldom serve any useful purpose, and are generally best omitted. When the temperature has come down, and the more acute symptoms have subsided, the diet can be increased. During the fever the patient may have an unlimited supply of barleywater, flavoured with lemon-juice, or home-made lemonade. This serves to dilute the poisons circulating in the system, and helps their elimination. CATARRHAL THROAT. The catarrhal sore throat precedes or follows what is commonly known as a “cold’ in the head or chest. It is really an infective injlaramation of the mucous membrane. The nasal douche consisting of equal quantities of common salt, bicarbonate of soda and bonix—a teaspoonful of the mixture to a pint of hot water —is to be recommended in these cases. After the douche a pinch of menthol crystals may be dropped into a basin of boiling water, and the steam gently inhaled. Painting the throat three or four times a day with glycerine of tannin will soon put an end to the affection. Enlarged tonsils are frequent accompaniments to these throaty conditions. It should be recognised that such tonsils are diseased, and, as “empty houses are better than had tenants,” the sooner they are removed the better for the patient. They are a constant menace to the unfortunate possessor, and in children especially, are responsible for innumerable evils.