MEDICAL NOTES.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 267, 26 May 1888, Page 3

MEDICAL NOTES.

Bi>u>.---Il upcd to be thought that boils were healthy, bhat they 3hould be encour n^'cd a^ purilicisof the blood rather than lejnef-ned. Now this is generally considcied a mistake. II is believed that they iinpo\eri-h rather than purify the blood, and the more they can be prevented, or the moie quickly cuied the better. In the very beginning boilc can ofton be dissipated by ucntly nibbing thorn for five minutes two or three limes a day with the end of the linger dipped in camphor liniment. If a boil does- not yield to (his treatment, it should be cncouiaged to " come to a head," and Mippui ale as quickly as possible. Tiie bod should be dressed with a poultice made of <> i ound (lav-seed or of Indian meal, and this poultice should be changed often enough to a\ oul it becommy dry. If a boil assumes the malignant foim of a cdibuncle, do not tiiile with il, but call in a physician. The most ob\ious cliai act.cti.sti('e> of a carbuncle me a s-oniowhat datker colour and greater luminous than belonging to a boil, a tendency to increase in M/e without fairly pointing and con&idciablo fever and general xh.uistion. Tin-. hipoRTVNi'K oi Slli-.p. - The ci y fo rest has alwa\s been louder than the ciy fci food, not becau.se it is more important, but because it. is harder to obtain. The bc-t ict comcb from good sleep. Of two men oi women otherwise equal, the one who sloops the more satisfactorily will be the moic healthy, moral, and efficient. Sleep will do much to cure irritable-ness of temper, peevishne^, and unhappiness. It will restore to vigour an overworked brain, It will build up and make strong aweary body. It will euro a headache. Indeed, a long list might bo mado of nervous dis orders and other maladies which sleep will cure. Sleeplessness, is best cured by a clean, good bed, suHicient exercise to produce Mearine«s plea-ant occupation, good air, not too w arm a room, a clear conscience, and a\oidance of s-limulants and narcotics. Wisk Pkl'.cavtion.s.-— Peoplo with weak lungs should keep tho back, between the shoulder blades, well protectod, as well as the chest. They should endeavour to establish the habit of breathing through the nose when sleeping and never with the month open. Thoy should never lean with the back against anything cold ; should nob sit or bland long near a window in cold weather. In going from a warm atmosphere into a coo'er one the mouth should bo kept closed, so the air may become warmed in passing through the nostrils before it reaches the lungs. Tho feet should be kept dry, and the skin maintained in an active condition by logular bathing. DIKIOCTIONS FOR MaKTNU A SAND-MAC, — (let some clean line sand and dry it thoioughly in a tin dish on the stove. Mako a bag about eight inches square of (lannol, (ill it with the dry sand, sew the opening carefully together and cover the bag with cotton or linen clobh. This will prevent the sand, from siftiny; out, and you can oasily heat the bag- quickly by placing

it in a hoi oven. Such a bag is better for wanning the hands and feet of an invalid than a bottle of hot water or a brick, TJie sand holds the heat a long time. It is a good plan to have two of these bags ready tor use. Children with toothache can be put to sleep many a time with one. A drop of sweet-oil warmed in a spoon and then put into the ear is good for ear-ache. Or, loast an onion and when it is quite soft take outtheheait and put that warm into the orifice of the ear, then put on a bandage to retain the heat. Sanitation or the Sick-boom. — However perfectly the ventilation of the sick-room may be carried out, under some conditions of illne?s it is impossible to prevent entirely the contamination of the atmosphere with disagreeable odours. The sense of emell is so acute, and the subdivision of odoriferous particles and vapours so exceedingly minute, that odours of different kinds may be painfully apparent even when accurate analysis of the air will not afford any indications of impurity. Of methods of punfyingthe air in a sick-room themostconvonient is the hand-spray, charged with some fluid which should be either without odour, or possessed of a plea&ant scent. Another method of purity ing the air in the sickroom is by the evolution of some disinfectant or antiseptic gas. If the ordinary commercial chloride of lime is exposed in a .saucer or plate to the air, chlorine gas is given off in small quantity ; and its presence can be appreciated by the smell, which is not unpleasant if the gas is sufficiently diluted. The chlorine gas can be produced much more rapidly if desired from the same salt by the addition of a little black oxide of manganese and some sulphuric acid. It is always easy to remove the saucer or plate from the room if the air becomes too much impregnated with the chlorine gas. Another gas wkich can be used advantageously is the vapour of iiodine ; but only in small quantity, as its i. ritating to the throat and lungs when not sufficiently diluted. It is very easily produced by sprinkling the crystals of iodine on a heated shovel or iron plate when the violet-coloured fumes are given off. If the vapour comes in contact with any white articles, stiffened with starch, it dyes them a blue colour, so that wristbands and collar& are apt to suffer considerably during the evolution of the iodine. Carbolic acid exposed on flat dishes gives off, even when cold, a considerable amount of vapour, and the quantity can be increased by gently heating the receptacles. It is a very useful deodoriser, but to many patients the smell of carbolic acid is not only unpleasant, but also actively injurious. Eruption.— For eruptions on the face, the best remedy is camphor spirit dabbed on the spot after washing, or twice or thrice in the day ; or the following lotion used every morning after washing : — Sublimate lotion : Sublimate of mercury, 2 grains ; almond emulsion, half a pint. Mix these and bathe the face with the mixture.