Mother's Remedies, Thomas Jefferson Ritter [reading well .TXT] 📗

of congestion and anemia of the brain. The brain congestion is typified by the nerve-tire of the student; over-study and anxiety bring too much blood to the brain and necessarily too much activity and then insomnia. Anemia of the brain acts in the opposite manner. The brain cells are not properly nourished and hence irritated, and sleeplessness follows.

SLEEPLESSNESS. Mothers' Remedies. 1. Hop Pillow Stops.—"People affected in this way will be very much benefited by the use of a pillow composed of hops, or cup of warm hop tea on retiring. The hops have a very soothing effect upon the nerves."

2. Sleeplessness, Easy and Simple Remedy for.—"On going to bed, take some sound, as a clock-tick or the breathing of some one within hearing, and breathe long breaths, keeping time to the sound. In a very short time you will fall asleep, without any of the painful anxieties attending insomnia."

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3. Sleeplessness, Ginger at Bedtime for.—"Ginger tea taken at bedtime soothes one to sleep," This is a very good remedy when the stomach is at fault. It stimulates this organ and produces a greater circulation, thereby drawing the blood from the head. This will make the patient feel easier and sleep will soon follow.

4. Sleeplessness, Milk Will Stop.—"Sip a glass of hot milk just before retiring. This is very soothing to the nerves, and a good stimulant for the stomach,"

PHYSICIANS' TREATMENT.—Remove the cause and be careful in using drugs. In the organic kind the treatment is not very successful. In the toxic kind drugs must be given to correct other diseases and also tonics given. For brain congestion and anemia kind other means must be used first, and the drugs as the last resort. Treatment of the congestive insomnia.—1. Hot or warm general body-baths are very advantageous to stimulate the circulation and restore its balance alike in congestion and anemic cases. After such baths the patient must go to bed at once and not get chilled in cold rooms or by drafts. They must be properly covered and kept warm.

2. Cold spongings, cold shower baths, or cold plunge baths are given when the hot or warm bath does not produce the correct result. If this does not depress it is better than the warm bath. The person should be rubbed with warm rough towels until the skin is aglow. If he feels rested and quieted, the reaction is proper; if depressed, the treatment is too vigorous and not suitable.

3. The patient should stand ankle deep in a tub of hot water and a "drip sheet," from water at 75 to 80 degrees temperature, thrown over him. Then rub the patient's back and abdomen hard and a general brisk rub-down immediately after leaving the tub. This treatment should quiet, not excite or depress.

4. The cold abdominal pack is valuable. Flannel is wrung out in water, 75 to 80 degrees temperature and laid in several thicknesses upon the abdomen; place a dry towel over this, cover all with oiled silk, overlapping widely in order to protect the bed. Tie or bandage all this firmly. The effect of this work is first that of a cold then of a warm poultice.

5. Exercise. This should be in the open air when possible. A fast walk, horseback ride or ride on bicycle for a half hour before bedtime, followed by a rub-down will frequently give a good sleep. Dumb-bell, Indian club exercise, chest weight, are good in some cases.

Diet.—A light easily digested supper is often better than a heavy meal. Sometimes a little eaten before bed-time will give sleep. A piece of toast, for instance. It draws the blood from the brain and more to the stomach.

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Medicines. If you must use them.—The bromides are the best. Sodium and strontium bromide are first choice. Twenty to thirty grains in water one-half hour before retiring. Chloral hydrate should not be used often. Sulphonal, trional, etc., should always be given with a little food-never alone. Sometimes bread pills do just as well.

ANEMIC CONGESTION. Diet.—A light supper before retiring, like hot milk, broths, milk punch, etc., will very frequently promote sleep by removing the cause and quickening the circulation. Give nutritious, easy food to digest. The baths are not so valuable for this kind of insomnia. A cold sponge bath or plunge may be of service.

Medicines.—Tonics are needed here as in regular anemia. The patient must be carefully treated, and very many of these cases can be cured. The patient must render all the aid he can give, and the physician should gain his confidence. If he does he will not need to give much medicine to put the patient to sleep, and if he does give it he can frequently use a Placebo with the same effect. Mind has an influence over mind. By "Placebo" is meant any harmless substance, as bread-pills, given to soothe the patient's anxiety rather than as a remedy.

SLEEP WALKING.—There is a tendency to sleep walking in some families, often more than one child will do this to a greater or less extent. It is very extreme in some cases, and the next morning they do not know anything about it. The person is very seldom hurt and he can do some dizzy things. Many persons walk about in their sleeping room or simply get out of bed. Fatigue, worry, poor sleep, restlessness, nervousness, a hearty late dinner are aggravating causes. As age advances and the person becomes stronger, the patient will do less of it.

Treatment.—Avoid over-eating, worry, over-study. The evening should be spent quietly. Such persons had better drop parties, late hours or anything that tends to cause worry, fatigue or nervousness.

STAMMERING.—This may be inherited to some extent; excitement, nervousness, bodily fatigue, want of rest, etc., make it worse.

MOTHER'S REMEDY. 1. Stammering, Easy Cure for.—"Read aloud in a room an hour each day. Repeat each word slowly and distinctly."

PHYSICIANS' TREATMENT.—The person should be taught early to talk slowly, and to do everything to control himself and not get nervous. There are schools for this trouble, and they seem to do good work. They teach the patients how to speak slowly, distinctly and to keep their minds off of themselves.

HICCOUGH.—This is caused by intermittent, sudden contraction of the diaphragm; obstinate hiccough is a very distressing symptom and sometimes it is hard to control.

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Causes.—Inflammatory causes. It is seen in gastritis, peritonitis, hernia, appendicitis, and in severe forms of typhoid fever. Irritative causes. Swallowing hot substances, local disease of the gullet near the diaphragm, and in many cases of stomach trouble and bowel disorder, especially when associated with gas (flatus). Specific causes: Gout, diabetes or chronic Bright's disease. Nervous (Neurotic) causes. Hysteria, epilepsy, shock, or brain tumors.

MOTHERS' REMEDIES. 1. Hiccough. Vinegar for.—"One teaspoonful vinegar sipped carefully (so it will not strangle the patient) will stop them almost instantly."

2. Hiccough, Sugar and Vinegar Stops.—"A few drops of strong vinegar dropped on a lump of sugar and held in the mouth until dissolved, will stop most cases of hiccoughs."

3. Hiccough, Sugar Will Relieve Patient of.—"Place a little dry sugar on the end of the tongue and hold the breath. I have tried this remedy after others have failed and obtained instant relief."

4. Hiccough, Simple Remedy for.—"Have patient hold both ears closed with the fingers, then give them three swallows cold water while they hold their breath."

5. Hiccough, Home Remedy to Stop.—"Take nine swallows of cold water while holding the breath."

6. Hiccough. Vinegar Stops.—"One teaspoonful of vinegar thickened with sugar and eaten slowly."

7. Hiccough, Cinchona Bark in Peppermint Stops.—"Put about one-fourth teaspoonful of cinchona bark, powdered in two ounces of peppermint water, and give one teaspoonful every five or ten minutes until relieved, or three drops of camphor and aqua ammonia in wineglassful of water," These remedies are very good when the stomach is at fault, as they have a stimulating effect.

PHYSICIANS' TREATMENT.—Sudden start may check it in the light forms. Ice, a teaspoonful of salt and lemon juice may be tried. Inhalations of chloroform often relieve. Strong retraction of the tongue may give immediate relief. Spirits of camphor, one teaspoonful. Tincture of cayenne pepper one to two drops in water. Ten grains of musk by the rectum. Hoffman's anodyne one teaspoonful in ice water is very good.

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INJURIES TO THE HEAD. Concussion or Laceration of the Brain.—The brain may be injured by a blow on the head, or indirectly by falling fully upon the feet or sitting down hard upon the buttocks.

Symptoms.—The person who is injured may lose his balance and fall, become pale, confused, and giddy, may have nausea and vomiting and recover. If the injury is more severe and there is a tear of the membranes of the brain or the brain itself, the patient will fall and lie quietly with a feeble and fluttering heart, cold, clammy skin, and apparent unconsciousness; he can be roused by shouting but will not reply intelligently. He will be able to move his limbs. The urine and contents of the bowels will be passed involuntarily. As he gets better he may vomit. He may soon return to entire consciousness, but still suffer from some headache, feel wearied, and tired, and not feel like exerting himself. This may continue for some time. Occasionally the results are more serious even after a long time has passed, and an abscess of the brain should be watched for, sometimes epilepsy or insanity follows. If the patient grows worse instead of recovering, either deep seeming sleep sets in or symptoms of inflammation of the covering (meninges) or the brain itself follows. Such injuries must be carefully watched, for you can not tell at first how severe they may prove to be.

TREATMENT. What to do First.—Put the patient to bed without any pillow, and put around his body hot water bottles or bags, suitably covered. He should be kept quiet and free from excitement, and sleep should be encouraged. Hot water or ice water, when awake, as is most agreeable to the patient, may be given. Aromatic spirit of ammonia, during the shock is better for the patient to take than alcohol, for alcohol excites the brain; dose, one-half to two drams; the former can be given every ten minutes in a little water for about three doses. Surgical treatment may be necessary at any time.

INJURIES OF THE SPINAL CORD. Concussion of the Spine.—A severe jarring of the body followed by a group of spinal symptoms supposed to be due to some minute changes in the cord, of an unknown nature.

Causes.—Severe concussion may result from railway accidents or violent bending of the body, fall from a house, blow on the back, jumping, etc.

Symptoms.—May come on suddenly, when it is due to a jar of the brain as well as the cord. Loss of consciousness, complete paralysis, small pulse, collapse, and within a few hours death may follow. In other cases improvement, though very slow, follows. Walking is difficult and the upper extremities are weak in these cases. There are pain and tenderness along the spine. Brain symptoms, such as headache, dizziness and fainting, may be present or absent.

Treatment.—Absolute rest from the beginning, stimulants if necessary, electricity is useful.

TRAUMATISM OF THE CORD. (Blows, etc.).—(Fractures and dislocations, gunshot and stab wounds, etc.).

Symptoms.—They differ according to the place where the cord is injured. The motion and feeling power may be disturbed. There may be sudden complete paralysis of the upper and lower extremities depending on how severely the cord is injured, and how high up the injury is. The bladder and rectum may not act properly. The contents may be retained or "run-away." Death follows sooner or later if the injury is extensive. In some cases the symptoms are slight in the beginning, but increase in a few days, or they may suddenly increase a few months afterwards. In other cases, bad symptoms at first may gradually abate which is due to the blood clot having been absorbed.

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Recovery depends upon the extent of the injury and the constitution of the patient. It is always well to be careful about expressing an opinion about this injury.

Treatment. Immediate.—Surgical treatment is necessary. Absolute rest is a necessity, and must be had for weeks according to the severity of the case. It may seem long and become tedious, but the case must have rest for a long time.

ORGANIC DISEASES OF THE SPINAL CORD. Caisson Disease; Divers' Paralysis. Causes.—This affection occurs in divers, bridge builders, and others who are subject to increased atmospheric pressure. The symptoms develop on coming suddenly to the surface when the atmospheric pressure is greatly lessened.