WHOOPING COUGH
A child suffering from a continuous cough, particularly if it is accompanied by a whoop or a condition which is so often seen in children who cough—not able to stop—should not be taken to church, nor to the movies, nor allowed to go to school; neither should he be allowed to leave his own yard. The average duration of the disease is usually six weeks. The child should have an abundance of fresh air, should spend much of his time out of doors, and while in the house should avoid dust of every kind; at night he should not be exposed to drafts. Call the physician early in the case and he may attempt to thwart the progress of the disease by certain administrations of vaccine medication.
In very bad cases, where a young child cannot catch his breath and gets blue in the face—which, fortunately, is uncommon—he should be slapped in the face with a towel wet in cold water; or, he may be lifted into a tub of warm water, then quickly in cold water, then back into the warm, etc. Hygienic measures should prevail, such as keeping the bowels open, the skin clean, and the use of the usual throat gargles and nasal sprays. Do not be misguided by the old-time thought that whooping cough must run its course; for, if medical aid is promptly secured, the disease may often be cut short and the severe paroxysms greatly lessened.