In summer complaint give but little food, and that only in a liquid form. Barley water, rice water, oatmeal gruel, bran jelly, lemon jelly and orange whey, are all good. Milk can be used, if relished and digested. It is ordinarily better to be reduced by adding one-third boiling water. All of these must be given in small quantities and at regular intervals. The best drink is soft water. If there is vomiting, a drink made by steeping whole parched corn, is excellent. Also oatmeal coffee is good. The juice of acid fruits is beneficial, and can be used freely. But on no account allow the pulp, seed or skin to be eaten. Remember, very little nourishment can be appropriated. The child, especially if nursing, often takes food on account of thirst.
A compress wrung from cold water should be applied if there is local heat, and allowed to remain for two or three hours, then removed, and the parts bathed in tepid water. If there is pain, hot fomentations or hot enemas, will be advantageous.
Under all circumstances avoid opiates and astringents. These stop the discharges without removing the cause, and if the disease does not recur in the same form, some other organ is liable to become affected. If the child seems to need nourishment and is not able to take it, an enema of a thin bran tea will prove nourishing without being irritating.
Keep the child quiet, in a well ventilated room, or in the open air. A bed made of the inside corn husks stripped fine, is the best. A new material for bedding made of Florida moss is excellent. A child, sick or well, should not sleep on bed or pillows of feathers. By observing these simple directions most cases of this dread disease can be saved.
Remedies for dysentery and summer complaint.
Arsenicum, 3d.—The discharges are thin, watery, yellow, accompanied by thirst, hands and feet hot. Six pellets every two hours.
Cuprum, 3d.—Discharges green, frequent and small, with much pain. Six pellets every two hours.
Camphor tincture.—Discharges watery, frequent vomiting, coldness of extremities. Prepared and given as on [page 221].
Mercury sol., 3d.—Discharges watery, gush out, followed by sinking, have a bad odor. Six pellets every three hours.
Mercury cor., 3d.—Green discharges streaked with mucus or blood, accompanied by straining effort. Six pellets every four hours.