Cramp in Intestines. Treat as colic.
Croup. Apply hot fomentation to chest for ten minutes, followed by cold compress. Give salt water emetic to cause vomiting and remove phlegm, if breathing is still difficult. If necessary, in severe case, give half teaspoon of syrup of ipecac to produce vomiting; apply counter-irritant to chest and back. Keep child well wrapped. If severe, prepare kettle of boiling water so child can inhale steam. Add two tablespoonfuls of compound tincture of benzoin, creosote or oil eucalyptus, or teaspoon of vinegar or ammonia. Use light blanket to cover kettle and head of child. See that kettle is not near enough to burn face. Be careful that child does not choke, and that clothing is not dampened. Wrap a piece of rubber sheeting or woolen blanket about shoulders, and remove when through steaming. For mild cases, or when child is relieved, place saucer with tincture of benzoin near child’s head, where fumes will be inhaled. Treat as for cold, on following day, with counter-irritants, and use menthol, oil nasal spray, or tincture of benzoin for inhaling. For children subject to repeated attacks, provide a special croup kettle.
Cough. Ascertain cause from physician and treat by his prescription. Avoid cough syrups, which are dangerous for children. Plain honey, figs, fig juice, are soothing. Use menthol inhaler. Apply salve of menthol and vaseline in nose at night, and a cold compress or mild counter-irritant on throat.
Diarrhea. Stop regular food. Give infants barley water, older children only special dietary. Give prompt laxative. Keep in bed. Call doctor promptly and save stools for his inspection.
Earache. Symptoms in infant include crying, and turning head from side to side. Apply counter-irritant behind and below ears. Place few drops of lukewarm phenol and olive oil mixture in ear, on sterilized cotton. Apply hot flannel, hot-water bag, or other dry heat.
Eczema. Apply salve or lotion, according to doctor’s direction. Avoid water or vaseline on affected places, as these are irritating. Keep clean with olive oil or cold cream. Give dietary treatment.
Eyes Inflamed. Bathe hourly with 2% boric solution or weak salt water. For cold in eyes, also apply vaseline at night and in morning to lids, avoiding eyes.
Headache. Frequently due to constipation, indigestion, eyestrain, excitement, fatigue, overheating. Ascertain and treat cause. Apply cold cloths, changing every five minutes, or hot cloths, changing every ten minutes, or alternate hot and cold, according to wishes of patient, to forehead and back of neck. Apply menthol pencil to forehead and base of brain. Massage back of neck, with strong pressure downward and toward sides. Inhale menthol, mild camphor, ammonia, or smelling salts.
Hiccough. Due to indigestion or overeating. Hold breath. Sip water slowly while holding breath. Give small lump of sugar. If severe and continued, induce sneezing or give emetic to remove cause.
Nausea. Give soda mint tablet in glass of hot water. If not relieved, give emetic. After vomiting, give glass of hot or cold water hourly, mildly salted or with soda mint, for several hours.