Advice to a Mother on the Management of Her Children

by Pye Henry Chavasse

The best medicine for the first few days of the attack, is the following mixture—

Take of—Chlorate of Potash two drachms,
Boiling Water seven ounces
Syrup of Red Poppy one ounce

To Make a mixture. A table spoonful to be taken every four hours.

Or the chlorate of potash might be given in the form of powder—

Take of—Chlorate of Potash two scruples,
Lump Sugar one drachm

Mix and divide into eight powders. One to be put into a dry tea spoon and then placed on the tongue every three hours, These powders are very useful in diphtheria; they are very cleansing to the tongue and throat. If they produce much smarting as where the mouth is very sore they sometimes do, let the patient, after taking one, drink plentifully of milk, indeed I have known these powders induce a patient to take nourishment, in the form of milk, which he otherwise would not have done, and thus to have saved him from dying of starvation, which, before taking the powders, there was every probability of his doing. An extensive experience has demonstrated to me the great value of these powders in diphtheria, but they must be put on the tongue dry.

As soon as the skin has lost its preternatural heat, beef tea and chicken broth ought to be given. Or if great prostration should supervene, in addition to the beef tea, port wine, a table spoonful every four hours, should be administered. If the child be cold, and there be great sinking of the vital powers, brandy and water should be substituted for the port wine. Remember, in ordinary cases, port wine and brandy are not necessary, but in cases of extreme exhaustion they are most valuable.

As soon as the great heat of the skin has abated and the debility has set in, one of the following mixtures will be found useful—

Take of—Wine of Iron, one ounce and a half,
Sample Syrup, one ounce,
Water, three ounces and a half

To make a Mixture. A table spoonful to be taken every four hours.