Every Man His Own Doctor / The Cold Water, Tepid Water, and Friction-Cure, as Applicable to Every Disease to Which the Human Frame Is Subject, and Also to the Cure of Disease in Horses and Cattle

by R. T. Claridge

Scarlatina.—This complaint, on its first indication, is often subdued by the following simple means:—

Two or three packing-sheets. Large bandage round the waist. Drink water and walk out. A few hours afterwards repeat the same.

If obstinate, two or three packing-sheets, changed when warm, followed by tepid bath 64°.

If in scarlatina, or measles, the throat is affected, drink often in small quantities. Renew the packing-sheet frequently. When fever is diminished, slight perspiration in packing-sheet for half an hour; then tepid bath twenty minutes, with friction. Bread and milk diet.

A child, eleven years old, exhibited symptoms of scarlatina. Dry and hot all over the body. Stitch from chest to back. Was put into a tepid bath 64° and rubbed for an hour, cold water being continually thrown over its shoulders; child extremely cold; walked out. The same operation performed again in the afternoon and twice the next day put an end to the attack.

Hooping Cough.—Rub the child well all over, particularly the chest and back of the neck with hands continually dipped in cold water; or use a rubbing sheet. Bandage the chest, breast, and loins. If sufficiently strong, let the child lie in bed until quite hot, then tepid bath 64° and use great friction until quite chilled. If fever be present, a packing-sheet should precede the tepid bath, and afterwards a bandage round the waist.

Hooping cough may also be treated thus:—

Tepid bath, with great friction, for ten minutes in the morning; two rubbing-sheets at mid-day; the same in the afternoon: head-bath before going to bed; chest and body bandaged and changed often; drink much water.

Mumps.—Begin with rubbing-sheets; then packing-sheets and tepid-bath.