PART VI.
REMEDIES AND REGIMEN.
CHAPTER I.
HINTS IN REGARD TO THE TREATMENT OF COMMON DISEASES.
It is my design in a subsequent part of this work, under the head of emergencies, to refer to those exceptional cases in which there is peculiar danger, where some prompt action, something done immediately may either save life or save from protracted disease. In such cases the well instructed nurse may often do something without assuming undue responsibility.
But I now intend to give such instruction in regard to the treatment of minor ailments and complaints which are liable to arise in every family daily, as will enable the mother or nurse to often relieve present distress, and prevent future sickness and suffering. But I hope it is fully understood that while I give such instruction as is founded upon many years of study, and experience, and observation, I do not expect that any one can become a doctor by the perusal of this small treatise, or that the student of this book will ever set herself in opposition to those who have devoted years to the study of the healing art. With the understanding, then, that the mother is to prescribe medicine only in such cases as mothers usually do prescribe, I will now give some directions that will enable the nurse or mother to act with promptness and assurance and efficiency.
Some medicine should be kept in every house, and I suggest the following as a good list: Aconite, veratrum, paregoric, aromatic ammonia, spirits camphor, essence peppermint, spirits nitre, syrup ipecac, witch hazel, adhesive plaster, chlorate of potash, gum arabic, compound licorice powder, carbolic acid, and the sanguinaria powder.
The last, which is the medicine that I always use in diphtheria, may be prepared according to the following formula: Take of pulverized blood root ½ ounce, Ferri sulphas Exsiccata ½ ounce. Triturate together. Dose, 1 grain put on the tongue dry every four hours. The medicine should be kept dry and is best kept in a phial corked.
All the medicines should be labeled with the name and ordinary dose.
A small quantity of medicine will suffice to keep in the house. I suggest the following amounts and labels: ½ oz. tinct. aconite. Dose, 1/20 of a drop (or less) every hour. Poison. ½ oz. veratrum viride. Dose, ½ drop every two hours. 1 oz. paregoric. Dose, 1 drop to a teaspoonful. 1 oz. aromatic ammonia. Dose, 20 drops diluted in water. 1 oz. ess. peppermint. Dose, 10 drops. 1 oz. spirits camphor. Dose, 1 to 5 drops. 1 oz. syrup ipecac. Dose, 5 drops to a teaspoonful. 1 oz. spirits nitre. Dose, ¼ teaspoonful in water. ½ oz. fld. ex. witch hazel. Dose, 1 drop every hour. ½ oz. chlorate potash. ¼ lb. compound licorice powder. Dose, 1 teaspoonful. 1 oz. gum Arabic. ¼ yd. adhesive plaster. 1 oz. carbolic acid and glycerine. Poison. 1 oz. sanguinaria powder. Dose, 1 grain.
I will now give my treatment of diphtheria which is mostly by the use of the Sanguinaria powder, as this very well illustrates the benefit of having some mild safe medicine in the house, and using it early in the disease. Nearly thirty years ago I was so well satisfied of the efficacy of this medicine, that I advised all the families with which I was acquainted and where I was their physician, to keep the powder in the house and use it whenever any of them had sore throat; very many of them did so, and it has happened that so far as I know, there has not been a fatal case of diphtheria among them.
I advise that it be given in all cases of sore throat, for although it is not so important a remedy in all these cases, it will very generally be useful in a greater or less degree, and as the sore throat is usually the first thing complained of in diphtheria, its early application is thereby assured.