856. Scrofula.—Although it has been considered as an hereditary disease, may be induced in a child, whose parents have no such taint, by a neglect of proper food, air and exercise. On the contrary, when the taint does exist in the parent, the offspring may pass through life with the enjoyment of tolerable health, by a strict attention to those means which are known to invigorate the body. Of preventives, there are none so efficacious as sea air, sea bathing, and the internal use of the sea water, in sufficient quantity to act on the bowels, and the local application of it to the glands which are enlarged. Indeed, the children of diseased parents should reside on the coast, in order to have the full benefit of these advantages. Friction should be applied generally on the surface of the body, with the hand covered with a flannel glove, night and morning. Food of easy digestion is to be preferred, such as shell-fish, game, poultry, beef or mutton. Bark and steel, as medicines, may be occasionally administered with good effect. This disease, which bids defiance to the regular physician, cannot with propriety be placed on the list of casualties, or sudden seizures.
857. Worms.—There are three species of worms which infest the intestines: namely, the flat worm, or tænia; the long, round worm, lumbrici; the short, round worm, or ascarides. The tænia is of rare occurrence when compared with the lumbrici or ascarides, but more difficult to remove. Full doses of sulphate of iron, with occasional active doses of calomel, force them to retire. The lumbrici are destroyed by repeated doses of calomel and scammony. The ascarides, being found in the lowest portion of the intestines, are easily removed by injections of lime-water, or a solution of aloes.
Parents who would preserve their children from worms, ought to allow them plenty of exercise in the open air; to take care that their food be wholesome and sufficiently solid; and, as far as possible, to prevent their eating raw herbs, roots, or green trashy fruits. It will not be amiss to allow a child who is subject to worms, a glass of red wine after meals; as every thing that braces and strengthens the stomach, is good both for preventing and expelling these vermin. In order to prevent any mistake of what I have here said in favor of solid food, it may be proper to observe, that I only made use of that word in opposition to slops of every kind; not to advise parents to cram their children with meat, two or three times a-day. This should only be allowed at dinner, and in moderate quantities, or it would create, instead of preventing, worms; for there is no substance in nature which generates so many worms as the flesh of animals, when in a state of putrefaction. Meat, therefore, at the principal meal, should always be accompanied with plenty of good bread, and young, tender, and well-boiled vegetables; especially in the spring, when these are poured forth from the bosom of the earth in such profusion. They promote the end in view, by keeping the body moderately open, without the aid of artificial physic. The ripe fruits of autumn produce the same effect; and, from their cooling, antiputrescent qualities, are as wholesome as the unripe are pernicious. I also very earnestly conjure parents not to take the alarm at every imaginary symptom of worms, and directly run for drugs to the quack, or apothecary. They should first try the good effects of proper diet and regimen, and never have recourse to medicines till after unequivocal proofs of the nature of the complaint.
Honey and milk are very good for worms; so is strong salt water; likewise, powdered sage and molasses taken freely.
858. Quinsy—Is the common inflammatory sore throat, attended by a sense of heat and fulness in the throat, by difficult deglutition, generally preceded by shivering, with a sense of coldness. On inspection, the tonsils appear red and enlarged. These symptoms continuing to increase, the patient is threatened with suffocation, the tonsils suppurate, when, by a spontaneous bursting of the abscess, relief instantly follows. It often happens that the abscess does not give way so soon as expected, when the puncture of a lancet puts an end to the alarming sufferings of the patient. In some cases, the quantity of matter contained in the tumor is very considerable, and instances have occurred, when, from the sudden bursting of the tumor, the patient being in a horizontal position, suffocation has followed, from the matter falling into the lungs.
To guard against these evils, an emetic of ipecacuanha should be administered, and a blister applied to the neck. As soon as the effect of the emetic has ceased, and the stomach will receive it, give the following aperient mixture:—Take of tartarized kali, three drachms; infusion of senna, two ounces; tincture of senna, two drachms. Mix them together.
If blisters are objected to, a piece of fine flannel, moistened with the compound spirit of ammonia, may be placed round the neck. Gargles are to be used in every stage of this disease; at first, they should be mildly detergent, as the following:—Take of barley-water, six ounces and a half; honey of roses, one ounce; tincture of myrrh, and vinegar, of each, two drachms. Mix them together, and cleanse the mouth and throat with some of the gargle from time to time.