Diagnosis.—Continued cough, getting worse and spasmodic, worse at night, livid face when coughing, causes great suspicion as to its being whooping-cough. The whoop will confirm it.
Mortality is quoted as twenty-five per cent during the first year. Between first and fifth year about five per cent, from fifth to tenth year about one per cent. Rickets, or wasting disease (marasmus) and poor hygienic surroundings makes the outlook less favorable.
MOTHERS' REMEDIES. 1. Whooping-Cough, Chestnut Leaves for.—"Steep chestnut leaves, strain, add sugar according to amount of juice and boil down to a syrup; give plenty of this. A friend of mine gave this to her children. She said they recovered rapidly and the cough was not severe." They are not the horse-chestnut leaves.
2. Whooping-Cough, Chestnut Leaves and Cream for.—"Make an infusion of dry chestnut leaves, not too strong, season with cream and sugar, if desired. The leaves can be purchased at a drug store in five cent packages."
3. Whooping-Cough, Mrs. Warren's Remedy for.—
"Powdered Alum 1/2 dram
Mucilage Acacia 1 ounce
Syrup Squills 1/2 ounce
Syrup Simple, q. s 4 ounces
Mix this.
This is one of the best remedies known to use for whooping cough. It has been used for many years, and some of our best doctors use it in their practice. I do not hesitate to recommend it as a splendid remedy."
4. Whooping-Cough, Raspberry Tincture for.—"Take one-half pound honey, one cup water; let these boil, take off scum; pour boiling hot upon one-half ounce lobelia herb and one-half ounce cloves; mix well, then strain and add one gill raspberry vinegar. Take from one teaspoonful to a dessertspoonful four times a day. Pleasant to take."