PHYSICIANS' TREATMENT of Abscess of the Lungs.—Incision and drainage. You must depend entirely upon your physician.
EMPHYSEMA.—A condition in which there is air or gas in tissues that normally have none, or an excess of air in tissues that normally contain a certain quantity of it. A condition of the lungs characterized by a permanent dilation of the air cells of the lung with dwindling of the air cell walls and the blood vessels, resulting in a loss of the normal elasticity of the lung tissue.
Causes.—Heredity; it occurs in glass blowers, in musicians using wind instruments. It occurs also after whooping-cough, asthma, etc.
HYDROTHORAX.—This is an exudation (liquid) in the pleural cavity. Causes.—Comes from disease causing dropsy, kidney disease, lung trouble, pleurisy, etc.
[44 MOTHERS' REMEDIES]
PHYSICIANS' TREATMENT.—Treat disease that causes it. An operation to remove the fluid may be necessary. A trusted physician must advise you.
NIGHT SWEATS.—These are common in "consumption" and constitute one of the most distressing features of the disease. They usually occur when the fever drops in the early morning hours, or at any time of the day when the patient is sleeping. They may come on early in the disease, but are more persistent and frequent after cavities have formed in the lungs; some of the patients escape it altogether.
MOTHERS' REMEDIES.-l. Night Sweats, Salt Bath for.—"Bathe the body in salt water every other day. Just before retiring take a cup of sage tea, and eat nourishing food," The salt acts as an astringent as it slightly closes up the pores, and the sage establishes a better circulation and at the same time helps the sweating. This is a very simple and effective remedy.
2. Night Sweats, Cold Sage for.—"Drink cold sage tea, before retiring." This cold sage tea is only to be used when the patient has a fever and needs a cold drink. In case of this kind it would be effective.
PHYSICIAN'S TREATMENT for Night Sweats.—l. Atropine in doses of 1-120 to 1-60 grain is good to stop the sweating. It must be used carefully, three doses in twenty-four hours are enough.