Prof. Strambio, in a note to an Italian medical journal, says that, notwithstanding the failure of all remedies hitherto recommended for the immediate cure of a cold, he wishes to communicate to the profession the great success he has found attending a new one in his own person, and to ask them to test its efficiency. He found prolonged mastication and swallowing of a dried leaf or two of the Eucalyptus Globulus (Blue gum) almost immediately liberated him from all the effects of a severe cold.
In the treatment of persistent cold in the head, or nasal catarrh, when there is much discharge from the nasal passages, we are advised to use a spray-producer with the following solution:—1 gr. carbolic acid, 2 dr. glycerine, 2 oz. water. After the passages are clean, a small quantity of vaseline is melted in the bowl of the spray-producer, and 2-5 drops pinus canadensis mixture are added. This mixture consists of:—15 gr. pinus canadensis, ½ oz. glycerine, ½ gr. carbolic acid, 1½ oz. water. This is to be applied by the spray to every part.
Dr. Sheppard says, in respect to the use of hot water as a remedial agent in the treatment of inflammation of the mucous membranes:—“I have used hot water as a gargle for the past 6-8 years. In throat and tonsil inflammation, and in coryza (cold in the head), if properly used in the commencement of the attack, it constitutes one of our most effective remedies, being frequently promptly curative. To be of service, it should be used in considerable quantity (½-1 pint at a time), and just as hot as the throat will tolerate.”
Coughing is greatly under the control of the will, and children ought to be taught to try to restrain the inclination to cough; very often, by this very effort, the desire to cough will vanish. If it cannot be avoided, they should be taught how to cough. It is not in the least necessary to give way to coughing on every occasion, even though there be really something to expectorate, until the mucus or other irritating matter be within easy reach, and then one good, effective, deliberate cough will do as much, or probably more, for the relief of the individual, than perhaps a dozen repeated, noisy, resultless fits of coughing. The noise which accompanies the act can be greatly modified at the will of the individual. There are some people who make not the slightest effort to lessen this annoyance. In many cases the mouth may be closed, and in all the hand may be held before the mouth during the act, whereby considerable modification of the noise may be attained.
Avoid making use of any nostrum vaunted as a cure for all sorts of coughs and colds: all contain opium in some form, and may prove prejudicial to the complaint which initiates the cough. At the same time, a distressing cough calls for amelioration. There never can be harm in causing the patient to inhale steam from a sponge or basin of boiling water; or infusion of hops may be inhaled. Lozenges of various kinds are often useful, e.g. fruit, gum, glycerine, liquorice, marsh-mallow, tamarind, ipecacuanha, &c. Linseed-tea is a bland, soothing demulcent, useful in sore throat, and in allaying tickling cough.
The common mullein, Verbascum thapsus, has long been used in Ireland as a domestic remedy for consumptive cough, and Dr. Quinlan finds that when boiled in milk the patient takes the decoction readily, and experiences a physiological want when it is omitted. Its power of checking phthisical looseness of the bowels and the relief afforded to coughing are very marked, so that patients take hardly any other cough mixture. In early stages it appears to have a distinct power of increasing weight, but in advanced cases Dr. Quinlan remarks that he is not aware of anything that will do this except koumiss. (Brit. Med. Jour.)
Dr. Square recommends a solution of 1 part ethyl bromide in 200 of water as a remedy for whooping-cough. This is of similar strength to the chloroform water of the British Pharmacopœia, and its dose is the same, namely, ½-2 oz.
A German journal mentions a case of whooping-cough treated with turpentine by Ringk, of Berlin, with astonishing results. The patient was a little girl 3½ years of age, and a fatal issue seemed imminent. The doctor prescribed ol. terebinth., 10 grams; syr. altheæ, 80 grams; a teaspoonful every 3 hours. The next day the child was sitting up in bed, with a great slice of bread and butter in her hand, which she was eating and evidently enjoying. The cough had totally disappeared, and no evil results followed.
Following are a few simple recipes for expectorants, useful for winter coughs. The first is particularly suitable for young children:—(a) 1 fl. dr. syrup of squills, ½ fl. dr. gum acacia, powdered, 8 gr. ammonium chloride, enough peppermint water to make 2 fl. oz. Dose for a child, 1 teaspoonful every 2 hours. (b) For older children and adults, 2 parts syrup of ipecac., 4 syrup of squills, 1 paregoric. Dose, ½-1 teaspoonful, repeated as often as necessary. (c) 1 oz. syrup of ipecac., 1 oz. syrup of tolu, ½ oz. paregoric, 1 oz. syrup wild cherry. (d) For hoarseness, Dr. Eichelberger gives the following, which he says is very good:—2 dr. tinct. chloride of iron, 4 dr. glycerine, 4 dr. water. Dose, ½ teaspoonful.
Sore throat is a constant accompaniment of some very serious disorders, such as scarlet fever, measles, smallpox, diphtheria, &c., but is most frequently the result of exposure to cold and damp, when the body is heated. It may be confined to the parts situated at the back of the mouth, i.e. the tonsils, palate, and pharynx, or it may extend a little further into the windpipe. The affection is an inflammation of the mucous membrane of the parts enumerated. Many cases speedily recover without any active treatment, provided the invalid will have patience for a few days, confine himself to the house, better to one apartment, and still better to bed, for a couple of days; avoid all conversation; apply a warm poultice to the throat, or a moist compress round the throat night and day. This last is made by wringing a piece of lint, or a pockethandkerchief, out of water sufficiently so that it does not drip, and it is of small moment whether the water be cold or warm; it is now applied to the throat, and covered with a piece of macintosh, and then a woollen comforter is put over all. Ice may be sucked continuously, if agreeable to the patient. If it be not, then a gargle of warm milk and water should be employed every hour. A smart aperient dose of Epsom salts or castor oil should be taken in the morning before breakfast, 1 tablespoonful salts in a tumblerful of hot water. If, under this treatment, the throat do not improve in 2 days, it has ceased to be a minor ailment, and the physician must be sent for.