Cold Pack.—The cold pack is used to reduce fever. It is one of the simplest and one of the best means we have. The child is undressed completely, and laid upon a blanket. It is completely covered with a small blanket (except its head) wrung out of water at 100° F. Outside of this the child is rubbed with a piece of ice, front and back, for a sufficiently long time to render the surface cool, but not cold. Children take kindly to this means of reducing fever; there is no shock and they are quieted by it.
Just how long one will rub with the ice depends upon circumstances. From five to thirty minutes may be employed. The head should be sponged with cold water while this is being done and it is a good plan to have a hot-water bottle at the child's feet.
The Cold Bath.—To reduce fever the cold bath is used in the following way: Water at a temperature of 100° F. is put into the bath and the child is first put into this water, then the water is reduced by putting into it shaved ice until it reaches 80° F. The child's body is well rubbed while it is in the bath and cold water is applied to its head. The bath is continued for five minutes, or sometimes with a robust child to ten minutes. On removal the child should be put into a warm blanket after being thoroughly dried.
Rectal Irrigations.—These are sometimes given to reduce fever. They are very useful and very successful if they are given properly and without exciting the child too much. It is best to give water of an ordinary temperature at first and gradually reduce it to 70° F. It should be continued for ten minutes or longer. It may be repeated every three hours. (See page [586].)
VARIOUS BATHS
Every mother should know how to give any bath that may be directed by the physician.
The Mustard Bath.—Take from three to four tablespoonfuls of English mustard; mix thoroughly in about one gallon of warm water. Add to this about five gallons of plain water at a temperature of 100° F. If it is necessary to raise the temperature of the water higher it may be done by adding water until the temperature reaches 105° or 110° F.
The mustard bath is exceedingly effective in cases of shock, great sudden depression, collapse, heart failure, or in sudden congestion of the lungs or brain. The special use of the mustard bath is in the treatment of convulsions; it is also useful for nervous children who sleep badly. Two or three minutes in the mustard bath, followed by a quick rubbing, will induce refreshing sleep in these children. It is not necessary to have more than one tablespoonful of mustard in these cases.
The Hot Bath.—A bath is prepared of water at a temperature of 100° F. After the child is in the bath the temperature of the water is raised to 105°, or to 110° F. It is not safe to go above this point.
The body of the child should be well rubbed while it is in the bath. In most cases it is advisable to apply cold water to the head while the child is in the bath. A bath thermometer should be kept in the water to see that it does not rise above the temperature desired.