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Papers on Health. John George Kirk
Читать онлайн.Название Papers on Health
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isbn 4064066162542
Автор произведения John George Kirk
Жанр Языкознание
Издательство Bookwire
Cane Syrup.—In the original edition, good treacle was recommended as a laxative. This treacle, which was prepared from cane sugar, we understand is now not to be had—what is sold as treacle being largely mixed with glucose. We therefore recommend instead the use of golden syrup made from pure cane sugar. This can be had (in tins), guaranteed by the makers to be genuine.
Carbuncle.—See Boil.
Catarrh.—Is simply an inflammation due to impurity of the blood. These impurities arise from bad air or wrong food, and remain in the body till a chill of some kind or other forces the blood and the impurities with the blood to some part, resulting in inflammation. Catarrh in the mucous membrane, connected with respiration, is commonly called a "cold," and is decidedly infectious (see Air). A cold must be regarded as an effort of Nature to get rid of these impurities. Breathing of fresh, even cold air, will expedite, not hinder the cure.
Washing the hands and face in cold water, and drying vigorously, will often cure it when beginning as "cold in the head." Cold, applied in a certain way, cures the after effects of chill, but it must be so applied as only to affect the part to which it is applied, while the general heat of the body is kept up. Catarrh may occur in any internal membrane of the body. If these can be reached, as the nostrils, or even the bowels, may be by syringing, then nothing is better to effect a cure than cool water and vinegar, or weak acetic acid. Brush the nostrils often with this, and cold in the head will soon be cured. It can be applied still better by means of a nasal douche. Syringing the bowels with this cool acid mixture in the more serious catarrh of these will also cure. Patient perseverance is wanted, however, in the latter case. Get also the external skin to act thoroughly. Where the cause of internal catarrh is exhaustion, through overwork or worry, the cause must be removed. Let the sufferer learn trust in a living Heavenly Father, and cast all burdens upon Him, and the physical treatment will have a fair chance to cure. See Breath and Skin.
Cauliflower Growths.—These begin like warts, and in the earlier stages poulticing and soaking with weak acid almost invariably cure. After some months the growth looks like the head of a cauliflower, and becomes dangerous if on a vital region. It is not really a parasite, but rather a diseased state of the skin, which is perfectly curable. First every part is carefully cleansed with a small camel's-hair brush and weak acid (see Acetic Acid). Then the buttermilk poultice is applied all night, or even night and day (see Buttermilk Poultice). Cleanse again after poulticing. Careful and persevering continuance of this treatment will effect a cure.
Cayenne and Mustard.—Mustard spread on a cold towel and applied to the spine or lumbar region of the back is often an effective aid to the cold treatment. If such applications have to be made more than once, cayenne pepper is preferable to the mustard, and equally powerful. When cold cloths alone fail, this more powerful treatment may be tried. Pain and burning after cayenne are relieved by applying olive oil.
Cayenne Lotion, or "Sweating Mixture."—This is made with one or two tablespoonfuls of cayenne pepper (as desired weak or strong), half a pint of white vinegar, and a pint of boiling water. These are mixed and infused for half-an-hour. The mixture is then carefully strained so as to remove the pepper grains. Dilute, if too strong, with water.
Cayenne "Tea."—Infuse an ounce of good cayenne pepper in a pint of boiling water. Strain out the pepper. This produces a glow of heat on the skin when rubbed on, and may be a valuable adjunct to oil rubbing where that is intended to raise such a glow.
Changing Treatment.—To wisely alter and arrange the treatment in any case is of the utmost importance. Treatment which at first gives great relief will often become ineffective or even painful. Then some other way of cure must be tried. Sometimes cold applications will become painfully cold. Heating for a time is then effective, and cooling can again be given after the heating. Soapy lather on an inflamed part will do delightful service for a while, then it may become painful. Warm oil may then be used instead. When this becomes irritant, a return to the soap will cure. Or the hot bathing of a sore knee may be most effective for a while, and then may give rise to sore pain. In such a case, cease the bathing, and for a time apply the soapy lather. Do not despair because a thing "loses its effect." Its apparent loss of power only indicates a needed change of treatment. Common sense will guide in this, and the true healer and nurse will be able to judge what is best to do.
We have a case in which, after long rubbing with acetic acid, the skin seemed to become so used to it that little or no effect was produced. For a few days an alkali, in the simple form of "hartshorn" (ammonia) was rubbed on instead of the acid. The acid rubbing was then resumed, and produced its usual effect. Such plans will occur to all who are thoughtful, and do not just blindly follow instructions.
Cold-water cloths have got in certain circles to be fashionable, so that they are used exclusively in all cases. A knee joint has got wrong, and it is deemed the right thing to wear a cold bandage constantly round it. But this fails to have the desired effect. It may not fail entirely, so long as there is some vital energy on which to "come and go," as we say, the effect of the reaction will be to give a measure of relief. But in very many cases this vital energy is deficient. If in such a case the person advising it has only thought enough to have recourse to an hour's hot fomentation once or twice a day, the effect desired may not be long delayed. Supposing something like inflammation of the lungs has to be dealt with. Cold is applied on the chest, as it is often most successfully applied, when there is still a good deal of energy to be drawn upon. But in this case there is not sufficient energy. Well pack the feet and legs in a thoroughly hot fomentation, such as will renew a full supply of heat all over the body. Then you will find the cooling of the chest thoroughly effectual. In a very considerable correspondence we meet often with this resolve: "We shall continue to do as you direct till we hear from you again." We remember telling a young man to put a hot bran poultice between his shoulders for a troublesome cough. We saw him no more for months, but when we did meet him he apologised for not continuing the application. He said, "I poulticed my shoulders for three weeks, and they began to get soft, so I stopped doing it." We certainly thought his head had been soft to begin with! Why should not sensible men and women get a little independent thought of their own?
It may be well to remark that the cessation of all treatment is a change, and often a very beneficial one too. If you do not know what to do when any treatment is "losing its effect," or having the opposite effect to that which it had, just cease to do anything till you see manifestly what is needed. The rest of a week, or even two, may be just the thing wanted. If it is, it will ease the pain; if it does not, you will see that probably the opposite of what you had been doing will suit.
Chapped Hands.—Our idea is that this is caused by the soda in the soap used. At any rate, we have never known any one to suffer from chapped hands who used M'Clinton's soap only.
It is made from the ash of plants, which gives it a mildness not approached by even the most expensive soaps obtainable.
If the hands have become chapped, fill a pair of old loose kid gloves with well wrought Lather (see), putting these on just when getting into bed, and wearing till morning. Doing this for two or three nights will cure chapped, or even the more painful "hacked" hands, where the outer skin has got hard and cracked down to the tender inner layer.
Chest Pains.—See Angina Pectoris.
Chest Protectors.—These are often piled on the front of the body, while the far more important back is left exposed. In many cases of delicacy and cough, particularly with women, it is far more effective to protect the upper back with warm extra flannel than to place covering on the chest. This alone will sometimes cure distressing coughs. In every case, such "protection," whether to back or breast, should be such as to secure free escape of perspiration (see Underwear). A sheet of fine wadding is excellent. Where less heat is desired, new flannel is the best.