HEALTH HINTS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 136, 8 June 1907, Page 11

HEALTH HINTS.

TONSH. TKGITBLSS. A considerable number of cases of tonsil troubles is certain to be represented in the cold weather. There is no ailment, it may first be remarked, in which a run-down condition of the body more effectively and directly operates to produce a definite disorder than that we arc considering. One eminent authority, indeed. ht:s expresseei himself to the effect that affections of the tonsils are in every ease to be regarded as an evidence of a low state of health and we may be reminded here that if such be the case, the prevention of tonsil troubles, as well as the prevention of many more serious ailments, may be summed up in the words that no derangement of health, however slight, should "be neglected. The tonsils have long been regarded in the light of somewhat mysterious organs, for the reason chiefly that they do not appear to make or secrete any kind of substance er fluid useful in the. body. In this resperr they are not like glands, such as the salivary glands of the mouth, or those which supply tears to wash the eyes. The tonsils, on the contrary, have no duct or tube leaeiing from them into the mouth, arid they therefore belong to what ■*""_ call the ■*■ closed " order of glands. At the _ _ie time, they posses a definite structure, and. there is no doubt that in the first instance they supply a good deal of mucus or fluid which serves to lubricate the back part of the ma_h. and to assist us in swallowing our food This much seems to be certain from an inspection of the little crypts or depressions in the tonsils themselves, out of which the mucus appears to come. QUINSY. Quinsy represents the inflammation of one or both tonsils, such inflammation in a typical case proceeding to its natural end in the formation of matter. I have ak?ady said that, tonsil trembles are most frequently to be regarded as caused by a j lew state of health, and there can be little doubt that eases of quinsy (a very trou-1 bitpome disease when it is seen in the history of a ehiid) are often associated with dampness in houses, with the breathing of! foul air, or with the presence of dirt. \ and with other insanitary conditions. In-1 fiammation of the tonsils is, of course, accompanied by pain and, as the fcrasils enlarge, if both are affected, they may actually meet together in the middle of the throat. Swallowing, of course, beI comes extremely painful and the voice assumes a somewhat hard tone and becomes very much altered from the tone which is natural to it. The glands in the neck and below the jaw are also liable to become swollen, and to exhibit a high tenderness when they are touched. The j temperature of the body here rises, and j . there is considerable general irritation of j the system, whilst the appetite is lost and i constipation will likely be present. The I breath is naturally of an offensive character, and when the back of the throat is ! closely examined the tonsils will be seen jto be markedly inflamed and reddened. I llf it happens that the disease has progressed to a certain extent, little specks. iof matter will be found dotted over the I surface ot tbe glands, these specks repre- [ seating the results of the inflammation j I of the little divisions of the tonsils them-' selves. When the inflammation has proi ceeded, matter which has formed in the I I body of the, tonsils will probably be disj charged, this event indicating practically j the end of the *lines 3. for then we find I \ the temperature to fall, the pain to J cease, and the natural condition of tho body to he regained, save, of course, for a I , certain amount of -weakness which, may be left.

seating the results oi the inflammation I of the little divisions of the tonsils them-1 selves. When the inflammation has proceeded, matter which has formed in the j body of. the. tonsils will probably be dis-\ charged, this event indicating practically j the end of the ilines3. for then we find j the temperature to fall, the pain t.ol cease, and the natural condition of the body to he regained, save, of course, for a j certain amount oi weakness which, may be left. TREATMENT. When the. ailment appears the catient \ must be kept in the house in a roam ofi an equable but not too high temperature,in order to lessen the fever. The most useful remedy is tincture of aconite. The! mode of using this remedy must be care-1 fully attended to. as it is one ot much value in the reduction of fever, hut must be given strictly according to the follow-j ing directions. The mixture is composed of 15 minims of tincture of aconite andj two ounces of water. The dose is a tea-! spoonful, and this is to be given every 10 I minuses to an adult for the first hour, j then once an hour for the succeeding six or eight hours, by which time the fever will be found to have been considerably reduced. It is of great importance to jcive a saline purge at the, commencement of the trouble in. order to assist in reducing the fever and in clearing the bowels. The throat trouble may be relieved by the, inhalation of the vapour of steam fromj an inhaler, whilst linseed meal poultices applied externally to the throat, as hot as they can be borne, will tend to hasten the formation of matter, and thus to bring the case more speedily to an end. Pieces of ice may be given the patient' to suck if the throat pain and inflammation are severe. Another useful mode of treating the disease is- that of spraying the throat with some medicinal substance or using a gargle. Thus an extremely useful gargle is that composed of one drachm cf carbolic acid, half an ounce of glycerine of borax, and twelve ounces of rose water. A little of this should be sprayed as often as required into the back of the throat. Another gargle consists of one. drachm of boric acid, half an ounce of glycerine erf borax, and ien ounces of infusion of roses. The strength cf the patient is to be kept up by giving bbn beef tea, milk, and any other light form ot diet. It may be noted that after an attack of quinsy, when the system is. low down, there will be need to give the patient a change of sir and a tonic.