HEALTH NOTES.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LII, Issue 113, 16 May 1918, Page 2

HEALTH NOTES.

SOME GENERAL INFORMATION

The following-are extracts from IPears' - Encyclopaedia.. Properly rea<J they should help towards tho preservation o'f health and 1 the pre vention of disease: A doctor should always be called in cases of sickness. ' -

ABSCESS.—A collection of purulent inatter in the tissues-of the body, occasioning swelling, external or interna?. Should pus or "matter"' be formed, swelling ;i:id severe pain will fellow j but if the abscess be charged with nonpurulent fluid only, inconvenience will be the extent of the trouble. In either case it is desirable that the fluid should be got rid of, and this may be accomplished by lancing and pressure, b> fomentation, or by the application of hot poultices and antiseptic treatment. -Abscesses are .frequently ■■ the result 01-a -blow or other violence, frequently ; -also they follow weakening illness, the most common cause being infection by certain germs. : .« BLEEDlNG.—Bleeding from any wonndl in spurts indicates severance 01 an artery, and should be at once arrested by tight-bandaging between the injured place and the heart, if this be possible, with the application of ice 01 other cold substances j the aid of a surgeon to tie up the artery being obtained' imm*emateLy.- Should external ligaturing be rendered difficult by the location of the wound a compress should be made above as well as over it .Bleeding from-a vein -proceeds in .1 continu ous stream, and haemorrhage of thi? description is sufficiently dangerous when permitted to proceed for any considerable time profusely. In the case of a varicose vein bandage both above and below the wound. Alum, tanin, and all are good styptics or blood staunchers. Tannin, or alum, or coton wool stuffed-up the nostrils will often stop troublesome nasal bleeding. :-:', BUSTER.—A. watery swelling under ihe skin; also a; plaister to produce the eame of set purpose, generally for the relief of internal inflammation. The best counter-irritant for this purpose is cantharides.

"•- KLOOD is a highly important jnedium of human and animal life. It consists, of arterial blood, which has :been oxygenated) ~on the lungs ; and Venous blood, loaded -with carbonic acid gas, and not having received aeration. Blood corpuscles or globules are v/hite and red, the latter giving to the blood its brilliant colouring and containing iron. The red corpuscles cany oxygen to the .capillaries, from the lungs and bring back carbonic acid gas from the .system to the lungs for expulsion. The white corpuscles "wage constant war against malignant bacilli, bacteria, and disease-promoting microbes generally. .The colourless fluid in which these corpuscles , float : is called the serum or liquor sanguinis. Over three-fourths of the composition of blood is water. BOIL. A painful affection of the skin, usually incident to a low state of the general health. It is produced bj- a minute organism which locates itself in the hair follicle for the propagation of its species, occasioning suppuration in the immediate environment and a more or less extensive superficial pustule through which the puralence discharged. Aj: unduly irritated boil' may develop into carbuncle. Boils ai-e best left alone to run their course, attention being turned to the? improvement of the impaired condition of body they indicate; but during their continuance the eating of oranges will be'found to have beneficial effect. BOItfES- The bones of human form aro composed of animal and earthly matter, the latter, in maturity, much predominant, and composed mainly of phosphate of lime. Bone affords the necessary strength and solidarity. The animal portion, gelatinous, yields vitality and 7 prevents biittleness. In infancy and childhood the bones are soft, developing towards the perfect conditions -gradually. BRAIN". The brain is the great nerve masi enclosed within the skull, serving as the- headquarters* from which the spinal maiTow and all the nerves which permeate the body take their start and governance. -It is a complete and . delicate organisation, and, though well fortified within the cranium, liable "to sustain injury from accidental violence by overwork. "Concussion of the brain is a condition resultant from a severe blow occasioning unconsciousness without apparent organic, mischief within the brain.

BREATH. Breathing. through the nostrils is "the natural and desirable' method of respiration, and perfect repose is only secured when tLe-'mouth is closed. All crooked or restrained positions . fender respiration difficult. •; 1 Irregular breathing denotes either a-i unnatural positon of the body, or some i : impairment of the respiratorv or-inus. J The exhalation of offensive odour front < the breath may arise from gum ulcera- l tion or decaying teeth; from disease of ' the mucous membrane of the air pas.sages, from disordered digestion, or from impurity of the blood. BRIGHT'S DISEASE, Denotes an in-

flammatory affection of the kidneys fndi T cated by the presence of.albumen more or less excessively in. the urine. . The. disease- may be very serious, and its treatment calls for the exercise promptly t of medical skill. "> BRONCHITJS is an inflamed condi;iion of the bronchial membranes. It usually induced by cold, but may. -.occur ?as -a -complication, in the course /-.of acute febrile attacks, such as typhoid. . In the-commencing stage the mucous membrane" of .the bronchial is often

so inflamed as -to occasion great dim : '. . xulty of-breathing, and* painful, spasm. J-Whenvthis- subsides' and the secretin >f!of resumed, this becomes -"sometimes-so'excesive.a to set up more or less'-.'comSinuous coughing. - Should ; : the inflammatory condition spread down ■ wards through the capillary' branches of the bronchi and" to the lungs; serious •

symptoms, will speedily supervene. /Relief may be obtained in many cases by the application of linseed or mustard poultices to the chest arid back,-these : being permitted to" remain on half an • . lour at a time and renewed as necessary, the pa'ient being kept warm in bed- 'Expectoration may be rendered less painful by the administration of .ipecachuana or antimonial -wine, sqmils or paregoric. or COITIRi;, is an enlargemW of the chyroid gland, of- j ten called "Derbyshire neck." It is i commonest in districts situated on moun tain lime-ton-, and is caused by drink- - irig' over-hard water. The cysts or swellings sometimes reach large dimensions, and occasion very' considerable inconvenience, though they are rarely • accompanied hv actual danger to life. The accumulated fluid may be drawn "> away from tb«*. cyst- to afford local relief, -»aud i^- ,: - 7 e of iron syrup often "•"* proves benefni-\l.' ■ . BRUISES tn-.y less "pain- ''" ful bv the a,r»tjlication of diluted arnica, ' or by bathing -with spirits and water, : also by the use of ice. Belladonna. -■ aconite" and ooium liniments painted '~w upon thft "ininrnd part will usually af'V. ford relief, b:it' must not be employed '" -when the sl:ni is brokeii. BUNION-^ - •nc painful swellings over the joints of the foes. They are ; due • to inflammati.-t of the joint -capsule..

•Hot fomentation will afford relief, but. the removal of the cause is necessary to prevent recurrence. BURNS?- Cover with powdered • soda, and lay over, or bind tightly with a. wet linen cloth, to "take the fire out." Next dress with white of egg or olive oil and secure the injured part against friction. Lime water and), permanganate of potash also make soothing dressings. Carron oil used for "burns consists of equal parts of linseed oil and lime water.

GANGER. A scirrhous tumour, some'timteis ulcerating and enlarging to an enormous size, and assuming a malignant character. Cancer is considered in many cases to be of hereditary origination. It occurs in various parts of the human body, and is much more frequent in females than males, rarely making its appearance before the age of -thirty- It-is- 5 only in its first stages that true cancer can be eradicated, if at all, and that for the most part by surgical excision. Medical -scientists are devoting much attention to the study of this terrible scourge of humanity. • CAPILLARIES. The minute blood vessels forming the connecting links between the arterial and venous systems; Capillary literally means hairlike.- ' These blood vessels are sometimes onlv one five-thousandth part of an inch in diameter, and differ from the smallest arteries in having only _one coat as against, the three exhibited in the arterial svstem. The capillary may be observed in the whites of the eyes when bloodshot, -having become-tror"-ed with red globules. ° CARBUNCLE. An inflammatory tumour or boil. A virulent superficial affection, which may develop from -n simple pustule, or boil, but is in vanabllv a sign of low general condition. This resulte in impaired vitality in portions of the skin, which becomes indurated and gangrenous. Incision and cleansing of the vitiated tissue is necessary, together with improvement of the bodilv health by tonic treatment. CARDITIS. An inflammatory affection of the heart tissue. Cardiac inflammation is generally confined to the outer (covering of the heart or the lining membrane in which it beats, when it is styled pericarditis. The living membrane of the heart itself may also become inflamed from various causes, which gives the condition called endorcarditir- Both-are -usually the outcome of rheumatic disease, and frequently follow rheumatic fever. CASTOR* v'OTL. Ai valuable purgative obtained by pressure and heat from the seeds of the 'Ricinus communis, one of the Spurges. It usually acts upon the bowels very quickly and thoroughly and may be administered with good effect in infancy and old age. CATARACT. An opacity of the_ crystalline lens of the eye, occasioning blindness. (Should the ailment arise from disease of the lens itself, it -ys called true cataract; an external growth in front of the lens constitutes what is known as false cataract. ' Usually an accompaniment of old age, and very often amenable to operative treatment in the early stage. OATARIRH. Increased secretion of mucus from the membranes of nose, eatf, broncSiia. stomach, alimentary canal, or-urinary passages. Most catarrhal ailments' are occasioned by exposure to cold, and the term means simply "a running down." The "common cold" in the head or chest is the most frequent of catarrhs, whilst- the catarrh of a marked and epidemic character is generally characterised' as influenza. Catarrh of ' the air passages- may be remedied, when not of serious extent, by inhalation of eucalyptus or methol-im-pregnated steam.