HEALTH NOTES.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LII, Issue 113, 17 May 1918, Page 2

HEALTH NOTES.

SOME UEKERAL INDORSATION

_The following are extracts from Pears' Encyclopaedia, Properly read they should help towards tho preservation of health and the pre vention of disease. A doctor should always be called in cases of sickness. . .

CELLULAR. Signifies consisting of microsjeopia cells. {Most animal "and vegetable structures are cellular in form. Whence we have the term "cellular tissue,'* indicating; the "membranous network filling up the interstices between the various organs of. the human body, composed of munberless cells, crossing each' other, and cohtstining communicating intercellular spaces, kept soft and

moist by a,watery vapour exhaled from the minute arteries. CEfiEBRUMV The upper brain, the

organ, upon, which depends the manifestations of will, intelligence, and memory, and which governs the processes of the nervous system, these in turn

directing all muscular action. Singularly enough, the cerebrum, or centre or the whole nervous structure, possesses itself no power of sensation, and may be injured,"and even, ■•divided, without sense of pain being experienced, though functipnal; derangement will, of course, quickly ensue., -Diseases of, or injuries to, any part of the cerebral structure demand the most, skilful and instant attention. _ .'

CHAPPED, HANIDS are generally the result .'of .careless drying m cold ana or may be occasioned by the use of" soaps containing an excess of alkali. Some skins are particularly susceptible .to "chapping, and lanoline is generally a very useful application in such cases. The selection of a reliable emollient soap for washing purposes, •will usually be found effectual iii the prevention ,pj{ painful chapping, even during severe frost, '.-.'". CHEST OR THORAX, the cavity containing the lungs, heart, and large blood vessels, the gullet and windpipe also passing through it. Its upper portion ji bounded by the neck, and it is separated from the abdomen by the diaphragm, a large muscle of breathing. The chest is tfie seat of miany ailments, referred to separately or in connection , •with the organs affected. Water in the chest, technically termed . hydrothorax, is a.resultant of pleurisy, effusion into the cavity having occurred 1 . .Chest development, especially in the young, may be healthily promoted by athletic and gymnastic exercises, judiciously pursued. * . .

■GEEK-KEN" POX. A. mild zymotic disease, common to children, and usually 'occurring • only once in a life-time. Usually preceded by a feverish concb> tiony-;*th© eruption consists of white-; headed pimples on the breast, shoulders, face, scalp and body generally, affecfihg also at "times the tonsils and the palate. On the third or fourth' day the white vesicle dries up, leaving a scaly _ crust which soon falls away. are not irritated they leave no mark behind: but if scratched or rubbed by the patient, they will sometimes ulcerate and result in slight pitting. Carbolised oil applied to the parts which itch most, painfully will allay the irritation. ■':.'■ -'"'.."; .." '."' '■'_.'''.'-.'.

GHII/BLArNS. These are really slight frost-bites, the effect of them being a

painful itching. of the part affected. with more or less inflammation. Persons rheumatically disposed and such as are of a weak physique or "below par ' in general health are more liable to chilblains than ; others. Tincture of iodine is sometimes applied successfully to affected feet or hands>. but the best lotion is-that prepared from car-, bolised zinc, one part carbolic: acid to. sixteen of ointment. . OHLOKOEORiM. As fluid obtained liy distilling chloride of lime with al-cohol-or methylated spirits, largely employed' to produce insensibility to naiu during an- operation. Carefully admin-, istered it may b& safely used even with young children 1 , and "is", very valuable in arresting infantile convulsions, but of course" it should never be given save b;-. a medical man. . - .

CIRCULATION. The passage of the bloocl from and <to the heart throughout the body, by .mea*ns of the arteries and veins./ . ■ .-■■•■: •'..- '

COI) LIVER OH* ~ A, very 'valuable heat-producer-and nutrient; remedial .in consumption,' rheumatism, and scrofulous, disorders/ *Gombme<l. with malt, it~is ;i less nauseous than "when crude, and-more easily- assimilated. . COLD." ' Deprivation or absence oi heat;- The extraction of heat from the human body- by excessive or sudden cold is answerable for many illnesses, by ,im : pairing vitality and rendering persons susceptible to disease generally. Chill induces or contributes to pneumonia, catarrh, oongesttion-, rheumatism, and many other maladies of a aerious chaiacter, that is to say, the germs of disease are enabled to obtain a hold, because , the "powers/• of resistance -of the organs attacked are reduced by exposure. So that the simple cold should be sedulously guarded -against.-. because of "the ills. it may bring in its train. Cold in- the head is due to congestion off the mucous membrane, and springs frequently from standing or sitting in a draught. This and all other colds should be combated' at their inception, to .•".avoid complications. (SeeCatarrh.) '. -*.-'-- - ;■ CX>LD T BATBS are r invigorating to the robust when not taken at a time'of over-fatigue; the- test being the occurierice of the "after"glow" upon drying. COLD FEET ought never to be warmed before' a fireT'TPhe best corrective is momentary^immersion/..in .cold wateiv with vigorous cnafirig 7 'after drying r,n „ rough towel. This should be continued untiKa .biSk has been induced in the; 'extretiiitiesl Never retire to bi^f.• wittT 'cold/feet, or 'your: rest w?U be. idisagteeabiy intfe'rfered - with; - ■

Cplil>. ' TtRRPmg ~ OUT- Good hot beef t-ea'or beef, extract or any rcputible kind *" e thingfor .".keeping out tlieJ"cold"". during exposure to sevf.-io •weather; next strong tea or-' coffee. Spirituous stimulants temporarily hasten "the circulation and deaden the sensibility to chill, bub the reaction is speedy and perilous when the exposure continues. ■'-..'

OOtEJD, WHEN" OVERCOME BY. The patient becomes"giddy, dazed, weak, and stiff in the joints, respiration feeble, pulse failing, ; intense drowsiness, culminating in coma. "Vigorous friction should be employed to the whole surface of the body,- but the sufferer "should not taken at once, into a heated apartment or placed-in front of a fire. A sthjralating "enema may be administered and attempts made to get; warm mine, brandy, beef extract, or other simulating or restorative drink into the stomach, gradually./ CdLTC. A spasmodic and -very painful affection of the bowels, more especially of the colon. There are various forms of c->!ic—"nervous, hysteric,ibilious hepatic, etc. Painters' colic is the result of the action of "lead" upon the system. A «ronsiderable accumulation of wind, neglected" constipation, the_ action of powerful purgatives or poison, or- expostpe- <A : cold, are all causes of colic; - Tlio naroxysmalpain is frequent-ly-relived by. "pressure over the part, "Jisually in the -region of the navel. "When flatulence is; accountable for- colic it_is often" capable of. relief hot ■ water In- ■ with sprinklings of laudanum, may do

! goocL • : An internal anodyne .compound of ginger essence, chloric ether, nepeh|the, and tincture of cardamons is-also recommended. Lead colic is an aggravated form of this malady ■ denoted by a blue "line•'where t«e gums meet the teeth and often by wrist pai-alysis. COMA. Is a state of insensibility resultant from some pernicious influence acting directly upon the brain. May arise'from exposure to cold, apoplexy, epifej-isy, inflammaticiii' of the brain, blood, poisoning, opium taking, intoxication or direct . violence. The stupor of coma with its accompanying insensibility presents Various symptoms peculiar to the, exciting cause of the attack, symptoms which, to the skilled observer, suggest the. coorrso of .treatment likely to be of avail. In. coma-, however induced, the .doctor's aid should be obtained as speedily as possible. <X>MPOTJNT> [FRACTURE signifies « broken bone, accompanied by injury to the adjacent soft parts..