MEDICAL NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13390, 19 January 1907, Page 5 (Supplement)

MEDICAL NOTES.

THE BLOOD IN GOOD ORDKR. Bl.(K)i) is made front the food we eat, and purified by the air we breathe. It naturally follows that to cat good wholesome food ami breathe pine air would ensure pure blood. There is another element, however, that enters in, and that is the easting out of waste material that renders the blood impure. This often is performed by the bowels, the kidneys, the skin, and the lungs. If, then, we would have pure blood, we must see that these organs are kept active. Breathe pure air night and day, being careful to have no clothing which in the least interferes with deep breathing. Mat simple food, use moderate quantity at regular times and absolutely nothing between times. Keep the skin active by bathing often, the kidneys active by drinking freely of pine water, and the bowels active by light food and exercise.

ASTHMA. A correspondent asks us to give our views on asthma its cause and cures. Asthma is a disease infecting the lungs, the structure involved being the smaller bronchial tubes. The condition known as asthmatic is one in which, as the result of reflex nervous action, the muscular coat of the smaller bronchial tubes is in a state of contraction, which lends to greatly diminish power of aeration, as air cannot lie conveyed to the jar cells of the uings except by the greatest difficulty: hence tic very laboured or asthmatic breathing. The original impression on the nervous system, which causes this reflex action, may be produced in a variety of ways. It may be the result, of a direct irritation to the lungs, or of what would be called a double reflex action. Climatic influences, as those of temperature, moisture, or impregnation of the air by floating matter or miasma, may produce asthma. Grief, sudden and violent excitement, indigestion, or even attacks of constipation may act as predisposing causes. Change of scene, climate, ami (he conditions which make up one's daily life and habits are sutlieieut to effect a cure in many eases.

I.VSKCT STINGS. The fact of death occasionally resulting from the sting of insects such as bees and wasps is no doubt largely responsible for the species of terror which these insects bring upon many persons. A case was reported of a labourer who placed in his mouth a. gooseberry, which proved to contain a wasp. The' wasp stung him at the " root, of the tongue ; he vent into his cottage, and medical aid was summoned, but death ensued in live minutes." In this instance, of ( nurse, death most probably supervened on suffocation due to intense swelling in the throat, and was not due directly to the poison itself. Vomit - ing, fainting, delirium ami stupor strongly suggest a highly virulent substance, of the nature of a, tox'ine. 'The Lancet says that the precise nature of the poison of wa.sps and bees is not known. They possess a jwison bag and water, exhibits an acid reaction, and. in fad, contains formic acid. But this acid can hardly account for the severity of the symptoms sometimes following a sting. Fatal results have indeed occurred which could only be attributed directly to the toxic action of the sting. Some persons, however", endure the sling with impunity, others develop alarming symptoms, such as blood poisoning, and undoubtedly the toxicity of the sting dejiends very much upon the condition of the "soil" into which it is implanted. (hie of the old-fashioned remedies, and we lielii-ve a. good one, is to apply immediately to the part stung the juice of a raw onion. The rationale ot this remedy is not clear, the sulphur oil in the onion po>&ibly serving as a palliative. The sting, at any rate, it it remains in the wound, should be extracted, and the puncture dressed with a, little weak ammonia, and afterwards a, little bromide of ammonia may be added, which frequently serves a-s- a sedative^