MEDICAL NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LI, Issue 15563, 21 March 1914, Page 8 (Supplement)

MEDICAL NOTES.

SEPTIC WOUNDS. • (When tho finger is poisoned through a small scratch or wound, the poison may remain in the finger and cause a whitlow ;or it may travel up the arm. A rod line, or perhaps two or three, 'will be Been on tho front of the arm. This red line of inflammation indicates that the poison is spreading up tho arm along channels that are known as the lymphatics These little channels are something like small vessels, and they lead to the hmphalic glands found at Tie sale of the elbow and in the armpit. A d xHor often inquires if there is n pain in the arm-pit when he is examining a septic tinker. The treatment is diluted to relieving the infiam-n..-.ti/n of he finger. If the supply oj poison from the finger is cut off, the glands in the arm-pit will resume their norma! size Sometimes, however, an absciss forms under the arm, and a small operation if i.eressary to let the matter out. Ah gi'i"ii is an abscess is formed it ought to be freely opened. It relieves tho hot feeling and the burning and teuton.

WARIHXO OFF COLDS. Most people are more susceptible to colds at this time of the year than at any other, and sometimes the trouble is chietly due to their own fault. They are slightly ran down owing to the weather. They take no pains to combat this condition, but rather encourage it by staying indoors, which reacts on the appetite, jind also keeps the lungs poorly supplied with oxygen. If these people would systematically take a daily walk, and really breathe carefully, that is, fill their lings properly, they would find themselves much better able to resist those germs which are responsible for catarrhal inflammation of the nose and bronchial rubes. They would also improve their nppetite and therefore would get a little more nourishment that would further •strengthen the body against attack. The neit step should be to induce perfect notion on the part of the skin. For this ♦hero is nothing like tho daily hath, and those who do not appreciate it cold can take it warm. The great thing is to get it, in some form, and to follow it by a {borough rubbing with a rough towel till ■the skin is all in a glow. .Woollen ■underclothing is a .necessity, but there is no reason why this should be very heavy. Each person may follow his own inclinntii.n in the matter, but do not be led astray by various materials which pretend to be wool while they are in Teality anerely cotton. These simple precautions will be found efficacious ; n most instances in preventing colds, which, besides being disagreeable, have a serious aspect, since every cold taken is liable to render the sufferer an easier prey to other and severer maladies.

HOW THE BLOOD CLOTS. ' One of the most useful properties possessed by our blood i» its power of clottin <(. When wo sustain some injury, each as a cut, the Mood clots about the open wound, and this stops the flow of Wood that forms the clot is known as Wood which might in serious cases prove fatal. The actual solid material in the fibrin, and as long as the blood is circulating normally in the body fibrin is present in a different fluid form only. fThis fluid is converted into the solid form iby the action of a ferment, now designated thrombin, and cerived from the breaking down of the white corpuscles of the blood when this is shed from the vessels severed by an accident or for a surgical operation. Wt» know that this [breaking down Z process is continually going 'on, and therefore' that small quantities of thrombin must be always present in the blood vessels, but it seems that some other agencies are at work to neutralise its action and to Melay clotting or coagulation of the blood until bach timo as this shall be necessary to ■help tho healing of a wound. One of these agencies is anti-thrombin, and for ttts production the liver is responsible. There are cases of a constitutional malady popularly known as "bleeder's disease," where even a trivial wound ?may be followed by fatal haemorrhage. fThis condition is apparently due to an .absence of those factors on which coagulation depends. The malady is hereditary, but strangly enough women do not as a rule suffer from it, tiwugh they may transmit the constitutional peculiarity to their male descendants. WHAT VEGETABLES DO FOR USThe influence of the housewife on the thealth of htir family is well shown by a trecenfc article in the Lancet which deals with the curative properties, of vegetables. " Claims, have been made," said the writer, "in favour of a medicinal action exercised by the onion, leek, or garlic, Onions eaten at night promote mleep. They are'also known to have . .diuretic action and to produce perspiration. They are many a housewife's remedy for coughs and colds and a help to gastric digestion. The pharmacology of the onion probably rests chiefly on the presence of . & powerful sulphur oil— «llyl sulphide— has marked stimulating properties. Onions also are ; ■credited with being useful in allaying the pains of rheumatism. The turnip, the parsnip, and swede contain a peculiar oily principle which may account for their traditional value as an aperient and diuretic, while their iuices are an old country remedy for coughs and hoarseness. Spinach is a well-known laxative. There is present also a peculiar principle as well as a quantity of iron in organic Ifnrm. The tomato exercises medicinal effects which aTe not completely explained by the presence of alkaline salts. There is a principle present which when taken in a concentrated state produces salivation and a free stimulation of the liver. (Jarrotu have a similar action, and lothi a considerable part of the meals at certain health resorts in the belief that tliey materially assist in the treatment of "derangements of the liver, and of the biliary processes generally."

CHRONIC PHARYNGITIS. As a result of repeated attacks of acute inflammation of the pharynx, certain persons suffer from chronic pharyngitis. This is most usual among those whose calling lie* h sitateg a constant use of the voice, end leads as a rule to overstrain. Thus chronic pharyngitis is found among teachers, the clergy, auctioneers, and ■■'reel, traders. It may also arise from fuessive smoking and from an immoderate use of alcohol. There iB a chronic condition in which the mucous membrane of the pharynx is too dry because he secretion of mucus lg deficient, and the .patient constantly complains of dryness of the throat- This condition is known to medical men as " atrophic pharyngitis." Another form of chronic throat trouble is the hypertrophic or granular pharyngitis, where numerous small red gelatinous-looking granules are visible on the posterior wall of the pharynx. In some rases this condition gives rise to no defined symptoms, but frequently the sufferer complains of.loss of voice, a burning sensation in the throat, difficulty, pc-Bsiblv actual pain, in swallowing, together with a constant desire to dear the throat. | All such symptoms are generally experienced by patients of nervoiiii disposition and also by those who Buffer from digestive disturbances. The brat treatment is -that which aims at improving the general health. Where rheumatism or dyspepsia, are present appropriate treatment will often result in alleviation of the throat trouble. Smoking should be given up, and where a patient will not do that he must make up his mind to pay for liis pipe. Relief may often be obtained by spraying the throat •with a solution of borax and bicarbonate of soda, or by painting the throat with glycerine or tannic acid. Cauterisation of the granular nodules often proves efficacious in curing the loss of voice, and the operation is not attended with pain. Where the secretion of mucus is deficient, find the chief •symptom is an uncomforf»iolo dryness of throat', a preparation of glycerine and rose-water in equal quantities jvjll pftea afford relief • '