MEDICAL NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 16026, 18 September 1915, Page 6 (Supplement)

MEDICAL NOTES.

CRAMP. . - Many elderly people suffer 1 from cramp (i.e., painful muscular contraction) in the muscles of the legs at night. So do numerous children.- • The essential cause is superabundance of acid in the stomach. Thai again usually follows the consumption of sugar at supper, whether in solids or (more often) in what you have then drunk. To avoid this cramp, be careful not to have anything sweet for your last meal. Old people do well to keep a small quantity of powdered bicarbonate of soda by their bedside. When the pain comes on, it is easily killed by a level teaspoonful of this salt in half a tumberful of water, preferably warm. MYSTERY OF WARTS. Warts on the hands have a mysterious way of coming and going without any explanation. All we know is that they apf ear, and then one fine day they are "gone, n every case where no adequate and true t explanation is forthcoming, a hundred nonsensical reasons are offered. Many cure® are tried for the warts, and the one that is used last before the disfigurement disappears is regarded as the cure. The application of caustic or strong acid is of very little, if any, value. If it is used at all, the acid must be put exactly on the wart with the end of a wooden match. If the corrosive fluid gets on to the surrounding skin it will cause a serious burn. WHY YOU SNEEZE. There is more than one cause for sneezing, and persons may differ in their susceptibility to them. A bright light will cause some persons to sneeze, the pollen of certain plants will affect others, and most people are likely to sneeze in the presence of dust. Such sneezing is due to superficial irritation. The sneeze caused by the effect of cold is different. It is an attempt of nature to cure you. She makes you sneeze for the same reason that she makes you shiver—to generate heat for warming the blood ana preventing you from taking more cold— help to relieve the cold you have. The sneezing from cold is not an act of the nose alone, this being merely the part of, the body where it explodes. It is an act of the entire body, during which every muscle gives a jump. The body is affected by a spasmodic effort to warm the entire system and throw off the cold.

SWIMMER'S CRAMP. } This is a very different matter from ordinary cramp; and it is most unfortunate that the name "cramp" is applied to all Its' use only tends to make swimmers timid, and to prevent bathing. Strictly speaking, " swimmer's cramp" is nonexistentthere is no such thing. The phrase reminds one of the celebrated chapter on the snakes of Iceland, which ran, "There are no snakes in Iceland." What, however, has popularly acquired the name, is a spasm of the heart, technically known as " angina pectoris" in medical treatise. The symptoms are always the same, ad najrated in the accounts. A strong swimmer (never a new beginner) suddenly throws up his arms, and sinks like a stone. There is no cry, no struggle. That, is all , At all times in swimming there is much strain on the heart-muscle; and, in addi-, tion, the cold of the water must have its effect. But no one whose heart is sound need fear in the least. Always there has been pre-existent degeneration of the heart-muscle, or disease of its arteries. Failing these, there is no risk. And it is time the word "cramp," to denote these painful cases of heart failure, was dropped entirely. AH EAR COMPLAINT. For the treatment of a running ear, drops of hydrogen peroxide are useful. The peroxide is a clear liquid, which bubbles when it is dropped into the earThe bottle should be kept securely corked. Before the drops are put in, the ear should be gently . syringed with warm boracic lotion. A forcible jet of water may hurt the inflamed drum. The syringing may be done three times a day at first, and the frequency diminished "as the discharge grows less in quantity. The discharge is very offensive, and great care must be taken to mop it up from the ear with dabs of cotton-wool that should' be immediately; burnt. It is bad nursing and faulty hygiene to allow the foetid discharge to ran on to the pillow-case, so that during sleep the patient's hair and face are well rubbed over with the poisonous matter If the discharge is very profuse, the difficulty of preventing it running out over the pillow is increased. In that case the cot-ton-wool in the ears must be changed frequently, and, in addition to that, a piece •f thin macintosh sheeting (jaconet) should be pinned on the pillow and a face-towel laid over that. Never forget that the discharge .is not dead material. It is very much alive and can spread disease. Always wash your hands thoroughly before • and after dressing a case of discharging i ears. &

. A SCALP WOUKD. In a case of bleeding from the scalp, if you want to render intelligent first aid you must bear in mind the following rules: —If you look anxious, vou will double your patient's pain and shock. The nest thing is to locate the wound amidst the tangle of hair and blood. To do this you must have a good light, and don't be afraid to ask for it. Co not let a crowd of useless onlookers crowd around. Tell them sharply to get out of the light. Having found the wound, the next thing is to cut- the hair off close to the scalp with a pair of scissors or a razor. This gives a clear view of the wound, and you can see what you are about. Next, take a clean rag or piece of cotton-wool and press it tightly on the wound, and keep it there while you give the man's head and neck and face a general clean up. The sight of blood unnerves most people, and you must ! carefully remove every speck of blood from i the area around the wound and any region I to which it has trickled. At the same time all blood-stained garments should be removed. The collar, scarf, coat, and waistcoat may be taken off. When the man is taken home, it is as well that as little blood should be seen as possible. This clean-up is the kindest thing you can do, and you must do it thoroughly. It is astonishing what an ugly mess can be made from the blood trickling down from * scalp wound only half an inch long. Bv this time the pressure of the cotton-wool pad against the wound will have stopped the bleeding. Give the wound a good wash. Plain water will do if it is clean and put in a clean basin. Finally, some clean antiseptic gauze should be applied, and over that some cotton-wool, and then a firm bandage. Have you got a fewsimple dressings in your house? If not, you ought to nave. Some cyanide gauze, boracic lint, cotton-wool, and" a "few bandages (one inch and two inch) should be in every household. In all your dealings with the wound, scrupulous cleanliness must be the rule. Always wash vour hands before touching a wound. CHILDREN'S AILMENTS. If a child seems restless and out of sorts, or unusually naughty, it should be carefully watched and attended to, as these symptoms are sometimes indications of health conditions which mar become serious if neglected. Children suffer from nerves as well as grown-up people, and if there is reason to apprehend trouble of this kind a child should spend as much time as possible out of doors, live on a simple but sufficiently nourishing diet, and should never be* allowed to suffer loneliness, fear of the dark, or any similar strain. It is wonderful how much a sensitive child will endure without complaint, and a distinction should be made between pampering and spoiling a selfish sort of want-evervthing little mortal, and the wise care due to an uncomplaining, patientlittle one. Some of the symptoms mentioned show a tendency to rickets. This troublesome complaint is further indicated by perspiration, little nobs appearing lowdown on the chest, the long bones of the body becoming curved, with sometimes a cough, and possibly convulsions. The cause is chiefly lack of lime in the system. brought about by insufficient or unsuitable nourishment, want of fresh air, etc. One special symptom is restlessness at night, and therefore "naughtiness"- as; bedtime approaches.