—The Treatment.—

Otago Witness, Volume 23, Issue 2684, 23 August 1905, Page 68

—The Treatment.—

It may be necessary to note here that 'another serious lung trouble is apt to be confused with pleurisy. This, is "pneumonia," or inflammation of the lungs. In this latter trouble we also find pain in the side, with cough and difficulty of breathing and a rise of temperature. The breath also becomes much more affected, and the coagli results later on in bringing up a tough description of muous, whilst in a later stage the matter brought up from the lungs is of a reddish or rusty brown colour. In inflammation of the lungs the temperature also rises high, in consequence of the increased fever. In 6 o far as" an ordinary etrtch in the side is concerned, little treatment is required beyond keeping the patient warm and free of all risk from oh/11. A day or two in the house may probably suffice to relieve and cure his symptoms. If the pam is severe, flannels wrung out of hot water and sprinkled with turpentine may be placed on the chest by way of exciting a little counter irritation. The application of a mustard leaf in the more severe oases will probably have a like effect in diminishing the pain. Internal medicines are not needed as a rule, but at bedthne a dose of bromide of potash, varying from 20 to 25 grains, dissolved in water, may be found to mitigate the severity of the symptoms. In the ca'e of pleurisy the treatment is necessarily of a different character. When suspect the existence of this latter

complaint from the presence cf the symptoms I have described, the doctor should be called ,in. If, however, a person is far from medical assistance, his chest should be poulticed with linseed meal, and it is well to begin treatment by giving him a purgative, so as to 6€cure a complete emptying of the bowels. A favourite remedy in pleurisy by way of reducing the fever is that of giving aconite. This is an extremely useful remedy, provided it be carefully used. Fifteen minims of the tincture of aconite should be added to 2oz of water. A dose of this mixture is a t^aspoonful, which, in the case of pleurisy, should be given every 10 minutes for the first hour. After the first hour the dose should be a teaspoonful every hour for six or eight hours. The effect of this medicine is to reduce the temperature and to quiet the pulse, thus limiting the action of the fever. The patient should be kept in bed, and in many cases the doctor will order probably that strips of stickin°- plaster should be placed on the side oAhe ohast by way of preventing the formation of the fluid I have described as being liable to follow this disease. For the rest, the diet mjist be light, but not nourishing, and great care must be taken so that the natient is not allowed to leave his bed at "too early a period, whilst it will be advisable for him to remain in a room with even temperature for some time after his convalescence has been established.