HEALTH COLUMN.

Otago Witness, Issue 3043, 10 July 1912, Page 76

HEALTH COLUMN.

Quinsy. Though sore throat may occur in connection "with several diseases, such as scarlet fcycr, it - is sometimes, as in the • case of' .quinsy, or tonsilitis, a distinct disease. lius often results from cold, and the first symptom is shivering and a sense of chill.Tho throat becomes dry and painful, with a hot stinging sensation. The tonsils and neighbouring parts if looked at will appear of a bright red colour, and before long the tonsils swell and project from the wall of the throat, either one sido being attacked first or sometimes both together. The swelling diminishes the size of the passage, the tenderness is excessive, and swallowing beeomes # difficult if not impossible. The patient's voice is so thickened as to become unrecognisable, and speech is painful. The uvula swells and reddens, hanging down often on to the back of tho tongue, and causing constant efforts to swallow cr" to clear the throat, both of which are extremely painful. The inflammation extends to the glands of the mucous membrane, and causes an increased production of the thick mucus, which adds to the patient's discomfort, as his efforts to get rid of it are attended by pain. When the swelling is at its height it may prevent tho mouth being opened sufficiently to allow tho condition of tho throat to be seen, and the pain may extend up to the ear; there will probably bo severe headache, fever, and a quick pulse The symptoms generally begin to subside after three or four days, but in some cases en abscess forms on one side or the other. This may burst into the mouth, giving immediate relief, and enabling the patient to speak and to swallow. The best treatment for quinsy is to begin by administering a good dose of some aperient, such as Epsom salts or a seidlitz powder. The patient should be kept in bed or at least in his room, and hot cloths or a poultice applied to relieve the pain, which may be soothed also by inhaling hot vapour from a ing partly filled with hot water. Liquid food is probably all that can be taken, and even this may come back through the nostrils, showing thcro is no passage by tho throat. In mild cases when it is easily possible to reach the throat this may be painted with a mixture of alum and catechu, which is specially useful when an attack of tonsilitis threatens. Anyone who has suffered from it is liable to a recurrence, and a stinging in either tonsil together with a red, angry appearance should lead tho sufferer to apply this paint freely to the affected parts, when any further advance will be checked. In very acute attacks, however, strongly astringent gargles or paint are not advisable, but warm water and milk mav be used for gargling the throat, and the steam of hot water should be inhaled as described. Eczema and Its Treatment. Briefly, eczema can be described as an inflammation of tho skin caused either by surface irritation or by internal disorder. The fact that this description will lit other diseases of the skin may be somewhat confusing, but it must bo remembered that a great many skin diseases, although differing from eczema in their advanced stages, have probably had their origin in this unsightly trouble. Eczema begins with a burning sensation in the affected part, which becomes .swollen and finally breaks out into numbers of small pimples. These pimples presently fill with fluid, which, as tho pimples break, is poured over the surface of the skin. .Meanwhile the itching and irritation become almost unbearable. Tho patient should be kept in one room and the food given should be of a liquid nature. Dressings! of lead lotion (weak) will usually make a change for tho letter under these conditions, though it is advisable to call in a medical man if tho case does not improve rapidly. Mild attacks may sometimes be cured by a strong dose of aperient. Washing with soap should be avoided in any but the driest cases, a good substitute being gruel that has been passed through a sieve. Before any external treatment be applied tho crusts should bo removed by means of olive oil, with which tho skin should be soaked. A starch poultice should then bo applied. It is quite useless to apply any ointment until the skin has been cleared by this method. Zinc ointment is perhaps as good as any, though, where this fails, a weak ointment of yellow oxide of mercury will sometimes improve matters considerably. There is really no need to make alterations in the patient's diet,

although alcohol in all its forms should bo rigidly avoided