ASTHMA PAPER.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 4012, 10 April 1882, Page 2

ASTHMA PAPER.

For this purpose white blotting paper is best. It must not be very thin, or it will not absorb sufficient nitre, nor very thick or it will make the fumes too carbonaceous, but of a medium thickness, and very loose and porous in its texture. The object is to have as much deflagration of nitre and as little combustion of paper as possible. Cut tho blotting paper into strips about 7 iuches long and 1^ inches broad. These are soaked in a solution made by dissolving 4-\ ounces of nitre in half a pint of hot water, and then rolled round a pencil to give theni a cigarette form, two of which rolls may bo used in an inhaling pipe. The nitre paper prepared as follows will be found highly satisfactory : — Dissolve 4 ounces of saltpetre in half-a-pint of boiling water ; pour the solution into a shallow dish, pass the sheets of white blotting paper through the liquor, and hang them over lines to dry in a warm place ; then cut into pieces about four inches square. Two such pieces burnt in the bedroom will be found quite sufficient to prevent the asthmatic attack. In some cases of very obstinate asthma, the addition of a quarter of a grain of arsenious acid in solution to each of the nitre cigarettes is an immense advantage. A few full and

deep inhalations from sucli a cigarette once or twice in the day tend to promote the permanent cure of many forms of astlima. Dr. Salter says :—: — «« The value of nitre paper in any given case is in proportion to the purity of the att/mia iv that case; the cure it effects is only complete where the asthma is of the pure spasmodic type and free from organic compilations." Ihe paper must be kept perfectly dry.