DRINKS FOR THE SICK.

Western Star, Issue 377, 4 September 1880, Page 1 (Supplement)

DRINKS FOR THE SICK.

. i: In speaking of the annoying thirst of fever patients, DrviH, H.'Kane in his "Sick Room" says is a very prominent and annoying'symptom of fever, and one that requires a/little consideration. Plain water, when taken, beybhd a certain amount, is very rapt to: disorder the stomach and bowels, especially in fevers where much fluid and Joatrlittle'BQlid food is taken. Enough water ;tO)iqttenoh-the thirst would certainly be enough;, in onost .cases to disorder digestion, or;; rather,, further disorder it, and so important;, is: tthe 'little that remains of this •function that we cannot afford to abuse it. Small pieces of ice held in the mouth, and allowed to'dissolve, sometimes answers the purpose, but.not in the majority of cases. -Up:toia certain point the action of water •taken!! internally, in fevers, is excellent; aside from.'allaying irritation by quenching thirst, it flushes the kidneys, carrying otf muabuof. the effete material produced by the fhigh temperature. It has been found that ithe'taddilaori iofi certain substances in water 'gri&tlyiihcriasek itspower to quench thirst. tTMs jsleapetaiaTly>the case with acids. One draohnvoi'hyjirochlorioacid added to a quart io£ ,waterj<will j#ve it sufficient acidity to accomplish the desired purpose, while at the jsanifi itime tit' adds io its pleasantness, and jßometinies3relieves:nausea. The use of acids jinufeverßiisaliighly commended by some authors,' and it is, I think, the best way to iadjnMsterJthem; r! The samti amount of sulphurous aoid may be added to a quart of fwater when the bbwels are loose, or there is a tendency that way. In these cases acidulated ibarleyxwater is' pleasant and nourishing.nMThe same inay be said of toast water. In -constipation," oatmeal water may be used •in ithe name manner. Aiew tamarinds added Joia. glassi >af-' water will often assuage thirst aridopen the .bowels gently." Dr Ringer, yjpeakmgoncthissubject, says : —"Although, (perhaps,; not strictly re velant to our present Jsubject;-a;few. remarks may be made here tflonvehierktlyi on the drinks best suited to ■feveri:;patierits,'-. To them, thirst is most important i'aud. distressing, often causing tmucV Restlessness and irritability, these in itheircturhadften increasing the fever. The urgent thirst! must therefore be allayed, but ii£lleft.to!themselves to satiate their craving patients will l always drink to excess, which -iS'VßiTyliable .to disarrange the stomach, imipair.idigesi;ionij; produce flatulence • and even diarrhoea. Theory and experience both show ;that r drinks oinade slightly bitter and someSwHat'Scid slake;thirst effectually. A weak infusion of cascarilla or orange peel, aci'duiclafed: slightly-with hydrochloric acid, was, rwithT Graves; [of Dublin, a favorite thirstallaying drink for fever patients. Raspberry Sucking ice is veryy-gratefuL: '-Sweat fruits, although at ■first agreeable .and refreshing, must be taken with care and moderation, for they often give ariselto a disagreeable taste, and are apt tdiprddnce flatulence and diarrhoaa."