MEDICAL.

Western Star, 23 May 1930, Page 2

MEDICAL.

CURING THAT COUGH. ' (By a Physician.) The bronchial cough, which has a tendency to recur year aflter year, can oe, mjost aistreesing. Olten it cannot be cured, but it can always be relieved . Bronchial subjects should guard themselves from undue exposure. The old person, if possible, should keep indoors during inclement weather. Suifkituit warm clothing is most important, but over-clothing must be avoided. Flannel worn next to the skin seem s to benefit those who have 'weak chests.' They should keep clear of chills, draughts and wef, foat.

The diet of bronchial patients should be moderately nutritious and stimulating, and should contain plenty of .fat. Starchy foods, suoh as the potato, are best avoided during an attack.

If the bronchitis is severe, the invalid should be confined in a room, kept at a warm, uniform temperature of 60 to 65 degrees F.,- and at night warm olive oil should bo rubbed into the chest.

Warm drinks are always comforting for the bronchial cough. Fits of morning coughing may be eased by drinking a cup of, warm milk or of weak tea on waking. In the later stages of bronchitis a little vinegar in water, taken occasionally, may be found of service in lessening ' the secretion.

It i IS most desirable to consult a doctor for your- bronchial cough medicine, as there are different stages in an attack of bronchitis, and a different medicine may be required at each stage. During the attack an occasiona' aperient should be given. Afterwards a quinine or an iron tonic may be advisable. ■•

PROPER AMOUNT OF SLEEP. (By a Specialist.) The minimum amount of sleep needed by individuals varies in accordance, with their daily activities. Some people who work hard manage to keep their health when sleeping seve,u or even, six hours a day, but . the majority require more than this.

It is possible for some peop'le to exist for years on a nightly ration of sleep that is below their requirements, but in the and a breakdown in health is for them inevitable, and' they become prematurely aged. People who do ■ physical work, such as manual 'labour, generally require more sleep than brain' workers, but tire latter are more likely to take little sleep, because of acquiring the habit of sitting up late at night. Eight .hours' is the average period needed by most middle-aged 1 , <• peop'le. Those..'who make thjs a general rule can, of course, have a shorter,night's rest occasionally without sufferisg any harm, but the eight-hour sleep, as a general rule, is a wise habit for the ijia'jdrity of brain workers. Conversely it is possible to err by taking too long a night's The chief reason for this is that during sleeip, bacteria in certain regions such a.s the mouth, throat, and nafeal cavities increase and putrefactive processes take place., leading to the formation of toxins. Ten or eleven hours' continuous sleep for ail adult'is likely to favour this state of things and , chronic rheumatism is one of the evils arising from it. i

A WARNING. A week'iy game, a daily walk, anj|l morning exerciser, should keep most girls perfectly fit; but remember that physical jerks in the morning must not be too violent. Leaping out of bed the moment you awake is not the. best way to begin the day, although it does soem so cheerful and peppy. Sports and walking will give early all .the muscles sufficient exercise, and tha morning jerks should aid at strengthening the remainder. Everyone must work out for herself the exercises that (she requires, according to her outdoor sports; for ' example, arm exercises will be needed by those who go in for run- , ning, leg exercises if you den much rowing. It is well to remember, too, that, the. abdominal muscles- are , often neglected, and that they are most important for the perfect working for the infernal machinery.

. CURING CRACKED HANDS. Chapped hands are generally caused by careless washing and drying. When the hands iare badly chapped rub them two or three times a day with, lemon juice, or rub them occasionally with an lointment made frbPV freish lard washed in rose or other flower water, a spoonful of/honey, two spoonfuls' of fine oatmea'l, well beaten up with the yolks, of two eggs. Another preparation for chapped, or roughened hands is made, by melting together three drams of gum camphor, three drums of white. beeswax, and 2oz. olive oil. The mixture should be 'applied at night, and gloves should be worn over the hands. Ordinary mutton fat is • excellent rubbed into cracked hands.-FIRST-AID HINTS. Here are some things' to rememlber. in an emergency: In a case of suspected poison, take a table-spoonful of mustard in a. cup of warm water. Simple burns are remedied w ith borax and a wet band'age. If the skin is blistered, try oil and a piece of soft, flannel. ■■ ."';. , - V If a child has convulsions, immerse him immediately -in a warm bath and put a cool bandage on his heart.

When called upon to a case of fainting, lay the patient flat on the floor and her clothing.

Soak a sprain in hot water; this will considerably reduce the, pfem and the swelling.