SENDING FOR THE DOCTOR FOR MEASLES.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume X, Issue 24, 17 June 1893, Page 574

SENDING FOR THE DOCTOR FOR MEASLES.

‘lt seems to me,’ said an experienced woman, herself the mother of a large family, ‘ that there is a great deal of nonsenseabout this invariable cry of : “Send for the doctor!” if the least thing happens. In all the publications we take up, where anything is said on the subject, we are told, in case of accident or sudden illness, to make the patient as comfortable as maybe and send for the doctor immediately. ‘ I claim that any woman of average common sense should know how to treat all of the little simple diseases to which children are subject. It should be as much a part of her education as learning how to dress and feed them properly. There are very many families to whom the doctor’s bill is a perfect nightmare. Medical attendance keeps them, metaphorically, with their noses to the grindstone, during the entire time while the children are young. It is a very easy matter to learn the symptoms and treatment of the ordinary ills of life which afflict the youngsters. Simple remedies should always be kept on hand. Every woman should understand that, for attacks of cholera infantum and the like, the very best possible remedy is an emetic, if the disease is caused by some indigestible article of food, then a teaspoonful of fine wheat flour dissolved in a glass of tepid water and drunk immediately ; then keep the child warm and quiet. Repeat the dose every fifteen minutes for an hour or so ; then an interval of rest should follow for two or three hours. ‘ If the disease is not checked, give the flour as before until four doses are taken. As a rule, this will be all the medicine required. It is imperatively necessary, however, that the patient should be kept warm and perfectly quiet, and should eat or drink nothing during the time. ‘ Measles may be successfully treated by the use of hot milk, to which is added a spoonful of wine, or other stimulant. ‘ An experienced physician has declared that if the measles patient is kept upon a diet of milk punches for the first four days, measles will have no terrors, provided there is no exposure to chills. A warm room and entire repose are the most favourable conditions for speedy convalescence. • For medicines, pulsatilla and aconitum, given alternately, are most satisfactory. The aconitum checks the fever and the pulsatilla the measles themselves. Great care must be taken to prevent the child taking cold or getting wet feet after the attack seems over. During the peeling off of the skin, warm baths, prepared in this way, will be found of great service: Gather a handful of gumleaves, bruise them, put them into the bath, and pour boiling water upon them, add sufficient cold. ‘ In case of accident or injury, it is well to have the injured person carefully examined, if there is any reason to suppose that bones may be fractured, as after inflammation sets in the examination and readjustment are much more difficult. “A stitch in time saves nine” is quite as apt here as in any situation imaginable. • Every woman should consider it her duty to acquaint herself with enough information on these subjects to detect certain diseases and treat the simple ailments of childhood.’