The Therapeutics of the Respiratory Passages

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1884 Excerpt: ...often very useful when circumstances forbid a resort to the more powerful measure. Affusions are less disagreeable, and often they are pronounced pleasant, but they do not lower the temperature much, or for a long period, and they are often used as a sudden stimulus to the respiration, and to other functions rather than as antipyretics. To produce a decided effect a considerable quantity of water should be employed, from one to three gallons, and that very cold; it should be poured from a moderate height, in a full stream, over the nape in such a way as to run down the back and chest--this plan may be adopted in the late stages of pneumonia. Cold Tacks are well borne, even by very weak patients, especially when they do not include the feet or legs, and four consecutive packs, of ten to fifteen minutes' duration, may be regarded as about equal to a bath of ten minutes. But when using them in this way, a shorter time is perhaps desirable, otherwise the reaction which ensues leads to perspiration, and we have a different remedy in use. Some quite young children take the packs with pleasure, but others resist them, fearing them as much as the bath, which is certainly the least trouble in children, and very effectual. Cold Sponging.--Cold sponging will produce an antipyretic effect, provided it be repeated pretty constantly, but even then cannot be regarded as a substitute for bathing. A single sponging, even with very cold water, although it may be agreeable to the patient, can scarcely be expected to produce much effect on the thermometer. Surgeon-Major Welch thinks (Brit. Med. J., 1884) the best course is to frequently sponge with " chilly" water, not wiping it off, and merely cover the body with a light sheet, or not even that; in severe cases he m...