ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND FACTS FOR THE PEOPLE. 



ger to the root of the tongue, in hopes 

 that the offending substance may in this 

 way be dislodged ; or it may possibly be 

 effected by suddenly and unexpectedly 

 dashing in the face a basin of cold water, 

 the shock suddenly relaxing the muscular 

 spasm present, and the involuntary gasp 

 at the same time may move it up or 

 down. If this cannot be done, as each 

 instant's delay is of vital importance to a 

 choking man, seize a fork, a spoon, a 

 pen-holder, pencil, quill, or anything 

 suitable at hand, and endeavor to push 

 the article down the throat. If it be low 

 down in the gullet, and other means fail, 

 its dislodgment may sometimes be effect- 

 ed by dashing cold water on the spine, 

 or vomiting may be induced by an emetic 

 of sulphate of zinc (twenty grains in a 

 couple of table-spoonfuls of warm water), 

 or of common salt and mustard in like 

 manner, or it may be pushed into the 

 stomach by extemporizing a probang, by 

 fastening a small sponge to the end ot a 

 stiff slip of whale-bone. If this cannot 

 be done, a surgical operation will be ne- 

 cessary. Fish bones or other sharp sub- 

 stances, when they cannot be removed by 

 the finger or forceps, may sometimes be 

 dislodged by swallowing some pulpy 

 mass, as masticated bread, etc. Irregu- 

 lar-shaped substances, a plate with artifi- 

 cial teeth for instance, can ordinarily on- 

 ly be removed by surgical interference. 



COLIC. — Use a hot fomentation over the 

 abdomen, and a small quantity of gin- 

 ger, peppermint or common tea. If not 

 relieved in a few minutes, then give an 

 injection of a quart of warm water with 

 twenty or thirty drops of laudanum, and 

 repeat it if necessary. A half teaspoon- 

 ful of chloroform, in a table-spoonful of 

 sweetened water, with or without a few 

 drops of spirits of lavender or essence of 

 pepp ermint, will often give prompt relief. 



CONVULSIONS.— In small children 

 convulsions frequently happen from teeth- 

 ing, sometimes from worms or from some 

 irritating substance within the stomach or 

 bowels, and sometimes from some affec- 

 tion of the brain. 



When a child has convulsions place it 

 immediately in a warm or hot bath, and 

 sponge its head with cold water. Then 

 apply a hot mustard plaster to the wrists, 

 ankles and soles of the feet, or, in case a 

 plaster cannot be obtained, apply a cloth 

 21 



wrung out of hot mustard water. Allow 

 these to remain until the skin reddens, 

 and use care that the same do not blister. 

 After the fit has subsided, use great care 

 against its return by attention to the 

 cause which gave rise to it. 



Convulsions in adults must be treated 

 in accordance with the manner which 

 gave rise to them. During the attack 

 great care should be given that the party 

 does not injure himself, and the best pre- 

 ventive is a cork or a soft piece of wood,, 

 or other suitable substance, should be 

 placed between the teeth to prevent biting 

 the tongne and cheeks; tight clothing- 

 must be removed or loosened; mustard- 

 poultices should be applied to the ex- 

 tremities and over the abdomen ; abund- 

 ance of fresh air should be secured by 

 opening windows and doors, and prevent- 

 ing unnecessary crowding of persons 

 around; cold water may be dashed on 

 the face and chest ; and if there be ple- 

 thora, with full bounding pulse, with 

 evidence of cerebral or other internal 

 congestion, the abstraction of a few 

 ounces of blood may be beneficial. 



CRAMP. — Spasmodic or involuntary 

 contractions of the muscles, generally of 

 the extremities, accompanied with great 

 pain. The muscles of the legs and feet 

 are those most commonly affected with- 

 cramp, especially after great exertion. 

 The best treatment is immediately to ■ 

 stand upright, and to well rub the part 

 with the hand. The application of strong 

 stimulants, as spirits of ammonia, or of 

 anodynes, as opiate liniments, has been 

 recommended. When cramp occurs in 

 the stomach, a teaspoonful of sal volatile 

 in water, or a dram glassful of good 

 brandy, should be swallowed immediately. 

 When cramp comes on during cold bath- 

 ing, the limb should be thrown out as- 

 suddenly and violently as possible, which-' 

 will generally remove it, care being also* 

 taken not to become flurried nor fright- 

 ened, as presence of mind is very essen- 

 tial to personal safety on such an occasion. 

 A common cause of cramp is indigestion, ; 

 and the use of acescent liquors; these 

 should be avoided. 



CUTS.— In case the flow of blood is 

 trifling, stop the bleeding by bringing the 

 edges of the wound together. If the 

 flow of blood is great, of a bright vermil- 

 lion color, and flows in spirts or with a^ 



