358 THE TREATMENT OP DISEASES. 



water, put your mouth over it, and breathe the steam. You should put a towel 

 round the top of the jug, and then you will have something to rest your face on, 

 and you will not bum yourself. Sometimes, when the cough is very irritable, it 

 is a good plan to put a couple of tea-spoonfuls of chloric ether in the water, or 

 a little chloroform or ether. The air of the room may be kept moist by a kettle of 

 water on the fire, and it may be advisable to put the chloroform or ether in this, so 

 that it gradually becomes diffused. 



Respecting diet. If there is much constitutional disturbance, or if the cough is 

 very troublesome, solid food is inadmissible. You should have .plenty of good strong 

 beef tea, and, above all, plenty of milk. The nftlk may be taken cold or tepid, alone 

 or mixed with water or soda-water, as taste dictates. When it forms the staple article 

 of diet, three or four pints will have to be taken in the course of a day. It must be 

 remembered that it is a food, and should be taken at regular intervals, say every two 

 or three hours, and not at any time when you are thirsty or happen to fancy it. 

 "What about stimulants ? It is difficult to lay down any positive rules on this point, 

 as so much will depend on the actual condition of the patient. As a rule, you will 

 do better without anything ; when there is much prostration you will want three or 

 four ounces of brandy in the twenty-four hours, or perhaps more. The brandy may 

 be given in water or mixed with the milk. 



In the early stage of bronchitis it is advisable to give a sedative and expectorant 

 mixture such as the following : 



R Sweet spirits of nitre, four drachms. 



Solution of acetate of ammonia, one ounce and a half. 

 Ipecacuanha wine, two drachms. 

 Paregoric, two drachms. 

 Camphor julep, to make up eight ounces. 

 Two taWe-spoonfuls to be taken every four hours. 



When the more acute symptoms have passed away, and the disease shows a 

 tendency to lapse into a chronic condition, more benefit will be derived from the 

 carbonate of ammonia and senega mixture (Pr. 22) than from anything else. It is 

 very nasty to take, but it does good, and that is the great thing. Throughout the 

 whole course of the treatment the bowels should be kept moderately open, though 

 diarrhoea should be avoided. When there is constipation, it is a good plan to lead off 

 with a calomel pill (Pr. 61) at bed-time, followed by a saline draught in the morning. 

 In capillary bronchitis stimulating treatment is absolutely necessary, and anything 

 that tends to lower the system must be scrupulously avoided. A very good mixture 

 is the effervescing ammonia mixture (Pr. 99) taken every four hours. Children may 

 take the carbonate of ammonia alone, simply dissolved in water and not in a state of 

 effervescence ; the dose will vary from one to three grains every four hours according 

 to age. Chlorate of potash lozenges are often serviceable. The application of mustard 

 poultices or turpentine stupes to the chest must not be neglected. A few drops 

 of chloroform, from ten to twenty poured on the hand and gently inhaled as it 

 evaporates, will do much to relax spasm and facilitate expectoration, but it should 

 never be carried to the extent of producing stupor. In the case of children tartar 

 emetic in small doses often succeeds admirably. The following is a very useful formula ; 



