BRONCHITIS. 



Take of tart one grain, water half a pin- . Of this u U-a-spuonful 



is to be given every quarter of an hour for the first hour, and then hmrly. Should 

 it produce vomiting as it often does the dose must be reduced, i .ially 



useful when the child suffers from much wheezing and di!li-uh y in breathing. 



When bronchitis occurs in a gouty subject, some colchicum wine should be added 

 to the cough medicine say fifteen drops to each dose. During convalescence tonics, 

 such as quinine (Pr. 9), iron (Pr. 1), acid and gentian (Pr. 15), and cod-liver oil, 

 should be given. The clothing should be warm, and a good stout plaster should be 

 worn over the front of the chest. 



Those who are subject to attacks of bronchitis will have to take great care to 

 avoid cold and wet in every shape and form. If possible, a change to a warm climate 

 during the winter months should be enjoined. Cold sponging is useful, especially in 

 the case of children. 



We now pass on to the consideration of 



Chronic Bronchitis. This is usually the result of the acute affection, remaining 

 sometimes even after a single attack, but in the majority of cases occuning after 

 several repeated attacks. It is frightfully common, both in London and in the 

 country. It is most frequently met with in those who are exposed to the inclemency 

 of the season. One man, a hospital patient who was under our care, was a hawker, 

 and, in addition to being out in all weathers, had to use his voice in crying his 

 wares. Another was a street ballad-singer. A third was a mason's labourer, who, 

 in addition to often getting wet through without any opportunity of changing his 

 clothes, was not unfrequently engaged in demolishing old houses and walls, so that 

 he had to inhale the irritating dust from the dry mortar. It is not confined to men, 

 but may be almost as commonly met with in women. Laundresses are frequent 

 sufferers. They work in hot damp rooms, without very much clothes on, and find it 

 difficult to resist the temptation to go out in the yard or stand at the door to tiy 

 and get cool. Women who keep open greengrocer's shops suffer in the same way. 

 We might give many other examples of those in whom it occurs ; but these will 

 suffice to show that wet and cold are powerful predisposing causes. The complaint 

 is met with most commonly in middle-aged people. 



Now. as to the symptoms. In the first place the patient has probably been 

 troubled with cough for many years. During the summer he is pretty well ; but 

 during the winter months from October to March, or even May he suffers greatly, 

 sometimes without any intermission, occasionally getting a little better and then 

 catching cold, or perhaps he may lose his cough for a few weeks, and then have 

 a return of it from some slight exposure. The cough is very violent, frequent, and 

 hacking, and it often comes on in fits. The paroxysms vary very much in their 

 severity; they may last only a minute or two, or may continue almost without 

 intermission for five, ten, or even twenty minutes. There may be only one or two 

 attacks in the day, but sometimes the fit comes on two or three times in the course 

 of an hour. The cough is generally brought on by exertion, and in bad cases so 

 easily is it provoked that the patient is afraid to move or even speak. It is 

 generally worse the first thing in the morning on getting out of bed. 



The cough is usually accompanied by expectoration, which is often very abundant 



