372 THE TREATMENT OF DISEASES. 



for the calomel, or what is even better, an injection of warm water containing a little 

 castor oil may be administered. In simple cases very little medicine is needed, 

 but nitrate of potash (saltpetre) is often given. It should be largely diluted 

 with water, and flavoured with sugar and lemon-juice, so as to be taken as a 

 drink. From one to two drachms of nitre may be administered in the course 

 of the twenty-four hours. When cough is a prominent symptom, linseed-meal 

 poultices should be applied to the chest, back and front, and should be changed 

 every three or four hours, night and day, and oftener if necessary. An occasional 

 mustard poultice, or the application of a mustard-leaf for a few minutes over 

 different parts of the chest, so as just to redden the skin, may do good. Benefit 

 might be derived from painting the chest or back with iodine liniment, taking 

 care not to apply too much. Blisters, as a rule, do no good, and only add 

 to the patient's sufferings. Immediately the acute symptoms are subsiding, 

 quinine (Pr. 9) should be given. In some instances aconite (Pr. 38) and gelseminum 

 (Pr. 41) have been tried, and when administered quite at the commencement 

 of the disease, they may be expected to do good. Cases are recorded where 

 arsenic (Pr. 40) was given throughout with marked benefit. During convalescence 

 iron and quinine (Pr. 11) should be administered, and a very nutritious diet, with 

 beer and wine, must be employed. Milk in large quantities is useful, milk and 

 seltzer water being a favourite remedy in Germany. In all cases of influenza the 

 attendance of a medical man is necessary, and the sooner he is summoned the better. 



ITCHING AT THE ANUS. 



This is a far more prevalent complaint than is usually supposed. The fact is, 

 the sufferer, from motives of delicacy, seldom mentions its existence, even to his 

 most intimate friend, and often refrains from seeking medical advice from the same 

 reason. This is to be regretted, for there never need be the slightest hesitation in 

 consulting a doctor about any bodily ailment. It may seem a disagreeable matter 

 to have to mention it to anybody, but it must be done, and you will soon find the 

 doctor thinks nothing of it, and takes it quite as a matter of course. 



This painful itching about the back passage is a most distressing malady, and 

 many people's lives are rendered almost unendurable by it. The irritation is, in the 

 majority of cases, worse at night, especially when the patient gets warm in bed. 

 The greater part of the night is rendered sleepless and inexpressibly wretched. 

 Towards morning, irritable and worn out, the unfortunate sufferer falls off into a 

 fitful slumber, from which he often awakens by involuntarily scratching himself. 

 This, of course, makes the part more or less raw, and materially increases the dis- 

 comfort during the day-time. The more the patient scratches, the worse he gets, 

 although it is very difficult to help seeking the temporary relief it affords. Many 

 people say they would infinitely prefer decided pain to the dreadful and constant 

 itching they have to endure. Nervous, excitable people are often greatly troubled 

 in the day as well as at night, the itching setting in badly after exercise, or on 

 leaving the cold air and coming into a warm room. These unfortunates are 

 practically excluded from society. 



