576. ACUTE GENERAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES 



As a bowel disinfectant use small doses of salol (0.2-0.5) 

 twice daily. If vomiting is persistent it must be controlled 

 with cold water containing soda (2 per cent.), salicylate of 

 bismuth (0.3), or in extreme cases by small doses of opium 

 (0.05-0.15). 



(d) For- the stimulation of the digestion small doses of 

 hydrochloric acid (0.1-0.5) diluted in water and pepsin 

 (0.075-0.5) is the best treatment. It is advisable to stimu- 

 late the mucosa further with tincture of gentian (0.05-0.9), 

 or tincture of nux vomica (0.4-0.7) given once daily. Fluid 

 extract of echinaceae (0.5-1.0) is also used. 



(e) When nervous symptoms are present, it is important 

 that they be controlled by anodynes and sedatives (mor- 

 phin 0.03-0.09, or sodium or potassium bromid 1-150 in 

 water) given in teaspoonful doses four to six times daily. 

 Some cases, when spasms and convulsions are severe, will 

 require maximum doses to control them. When paralysis is 

 present, electricity is highly recommended, also strychnin 

 (0.001) once or twice daily. Subcutaneous injections of 

 veratrin (0.01-0.05) are sometimes used. 



(/) The temperature in this disease is rarely treated, and 

 only in exceptional cases where a very high temperature 

 remains for several days and threatens to become dangerous 

 to the heart, would it be advisable to use antipyretics. 

 Phenacetin, acetanilid (0.25-0 .50) may be used for this purpose . 



(g) In the skin form, when pustules are present, they 

 should be opened, and washed with creolin (2 per cent.). 

 For the exanthema the skin should be washed with an anti- 

 septic soap (germicidal, or tar soap), dried, and a drying 

 powder or zinc oxid ointment applied. The latter is prefer- 

 able. 



Sera and Vaccines. — This disease has been treated quite 

 extensively during the past two or three years with vaccines 

 and sera. Good results have been obtained by their use 

 by some, others have reported less favorably. The great 

 advantage no doubt in the use of these preparations is to 

 control the secondary infection which produces the com- 

 plicating conditions. Varying degrees of immunity have 

 been claimed by the use of vaccines. 



