Medical Home Remedies:
As Recommended by 19th and 20th century Doctors!
Courtesy of www.DoctorTreatments.com



MEDICAL INTRO
BOOKS ON OLD MEDICAL TREATMENTS AND REMEDIES

THE PRACTICAL
HOME PHYSICIAN AND ENCYCLOPEDIA OF MEDICINE
The biggy of the late 1800's. Clearly shows the massive inroads in medical science and the treatment of disease.

ALCOHOL AND THE HUMAN BODY In fact alcohol was known to be a poison, and considered quite dangerous. Something modern medicine now agrees with. This was known circa 1907. A very impressive scientific book on the subject.

DISEASES OF THE SKIN is a massive book on skin diseases from 1914. Don't be feint hearted though, it's loaded with photos that I found disturbing.

Part of  SAVORY'S COMPENDIUM OF DOMESTIC MEDICINE:

 19th CENTURY HEALTH MEDICINES AND DRUGS

 

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Sunstroke.

The term sunstroke is applied to a condition of nervous prostration induced by excessive heat. Although this condition may result from the heat of the sun, it may just as well follow exposure to heat without sunlight ; indeed, cases of sunstroke occur in individuals who are working in the shade, or even at night - the condition might be better termed heat­stroke than sunstroke.

In a certain proportion of cases the condition seems to be one closely resembling apoplexy. In many other cases the bodily state may be likened to that which exists in a severe fainting spell.

There may be no premonitory symptoms to warn the patient of an approaching attack ; he is suddenly seized with a severe pain in the head, a sense of fullness of the stomach, followed by nausea and vomiting, dizziness, dimness of vision and sometimes ringing in the ears ; immediately he becomes very weak, especially in the lower limbs, and unless speedily supported falls to the ground. In a very few moments after the beginning of the attack the patient is unconscious ; the general symptoms are, in severe cases, those of apoplexy, except that the patient is not paralyzed. The breathing is slow and snoring, and may be occasionally accompanied by a moaning sound. Convulsions frequently occur.

This condition may last but a few minutes and be terminated by death. It sometimes happens that the patient expires even before assistance can reach him. In other cases, after this state has lasted for from twenty minutes to four hours, the patient gradually recovers consciousness, and in a few days is convalescent.

The most notable feature in these cases, and one which demands particular attention in the treatment, is the excessive temperature of the body. While the body heat, during health, ranges from 98 to 99 degrees, it may rise during an attack of sunstroke to 108 degrees, no, or even 112 degrees. The surface of the body is usually, though not always, quite warm.

The most important agent in the induction of sunstroke is undoubtedly excessive heat. Yet there are certain influences which predispose the individual to the effect of the heat. Excessive exertion, especially muscular effort, seems to favor the development of sunstroke ; many cases occur in those who are engaged in manual labor, yet this is not invariably the case. It has been noticed that a considerable number of cases occur in individuals who have just completed a hearty meal.

Cases of sunstroke are more common in tropical than in other climates, notwithstanding the assumed power of the natives to withstand excessive heat.

About one-half of all individuals attacked with sunstroke die of the affection. The occurrence of convulsions, of deep and loud breathing, and of persistent unconsciousness, indicate that the attack will prove fatal. Perhaps the best index to the patient's condition and prospects is to be found in the pulse ; if this be very rapid and feeble, so that it can scarcely be felt or counted, the condition is most grave.

In other cases the patient does not lose consciousness completely, or if he does, his condition resembles profound sleep rather than the stupor of apoplexy. In these cases the pulse is usually quite perceptible, though it may be quite rapid and feeble.

Treatment.-In the treatment of sunstroke, it is important to remember that there are two different types of the affection, and two different modes of treatment adapted to each.

For those cases in which the skin is cool, the pulse so feeble as to be almost imperceptible, the breathing easy and natural, the patient mustbe stimulated, and that as soon as possible. The clothing should be loosened, especially from the neck ; the patient's head should be kept low, the air allowed to circulate around the body; half a tablesp60nful of whisky or brandy may be administered every fifteen minutes until six doses have been taken ; hartshorn should be applied to the nostrils. If there be any vomiting, the whisky or brandy may be administered as an injection into the rectum. In this case, an ounce (two tablespoonfuls) may be given for each dose.

It is highly important that such a patient be not moved nor agitated ; he should not, therefore, be taken home nor to a hospital, unless the distance be short, but should be treated at once at the nearest convenient place.

The skin may be rubbed thoroughly with whisky and water. But in this form of the affection no cathartics should be given. In those cases of sunstroke that resemble apoplexy, another line of treatment is required. In these cases the patient is usually unconscious, the pulse is slow and full, the breathing is slow and snoring. In these cases the patient should be packed in ice; these are the cases in which the body heat runs very high, and constitutes the chief element of danger. The object of treatment is, therefore, to cool the body as rapidly and as early as possible.

For this purpose, lumps of ice wrapped in coarse cloths, may be laid entirely around the body of the patient, especially around the head ; if an ice cap can be procured - a rubber bag made to cover the entire head-it should be used.

If it be impossible to procure ice immediately, the patient may be laid in a bath of cold water, and a stream of water poured upon his head and neck. In short, without going further into details, it will suffice to repeat that the chief object is to lower the temperature of the body ; the means to be employed may vary with the circumstances of the case.

In every case, one or two drops of croton oil should be placed upon the tongue; and if it can be arranged, light mustard plasters should be applied to the soles of the feet and to the calves.

Under such treatment, patients usually recover from sunstroke if they can be promptly subjected to the measures described.

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BELOW ARE OUR OTHER HEALTH WEB SITES:

 CHOLESTEROL DIET

 HEMORRHOIDS TREATMENT

 DOWN SYNDROME TREATMENT

 FAST WEIGHT LOSS

MODERN DAY TREATMENTS FOR TOOTH AND TEETH DISEASE:

 TOOTH ABSCESS - CAUSES, HOME REMEDY ETC.

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