Page:Mrs Beeton's Book of Household Management.djvu/2070

1864 to make 1 oz.; to be taken as a draught at bed time. 10 to 15 drops of spirit of camphor taken on a lump of sugar, and repeated in 2 or 3 hours, is also a useful remedy in cases of cold. As the debility is real, the diet should be stimulating.

Corns caused by friction.

Treatment.—Cold water dressings at night till the corn is soft enough to be extracted by the root. Circular, felt corn plasters are useful to remove pressure. Touching repeatedly with strong acetic acid sometimes destroys corns. Boots should not be tight.

Deafness may be caused by an accumulation of wax in the ear passage. This can generally be seen, and can be removed by syringing with warm water. Before doing so, 2 or 3 drops of glycerine, or bicarbonate of soda, 15 grains to the ounce of water, will, if dropped into the ears for a couple of days, twice daily, much expedite matters. Other causes of deafness are trouble in the middle ear, or catarrh of the eustachian tube, both of which require skilled medical attention.

Dropsy may be due to heart disease, Bright's disease or disease of the liver.

Drunkenness.—See Intoxication in "What to do in Cases of Accident."

Dyspepsia.—Give 10 grains of the sub-nitrate of bismuth and the same of bicarbonate of soda 2 or 3 times a day. 1 teaspoonful of Benger's Liquor Pancreaticus may be taken with advantage an hour or two after each meal; it will materially assist digestion. The diet should be carefully regulated, and all indigestible articles of food avoided.

Earache.—Sponges wrung out of hot water should be applied over and behind the ear. Drop a few drops of warm oil or warm oil and laudanum into the ear. If the pain is persistent for more than two days, medical attention should be procured.

Ear Discharge.—The ear should be gently syringed with warm water, in which a little boracic acid has been dissolved, a teaspoonful to a teacupful of water. A little of the same powder should be afterwards puffed into the ear.

Enlarged Glands are nearly always due to some source of irritation in the neighbourhood of the glands. In the case of enlarged glands in the neck, trouble will be found in the scalp, ear, nose or throat.

Treatment.—First attend to the exciting cause. In some delicate children, glands enlarge very readily. In these cases cod-liver oil, steel wine, plenty of fresh air, good feeding and warm clothing are required, with a change of air if possible. The disappearance of the glands may be accelerated by painting them with tincture of iodine. If the glands become red, painful and inflamed, medical advice should be at once obtained.

Eyes.—Sore or inflamed eyes should be bathed with boracic acid lotion (a teaspoonful to a pint). This is soothing and antiseptic. A good extempore substitute is a very weak infusion of tea leaves.