Page:Mrs Beeton's Book of Household Management.djvu/2104

1894 Iodine.—The tincture of Iodine is very useful as a counter irritant and as a help to absorption in the case of chronic swellings. Painted on the gums, it will often relieve toothache; painted on swollen glands, it will help the swelling to disperse; painted on such swellings as water on the knee, it will help the water to become absorbed.

Ipecacuanha.—Given as powder, 20 grains at a time, it is a useful emetic in the case of adults; in children, in the form of wine, it is useful for the same purpose in doses of 1 teaspoonful in tepid water, repeated every quarter of an hour, and drinks of tepid water given between, and is often so administered in croup. In bronchitis and bronchial catarrh it may be given to children in doses of 2 to 5 drops every 3 hours on a lump of sugar, and a proportionately larger dose to adults.

Iron Alum.—This is a powerful astringent. It is useful in checking bleeding after extraction of teeth or in cases of bleeding from wounds. Wool moistened with a strong solution of the astringent should be applied to the bleeding part.

Laudanum.—This must be given with extreme caution. It should only be given to children under medical advice. In adults, it is useful for the relief of such pain as colic, when it may be given either with a dose of castor-oil, or with 15 drops of spirit of chloroform in water. The dose of laudanum for an adult is up to 20 drops, and the dose of spirit of chloroform may be increased to same amount. (For overdose, see previous section, "What to Do in Case of Accident.")

Lime-Water.—This is a useful preparation to give children with their milk when they are suffering from acidity or diarrhœa. A tablespoonful may be mixed with a wineglassful of milk. In cases of vomiting in adults it is also most useful mixed with milk.

Magnesia.—This may be given in doses of 20 or 30 grains, in a little milk or water, to an adult, or 5 to 12 grains to those under 12 years. It is very useful in acidity of the stomach.

Mustard.—A tablespoonful in a tumbler of tepid water is a useful emetic. Applied as a poultice or leaf to the chest, it is useful in bronchial colds.

Oil of Eucalyptus.—Derived from the Australian Blue Gum tree. It is a valuable disinfectant and deodorant, rivals quinine as a remedy for malarial fever, and as a sedative to the bronchial tubes is unrivalled. It may be taken internally on sugar, 3 to 5 drops occasionally for cough; it may be inhaled for bronchitis, or laryngitis, 10 drops in a jug of boiling water and the steam to be inhaled; it may be rubbed into the skin as a disinfectant in scarlet fever and other infectious diseases, made into an ointment with vaseline as a base; and it may be sprinkled lightly about a room as a deodorant.

Quinine.—This is an excellent tonic in cases of debility, and may be given in doses of 1 or 2 grains 3 times a day, dissolved in a little steel-drops or made into pills. It is useful in the same or larger doses in neuralgia, and the combination with steel-drops will materially