The milder sore throat is commonly the beginning of an ordinary cold, although sometimes it is caused by digestive disorders. Exposure to cold and wet is, however, the most frequent source of this form of sore throat. Soreness, dryness, and tickling first call attention to the trouble, together with a feeling of chilliness and, perhaps, […]
SICK HEADACHE
This is a peculiar, one sided headache which takes the form of severe, periodic attacks or paroxysms, and is often inherited. It recurs at more or less regular intervals, as on a certain day of each week, fortnight or month, and the attacks appear and disappear at regular hours. The disorder generally persists for years […]
Constant Headache
This, afflicting the patient all day and every day, and increasing in severity at night, is suggestive of some disease of the brain, as congestion, brain tumor, or meningitis, and urgently demands skillful medical attention.
COUGH
Occurring in Bronchitis, Pneumonia, Consumption or Tuberculosis, Asthma, and Influenza or Grippe. Cough is a symptom of many disorders. It may be caused by irritation of any part of the breathing apparatus, as the nose, throat, windpipe, bronchial tubes, and (in pleurisy and pneumonia) covering membrane of the lung. The irritation which produces cough is […]
COLD SORE; FEVER BLISTER
Cold sores occur usually about the lips or at the angles of the mouth, although they may appear anywhere on the face. Cold sore has a round, oval, or irregular outline, from the size of a pea to that of a quarter of a dollar, and is seen as a slightly raised patch on the […]
SCURVY
Scurvy used to be much more common than it is now. In the Civil War there were nearly 50,000 cases in the Union Army. Sailors and soldiers have been the common victims, but now the disease occurs most often among the poorly fed, on shore. It is caused by a diet containing neither fresh vegetables, […]
INVOLUNTARY PASSAGE OF URINE BED WETTING IN CHILDREN (Incontinence of Urine)
This refers to an escape of urine from the bladder uncontrolled by the will. It naturally occurs in infants under thirty months, or thereabouts, and in the very old, and in connection with various diseases. It may be due to disease of the brain, as in idiocy or insanity, apoplexy, or unconscious states. Injuries or […]
CANKER
A small, shallow, yellow ulcer, appearing on the inside of the lips or beneath the tongue during some disorder of the digestion. It is very tender when touched and renders chewing or talking somewhat painful. Treatment consists of touching the ulcer carefully with the point of a wooden toothpick which has been dipped in pure […]
PERSISTENT AND CHRONIC DEAFNESS
A consideration of deafness requires some understanding of the structure and relations of the ear with other parts of the body, notably the throat. It has been pointed out that the external ear comprising the fleshy portion of the ear, or auricle, and the opening, or canal, about an inch long is separated from that […]
TUMORS
A tumor in its original meaning signifies a swelling. As commonly used it means a new growth or enlargement of a part, which is not due to injury or inflammation. Tumors occur at all ages, in both sexes, and may attack any part of the body. Tumors are usually divided into benign and malignant growths. […]
VARICOSE VEINS
Varicose veins are enlarged veins which are more commonly present on the legs, but are also seen in other parts of the body. They stand out from the skin as bluish, knotty, and winding cords which flatten out when pressure is made upon them, and shrink in size in most cases upon lying down. Sometimes […]
CINDERS AND OTHER FOREIGN BODIES IN THE EYE
Foreign bodies are most frequently lodged on the under surface of the upper lid, although the surface of the eyeball and the inner aspect of the lower lid should also be carefully inspected. A drop of a two per cent solution of cocaine will render painless the manipulations. The patient should be directed to continue […]
WOUNDS AND BURNS ABOUT THE EYES
Slight wounds of the inner surface of the eyelids close readily without stitching if the boric acid solution (ten grains to the ounce of water) is dropped into the eye four times daily. Burns of the inner surface of the lids follow the entrance of hot water, hot ashes, lime, acids, and molten metals. Burns […]
QUINSY
Quinsy is a peritonsilitis; that is, it is an inflammatory disease of the tissues in which the tonsil is imbedded, an inflammation around the tonsil. The swelling of these tissues thrusts the tonsil out into the throat; but the tonsil is little affected. Quinsy involves the surrounding structures of the throat, and usually results in […]
Headache from Poisoning
Persons addicted to the excessive use of tea, coffee, alcohol, and tobacco are often subject to headache from poisoning of the system by these substances. In tea, coffee, and tobacco poisoning there is also palpitation of the heart in many cases; that is, the patient is conscious of his heart beating, irregularly and violently (see […]
NOSEBLEED
Nosebleed is caused by blows or falls, or more frequently by picking and violently blowing the nose. The cartilage of the nasal septum, or partition which divides the two nostrils, very often becomes sore in spots, owing to irritation of dust laden air, and these crust over and lead to itching. Then “picking the nose” […]
CONSUMPTION; TUBERCULOSIS OF THE LUNGS; PHTHISIS
This disease demands especial attention, not only because it is above all others the great destroyer of human life, causing one seventh of all deaths, but because, so far from being a surely fatal disease as popularly believed, it is an eminently curable disorder if recognized in its earliest stage. The most careful laboratory examinations […]
RETENTION, STOPPAGE, OR SUPPRESSION OF URINE
Retention refers to that condition where the urine has been accumulating in the bladder for a considerable time over twelve hours and cannot be passed. It may follow an obstruction from disease, to which is added temporary swelling and nervous contraction of some part of the urinary passage; or it may be due to spasm […]