Medical

Bright’s disease of the kidneys is acute or chronic, and its presence can be definitely determined only by chemical and microscopical examination of the urine. Acute Bright’s disease coming on in persons previously well may often, however, present certain symptoms by which its existence may be suspected even by the layman.

Influenza is an acute, highly contagious disease due to a special germ, and tending to spread with amazing rapidity over vast areas. It has occurred as a world wide epidemic at various times in history, and during four periods in the last century. A pandemic of influenza began in the winter of 1889 90, and […]

Membranous croup is diphtheria of the lower part of the throat (larynx), in the region of the Adam’s apple. If in a case of what appears to be ordinary croup the symptoms are not soon relieved by treatment, or if any membrane is coughed up, or if, on inspection of the throat, it is possible […]

In this disease there is pain in the muscles, which may be constant, but is more pronounced on movement. Exposure to cold and wet, combined with muscular strain, frequently excite an attack. On the other hand, it often occurs during hot, dry, fine weather. Attacks last usually but a few days, but may be prolonged […]

Children often put foreign bodies in their nose, as shoe buttons, beans, and pebbles. They may not tell of it, and the most conspicuous symptoms are the appearance of a thick discharge from one nostril, having a bad odor, and some obstruction to breathing on the same side. If the foreign body can be seen, […]

Persons who have been exposed to excessive heat or have actually had a heat stroke are very prone to headache, which is made worse by movements of the head. Sodium bromide, twenty grains dissolved in water, may be given to advantage three times daily between meals in these cases for not more than two days. […]

Chronic rheumatism is a disease attacking persons of middle age, or after, and is seen more commonly in poor, hard working individuals who have been exposed to cold and damp, as laborers and washerwomen. Several of the larger joints, as the knees, shoulders, and hips, are usually affected, but occasionally only one joint is attacked. […]

This consists of an enlargement of the veins in the scrotum above the testicle of the male, on the left side in most cases. The large veins feel more like a bunch of earthworms than anything else. If they cause no discomfort they may be entirely neglected and are not of the slightest consequence. Even […]

Cancer of the breast begins as a lump, occurring more often to the outside of the nipple, but may develop in any part. It may or may not be painful at first, but the skin becomes attached to it; and sooner or later the nipple is drawn in. It is seen in women over forty, […]

Tonsilitis is a germ disease and is contagious. Exposure to cold and wet and to germ laden air renders persons more liable to attacks. It is more likely to occur in young people, especially those who have already suffered from the disease and whose tonsils are chronically enlarged, and is most prevalent in this country […]

These are caused by irritation in various parts of the body, which is conveyed through the nervous system to the brain producing headache. Headache from eye strain is one of this class, and probably the most common, and, therefore, most important of all headaches. There is unfortunately no sure sign by which we can tell […]

The pain is more often in the forehead, but may be in the top or back of the head. The headache may last for hours, or “off and on” for days. Dull headache is seen in “biliousness” when the whites of the eyes are slightly tinged with yellow and the tongue coated and yellowish, and […]

Itching is not a distinct disease by itself, but a symptom or sign of other skin or general disorders. Occasionally it must be treated as if it were a separate disease, as when it occurs about the entrance to the bowel ( anus ), or to the external female sexual parts ( vulva ), or […]

Foreign bodies, as buttons, pebbles, beans, cherry stones, coffee, etc., are frequently placed in the ear by children, and insects sometimes find their way into the ear passage and create tremendous distress by their struggles. Smooth, nonirritating bodies, as buttons, pebbles, etc., do no particular harm for a long time, and may remain unnoticed for […]

Cancer of the stomach is observed more often in men over forty, and begins with loss of appetite; nausea or vomiting; vomiting of blood; pain in the stomach; loss of weight, and paleness. Some of these symptoms may be absent. Improved methods of surgery have rendered early operation for cancer of the stomach a hopeful […]

This is a common eruption of adults in hot weather, and very frequently attacks children. It consists of fine, pointed, red rash, or minute blisters, and occurs on parts of the body covered by clothing, more often on the chest. The eruption is caused by much sweating, leading to congestion and swelling of the sweat […]

Earache is due usually not to neuralgia of the ear, but to a true inflammation of the middle ear, which either subsides or results in the accumulation of inflammatory products until the drum is ruptured and discharge occurs from the external canal. The trouble commonly originates from an extension of catarrhal disease of the nose […]

This condition may be due to eye strain, and can be relieved if the eyes are fitted to glasses by an oculist (not an optician). It is frequently an accompaniment of inflammation of the eyes, and when this is cured the twitching of the lids disappears. When the eyes are otherwise normal the twitching is […]