Faradic brush recommended in treat ment of the neuralgias of influenza. The painful nerve is included between the two buttons of a brush especially con structed for the purpose, or between two ordinary wire brushes, kept stabile, and a faradic current, at first weak, but grad ually increased in intensity. The appli cation lasts from half a minute to two minutes. From eight to thirty seances are necessary. Nothnagel (Zeit. f. klin. Med., vol. xvii, Nos. 3, 4, '90).
Rapid relief obtained from the head ache and the general nervous and diges tive symptoms from the employment of copper arsenic in doses of grain. Johnson (Med. Summary, June, '91).
Administration of large doses of sali ein, 20 grains every hour, advocated. Turner (Lancet, July IS, '91).
Twenty cases of influenza attended with neuralgic pains greatly ameliorated by 15 to 30 grains of salophen. Recovery within two days. Salophen embodies ad vantages of salicylate of soda without possessing its disadvantages. Claus (Med. Bull., May, '95).
Of all antineuralgic remedies tried, salophen proved the most useful. Sepa rates into salicylate of soda and acetyl paramidopheno] in alkaline contents of the small intestine; odorless and taste less. Hennig (Munch med. Woch., Sept. 3, '95).
Salleylate of soda, 2 or 3 grains every three hours to older children. Maltine with coca-wine for neurasthenic condi tions. W. L. Stowell (Arch. of Ped., Oct., 95).
No drug has given more favorable re sults in the treatment of influenza than benzoate of soda. It may be given in capsule or powder form, the usual dose being 10 grains, three or four times a day. When muscular symptoms are pro nounced, the following combination acts admirably:— Sodii benzoas, 2 drachms.
Salol, 1 drachm.
Phenacetin, 36 grains. • M. et ft. chart No. xij.
Sig.: One powder every four hours. Editorial (Amer. Died.-Surg. Bull., Nov. 25, '97).
The pharyngitis and rhinitis, which are often the most troublesome symptoms of influenza in childhood, are treated by pulverizations. For this purpose a 2-per cent. alcoholic solution of rectified tur pentine is preferred. Furst (Rev. Mens. des Mal. de l'Enfance, Jan., '98).
For influenza in children salipyrin is an efficient remedy. For a child of five years the dose is 4 grains, and for one of ten years 8 grains, to be administered three times daily. Editorial (Med. News, Mar. 19, '98).
Yerba santa prescribed in eases of cough supervening on influenza, with good results. Dose of fluid extract, 10 to
40 minims, combined with extract of malt, as malto-yerbine,—dose, 1 to 4 drachms. Joseph Westmorland (Lancet, Apr. 23, '98).
In influenza potassium bicarbonate is a remedy of unusual value. Thirty grains of potassium bicarbonate should be given in a cup of milk every four hours during the day, and no other diet for 48 hours. This will, in most instances, quickly start the patient along to health. When milk is not well borne or readily taken, the remedy may be administered with a glass of cold water, only liquid diet being allowed from thirty-six to forty-eight hours.
Nothing seems to assist the action of potassium bicarbonate so well as a ca thartic, such as -calomel, podophyllum, etc. Stephen Hamsberger (Phila. Med. Jour., Nov. 10, 1900).
In only a very few instances has the fever temperature reached 104° F., and when it did it was readily reduced by free sponging of the surface or a few doses of aconite or veratrum viride. The diet should be light and carefully ad justed to the ability of the digestive or gans to receive and appropriate it. When pneumonia or any other complicating disease supervenes, for which the practi tioner should always be on the alert, it should be treated promptly and on the sc.me principles as would govern its treat ment under other circumstances.
In multiple neuritis following influenza treatment should consist first in absolute rest in bed. Anodynes must be given in sufficient doses to relieve pain, when that is a prominent symptom. The antipyretic anodynes are insufficient in safe doses if the patient has pains for many days. Cinchonidine salicylate is distinctly valu able. At a later stage potassium iodide and mercuric chloride in small doses are helpful. When the pain is seated in an extremity, firm pressure with a flannel bandage yields great comfort. Blisters over the painful nerve-trunks when they are superficial are also valuable in reliev ing pain. Close watch must be kept on the action of the heart and the character of the breathing. In most of the fatal eases death results through paralysis of the diaphragm. The closest attention must be given throughout the course of the case to the nutrition of the patient and to the condition of the skin, espe cially over portions of the body exposed to pressure. As far as possible the stom ach should be reserved for food. Allyn (Jour. Amer. Med. Assoc., July 24, '07).