CROUP (Scotch eroupe, (Tope, to croak, make a harsh noise). Since the discovery of the cause of diphtheria, it ha, been found that there are two forms of disease formerly known as croup: (1) false croup. and (2) menffiranous croup, which is diphtheria of the larynx. False croup is caused in feeble or ill-fed children, or in those who have a catarrhal tendency, by exptmure to cold and wet, digestive disturbances. or, in some cases, the grippe (q.v.). The child has a running from the nose and a cough; he awakens coughing hoarsely, with noisy and labored breath ing or gasping, with every appearance of sulna-a tion, the face becoming red or purplish. and tears starting from the eyes. The attack lasts from a half hour to five or six hours, and then relief collies ill a loose cough, abatement of the fever, and free perspiration. The attack may be repented on succeeding nights. Yo membrane is coughed up. The treatment consists of in halation of warm, moist air from a tea-kettle placed under a sheet thrown over the child's bed: frequent draughts of warm milk: and a close of a half-teaspoonful of syrup of ipecac. re
peated every fifteen minutes till vomiting occurs Once. Other drugs should be prescribed by a physician.
.leilibranims croup is caused by the bacillus of 4111)11(.1111'1a (q.v.), or by streptococcus, and is very dangerously contagious as well as largely fatal. The symptoms are much the same as in false croup, except that the child is generally drowsy for a few hours before the difficulty in breathing and the cough begin, and after a time becomes exceedingly restless, the lips and face beeome blue. of membrane are coughed up. coma and possibly convulsions follow, and death occurs unless relief is obtained. Relief from suf focation may be obtained by the use of the tracheotomy tube. This is a metal or hard rub her tube inserted into the windpipe below the larynx by a surgeon, through an incision in the neck; or by the use of the intubation tube in vented by Dr. Joseph O'Dwyer, of New York. which is passed down the throat and between the vocal vords, and fastened in place. These pro cedures do not, however, check the disease. See DIPHTHERIA.