Prognosis.—­It is now considered more than a cold, and it is the cause of terrible sickness in both sexes, among the innocent as well as the guilty.

Treatment.—­It may be cured perhaps in a short time, and yet no one can be certain of its absolute cure.  This disease is better understood now, and the treatment is entirely different from formerly.  The strong injections are now considered not only useless but dangerous to the future health of the patient.  The best treatment is mild antiseptic injections, irrigation carefully done by an expert person; remaining quietly in bed, being careful to use food and drink that are not stimulating, keeping the bowels open by proper diet and mild laxatives and the urine mild by soothing diuretic remedies.  Unfortunately those affected want quick work and they get it, frequently to their future sorrow.  The following are good injections.  Before each injection the urine should be passed and an injection of an antiseptic like listerine, etc., one dram to an ounce of boiled water, to cleanse the canal.  You can use twice a day the following: 

Fluid Extract Hydrastis (colored)    1 dram
Water                                1 ounce

Use one dram of this for each injection.  It stains the clothes so you must be careful.  This is good and healing.

[236 Mothers’ remedies]

Gonorrheal ARTHITIS. (Gonorrheal Rheumatism, Inflammation of the Joints).—­This is more common in men than women.  Occurring during, and at the end of or after inflammation of the urethra.  It usually involves many joints, such as the temporal, maxillary and collar bone.  The effusion in the joints is usually serious.

Symptoms.—­Variable joint pains may be the only one.  The attack may resemble an acute articular rheumatism of one joint, or a subacute rheumatism of one or more.

Sometimes there is a chronic one-jointed inflammation usually of the knee.  The tendon sheaths and bursae may be involved alone, or with the joints.  Gonorrheal septicemia may result from arthritis.  This is protracted.  Iritis is a most frequent complication.  The urethra source of the infection must be cured.

Treatment.—­Keep the joint quiet and you can use an ice cap for the pain.  Tonic treatment with quinine, iron, and arsenic in chronic cases is needed.  The joints should be kept at rest in acute cases.  In chronic cases massage and slight motion.  The tonics must be chosen for each individual case.  One afflicted with this must be under treatment for a long time.

Hip joint disease. (Morbus Coxarius).—­This is more common in children than in adults.

Cause.—­It is usually tubercular.

Symptoms.  First stage.—­It may be overlooked; slight lameness, a little stiffness is noticed at times.  The muscles begin to dwindle.

Second stage.—­Child limps very perceptibly, dwindling is more apparent.  Pain appears.