Prevention.—­Avoid exposure to sudden changes of temperature.  For the attack, jacket of oil silk or flannel to prevent sudden exposure, keep the temperature warmed up to 68 to 70 degrees night and day; the air must be fresh and pure and changed regularly.

[Respiratory diseases 41]

Children should be given ample room and not hampered by extra clothing, as they like change of position, to get relief.  The hot bath must be used often to redden the skin and relieve the pressure on the lungs, till they can be given relief.  If you wish to use a poultice the following is a nice way to make it.  Take a piece of muslin or linen, or cheese-cloth, wide enough when doubled to reach from the lower margin of the ribs to well up under the arm pits, and long enough to go a little more than around the chest, open the double fold and spread the hot mass of poultice on one-half of the cloth and fold the other over it.  It should be applied as hot as it can be comfortably borne and covered with oil silk or paraffin paper, so as to the longer retain the heat and moisture.  The poultice should be renewed as often as it gets cold, and a fresh poultice should be all ready to put on when the old one is taken off.  Place the end of the poultice uppermost, so that the contents will not fall out.

Mothers’ remedies. 1.  Pneumonia, Herb Tea and Poultice for.—­“Congestion of the lungs.  One ounce of each of the following, slippery elm bark, crushed thyme, coltsfoot flowers, hyssop or marshmallow.  Simmer in two quarts of water down to three pints; strain and add one teaspoonful of cayenne.  Dose:—­Wineglassful every half hour.  Apply hot bran poultices or chamomile scalded in vinegar, changing often until the violence of the symptoms abate.  If the bowels are confined, give an injection of half pint of hot water in which one-half teaspoonful each of gum myrrh, turkey rhubarb and ginger powder have been well mixed.  If possible give vapor bath.  Apply hot stones or bottles to the feet.”

2.  Pneumonia, Home Remedy for.—­“This can easily be relieved by the use of cayenne and vapor bath.  This promotes the circulation in every part of the body, diminishing the pressure upon the lungs.  These baths produce a regular circulation throughout the whole body, thus relieving the pressure upon the lungs by decreasing the amount of blood in the lungs.  These baths should be taken but once a day, as they are weakening.”

3.  Pneumonia, Hot Vinegar Applications for.—­Congestion of Lungs.—­“Over the lungs lay cloths wet in clear hot vinegar.  They should be five or six inches square and several thicknesses.  Over the cloths lay a hot plate or hot water bottle; change as often as necessary to keep them hot.  This treatment will soon give relief, after which rub as much oil into the lungs as possible.”

Physicians’ treatment for Pneumonia.—­A doctor must be called.  For high fever, one to one and a half drops of aconite, for adults every hour; for children, about one-twelfth to one-eighth of a drop.  For cough, chloride of ammonium, one to two grain doses.  For pain, hot applications.