Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 1, 1802).djvu/486

45*] C AT perature), and being wrapped up in a napkin, but so as not to ob- struct the valve in the cover, which is to be placed at the arm-pit, and the bed-clothes being drawn up, and over it, close to the throat, the tube is to be applied to the month, and the patient should inspire and expire through it, for about twenty minutes, or half an hour. It is very evident, says Dr. jVIuoge, as the whole act of res- piration is performed through the machine, that by inspiration the lungs will be filled with air, which will be hot, and loaded with va- pour, by passing through the body of water 3 and in expiration, all that was contained in the lungs Will, by mixing with the steam on the surface of the water, be forced through the valve in the cover, and settle on the surface of the body, while under the bed-clothes. The great use of this particular construction of the inhaler is, 1. As there is no necessity, at the end of every inspiration, to remove the tube from the mouth, in order to expire from the lungs the vapour which had been received into them, this machine, may, therefore, be u.-,ed with equal facility, by chil- dren and adults. 1. As febrile symptoms frequently accompany the disorder, the valve, in that re- specf, is also of the utmost im- portance: for a sweat, or, at least, a free perspiration, not only re- lieves the patient from the restless anxiety of a hot, dry, and, some- times, parched skin, but is, of all evacuations, the most eligible for removing the fever ; and it will be generally found, that, after the in- haler has been used a lew minutes, the warm vapour xmder the clothes will, by settling upon the trunk, pro- CAT duce a sensible perspiration, which will gradually extend itself to the legs and feet. In any feverish habit attending this cough, it would be proper to take a draught of warm, thin whey, a few minutes before the inhaler is used; and after the pro- cess is over, the sweat which it has occasioned, may be promoted by drinking small draughts of weak, warm whey, or barley-water. The sweating is by no means so essen- tial to the cure of a catarrhous cough, as that the success of the inhaler at all depends upon it ; yet the Docfor observes, that its ad- vantages are very important, when the disease is accompanied by fe- brile symptoms. After this respiratory process is performed, the patient generally passes the night without the least interruption by the cough, and feels no farther attack than, per- haps, once, or twice, in the follow- ing morning, to throw off the trifling leakage, which, unperceiv- ed, had fallen into the bronchire and vesicles, during the night ; the thinner parts of which, being evacuated, the remainder is easily expectorated. However, continues Dr Mudge, if the patient hopes not to be dis- appointed in the success of this pro- cess, it is essentially necessary that he stricfly attend to the following rules : 1. As valetudinarians are but too well acquainted with the first symptoms of this disorder, the remedy must be used the same evening; which will, in an ordi- nary attack, be attended with an immediate cure : but, if the sore- ness of the respiratory organs, or the petulnnee of the cough, indi- cate