Is there any drug which will cure pneu­monia?

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Pneumonia

Q. Is there any drug which will cure pneu­monia?

A. It is now known that pneumonia is an in­fectious disease and it runs a regular course like measles, small pox and other contagious diseases. It is also probably infectious like these diseases. No intelligent physician at the present time will administer drugs to a pneumonia patient with the expectation that the pneumonia will be cured thereby; in fact there is no treatment which will cure pneumonia, but there are many simple measures of treatment which are of great service in the disease. Among these are the cold com­press or ice bag to the chest during the early stages of the disease which is a most efficient means of relieving cough and pain and lessen­ing the intensity of the disease. The cold ap­plication should be removed for five minutes about once in twenty minutes. When there is much pain a short hot fomentation may be applied for two or three hours. A hot blanket pack from the hips down is an excellent means of re­lieving pulmonary congestion. The patient should take a glass of water every hour. The bowels should be opened by means of enemas administered two or three times a day. The patient is greatly benefited by being kept in the open air. In one of the largest children's; hospitals in New York very young children who are suffering from pneumonia are kept out of doors. constantly, even during the very coldest weather. They are of course well wrapped to prevent chilling. The children are permitted to breathe very cold air with the greatest possible benefit. Many apparently hopeless cases have thus been saved. A prolonged very hot bath taken in the beginning of an attack of pneumonia may lessen the intensity of the disease and shorten its course.

Fomentations exercise a favorable influence upon the cough. Sipping hot water is also an excellent measure for relieving cough.

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