Jasper County Democrat, Volume 19, Number 88, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 January 1917 — HOW TO TREAT CONVULSIONS [ARTICLE]

HOW TO TREAT CONVULSIONS

Hot Bath the First Thing to Be Administered to Child Who Suffers* From That Complaint ■ • - —' ' ■ When a baby has convulsions, it generail jVmeans one of two things; either it is suffering from toxaemia/; or poisoning, which is usually the result of errors in the diet, or else there is some serious trouble with the nervous system. If feeding is at die bottom of the troubl . iindwut and correct it, and the attacks will cease. When there is organic trouble present, the ease is more serhjus, The attack may be stopped, but it is likely to recur if rhe underlying cause persists. Such are the convulsions caused by meningitis, or acute Hitlamniatioh of "the brain coverings, and by hydrocephalus, or water pressing on the brain. It is unnecessary Jo describe the symptoms, for the most inexperienced person knows when a baby is having a convulsion. In older people a tendency to convulsions indicates an unstable nervous system, and that is probably true of infants who have convulsions in consequeii'Ce of dietary errors that would leave stronger children unaffected. Children who have convulsions in their first year often suffer from night terrors, tics, and other signs <>f nervous instability later in life. Sometimes convulsions are the first signs of an epilepsy that is to appear.in after years. The first thing to do when a baby falls into a convulsion is to get it into a warm bath as quickly as possible. triiut is done to relieve blood tension and equalize #the circulation, and to this end it is well to give cold applications to the head at the same time. ■ • Do not hesitate to give the hot bath. Sometimes inexperienced people who dread to make a mistake insist on waiting until the doctor comes. But the hot bath for a baby in convulsions can never be a mistake. The doctor should be called without delay, because in severe cases the bath must be followed by sedative and relieving treatment that he only will know how to employ. There is one important “don’t” to remember —don’t put anything into the child’s mouth —either food, medicine or stimulant —while you are waiting for the doctor. — Youth’s Companion.