COUGH

is a symptom of irritation which is generally situated in como part of tho respiratory tract, such as tho throat, bronchi or lung substance but may be due to irritation of some distant organ, e.g., the heart and stomach, or to disturbance of the lrnin, as in hysterical cough. The folly of attempting to apply a cough cure for all coughs alike is thus apparent. In the old and young, suppre ing a cough with some soothing syrup containing opium is very easy and very dangerous; a cough should not be suppre ed but treated by removal of its cause, and if iy some tenacious secretion in the bronchi, the secretion requires thinning by ipecacuanha wine, sweet spirits of nitre, and salines; the cough will then loosen and relief be obtaincd. If on the other hand the source of irritation is in the throat, the use every threo hours of astringent gargles, such as alum of a strength of half an ounce to the pint, followed by a dose of glycerine and lomon juice, may give relief. Unies the cough shows signs of ceasing within a fow days, medical advice is requisite. [Asthma; Bronchitis; Consumption; Sore Throat; Whooping Cough.) [s. 347]