After a vapor bath, when the patient is rubbed dry, washing the surface with partly diluted tincture of Myrrh* affords a
*As it is now extremely difficult to procure pure grain alcohol for rubs after pack, steam or shower baths, the Tincture of Myrrh should be used instead, thus assuring purity and harmlessness.
98 THOMSONIAN SYSTEM
means of protection against cold, and strengthens and improves the condition of the skin. This practice is useful especially in cases where the skin is relaxed and the patient feeble, as in chronic bronchitis, consumption, chronic pleurisy, asthma, dropsy, chronic rheumatism, chronic diarrhoea, marasmus, and in every other form of disease attended by general debility.
In deeply seated colds attended by a free expectoration of a thick yellowish secretion, the use of No. 6, will be found highly beneficial.
An external application of No. 6, i. e., compound tincture Myrrh and Capsicum, has been found useful in rheumatism, neuralgia and like ailments. To help bring about relaxation, an equal amount of tincture Lobelia may be added. In applying the compound for the relief of dropsy, night-sweats, consumption, and in all cases where the skin is relaxed, Lobelia need not be added.
The compound tincture may be applied to great advantage in sprains, bruises, fresh cuts, indolent ulcers, gangrene and as a preventive to mortification both internally and externally.
In that much and rightly dreaded condition foreshadowing mastoid trouble where there is running of the ear or where this can be induced, there is no safer or more successful method for the possible relief of the condition, than the frequent syringing of the ear with:
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