Show Your Family Doctor a I I to Stop Cough That Produces Results By Dr Thomas D D. D Masters A cough that begins after an obvious cold old and lasts for two or three weeks week can be regarded in a different light than the cough that begins insidiously and lasts for a longer period The latter cough calls for careful investigation and attention attention attention atten atten- tion from a physician But the ordinary cough familiar to us usall usall usall all is susceptible to home treatment treatment treatment treat treat- ment and can safely be taken care of without professional attention at at- particularly particularly in these wartime days when the busy doctors doctor's rs r's time and energy must be conserved The cough is natures nature's design and mechanism to rid the respiratory respiratory respiratory atory tract of material that does not belong there It is not desirable desirable desirable desir desir- able therefore to stop a cough that is productive of sputum Coughing is the best possible way of eliminating undesirable material from the infected area The act of c coughing is js ace accomplished accomplished om- om by filling the l lungs with air closing the glottis located at the top of the trachea in the throat and thus increasing he pressure of the air contained therein At the peak of the tension tension tension ten ten- sion the glottis is opened and the air explosively released carrying carrying carrying car car- with it the offending material material material ma ma- within the air passage When the cough no longer produces produces produces pro pro- duces sputum it is wise to try stopping It Coughing may be bean bean bean an extremely distressing phe phe- especially in an Infant Infant infant In in- fant who can readily look as if he were choking to death It is always a wearing irritating and nd depressing experience when continued after and beyond its proper function In addition it itis itis itis is annoying and unpleasant for others to be around a person spasmodically wracked by a cough Avoid Throat Irritants The simplest treatments for a cough are as follows Avoid such irritants as cold air tobacco tobacco co smoke and other pungent odors Increase the intake of fluids which soothe the throat as well as help in clearing the system of any lingering traces of the respiratory infection If possible seek a warm humid humid humid hu hu- hu- hu mid environment An artificial set of humid conditions can be achieved by introducing steam Into the room either with or Without further medicament such as benzoin Counterirritants Counterirritants Counterirritants Counter ir are also useful In the form of heat applied to the chest by mustard plasters a water hot-water bottle or an electric pad Many simple coughs may be relieved by ten grains of so so- citrate in hot lemonade In more persistent coughs the nervous reflex must be depressed de de- de- de pressed Besides a deliberate ef effort effort effort ef- ef fort on the part of the patient to I control and quiet his cough codeine codeine co co- deine define in elixir of hydrate will usually prove effective I |