ooked upon as a very serious disease, especially in infants under
two years, and in weak, delicate children. It causes one-fourth of all
deaths among children, the death rate varying from three to fifteen
per cent in different times and under different circumstances. For
this reason a physician's services should always be secured when
possible.

=Treatment.=--A host of remedies is used for whooping cough, but no
single one is always the best. It is often necessary to try different
medicines till we find one which excels. Fresh air is of greatest
importance. Patients should be strictly isolated in rooms by
themselves, and it is wise to send away children who have not been
exposed. Morally, parents are criminally negligent who allow their
children with whooping cough to associate with healthy children. If
the coughing fits are severe or there is fever, children should be
kept in bed. Usually there is not much fever; perhaps an elevation of
a degree or two at first, and at times during the disease. Otherwise,
children may be outdoors in warm weather, and in winter on warm, quiet
days. Sea air is especially good for them. It is best that the sick
should have two rooms, going from one to the other, so that the
windows in the room last occupied may be opened and well ventilated.
Fresh air at night is especially needful, and the patient should sleep
in a room which has been freshly aired. The temperature should be kept
at an even 70 deg. F., and the child should not be exposed to draughts.
Vaporizing antiseptics in the sick room has proved beneficial. A two
per cent solution of carbolic acid in water is useful for this
purpose, or a substance called vapo-cresoline, with which is sold a
vaporizing lamp and directions for use. A one per cent solution of
resorcin, or of hydrogen dioxide, diluted with four parts of water,
used in an atomizer for spraying the throat, every two hours, has
given good results. In the beginning of the disease, before the
whooping has begun, a mixture of paregoric and syrup of ipecac will
relieve the cough, ten drops of the former with five of the latter,
for a child of two years, given together in water every three hours.
The bromide of sodium, five grains in water, every three hours during
the day, for a child of two, is serviceable in relieving the fits of
coughing in the day; while at night, two grains of chloral, not
repeated, may be given in water at bedtime to secure sleep, in a child
of two. Th