membrane is formed along the windpipe, resembling in appearance
the finger of a glove suspended in the passage, and, consequently,
terminating the life of the patient by suffocation; for, as the lower
end grows together and becomes closed, no air can enter the lungs, and
the child dies choked. All dull, fat, and heavy children are peculiarly
predisposed to this disease, and those with short necks and who make a
wheezing noise in their natural breathing. Croup is always sudden in its
attack, and rapid in its career, usually proving fatal within three
days; most frequently commences in the night, and generally attacking
children between the ages of three and ten years. Mothers should,
therefore, be on their guard who have children predisposed to this
disease, and immediately resort to the means hereafter advised.

2569. _Symptoms_.--Languor and restlessness, hoarseness, wheezing, and
short, dry cough, with occasional rattling in the throat during sleep,
the child often plucking at its throat with its fingers; difficulty of
breathing, which quickly becomes hard and laboured, causing great
anxiety of the countenance, and the veins of the neck to swell and
become knotted; the voice in speaking acquires a sharp, crowing, or
croupy sound, while the inspirations have a harsh, metallic intonation.
After a few hours, a quantity of thick, ropy mucus is thrown out,
hanging about the mouth, and causing suffocating fits of coughing to
expel.

2570. Treatment.--Place the child immediately in a hot bath up to the
throat; and, on removal from the water, give an emetic of the antimonial
or ipecacuanha wine, and, when the vomiting has subsided, lay a long
blister down the front of the throat, and administer one of the
following powders every twenty minutes to a child from three to six
years of age.

2571. Take of calomel, 12 grains; tartar emetic, 2 grains; lump sugar,
30 grains. Mix accurately, and divide into 12 powders. For a child from
six to twelve years, divide into 6 powders, and give one every
half-hour.

2572. Should the symptoms remain unabated after a few hours, apply one
or two leeches to the throat, and put mustard poultices to the foot and
thighs, retaining them about eight minutes; and, in extreme cases, a
mustard poultice to the spine between the shoulders, and at the same
time rub mercurial ointment into the armpits and the angles of the jaws.

2573. Such is a vigorous and reliable system of treatment in severe
case