cold; there is probably restlessness and slight fever, with irri-
tation in the bronchial passages; this goes on gradually
increasing in intensity for a week or ten days, and then begins
to assume the spasmodic character ; at first the paroxysms are
slight, and of short duration, with a scarcely perceptible
“hoop,” but soon they become more frequent and severe; a
succession of violent expulsive coughs is followed by a long-
drawn inspiration, in the course of which the peculiar sound
which gives a name to the disease is emitted ; again come the
coughs, and again the inspiration, following each other in
quick succession, until the sufferer, whose starting eyes, livid
face, swollen veins, and clutching hands, attest the violence of
the struggle for breath, is relieved by an expectoration of
phlegm resembling the white of an egg, or by vomiting. When
the paroxysm is over, the child generally resumes its play, or
other occupation, and frequently complains of being hungry.
As the disease proceeds, the matter expectorated becomes
thicker, and is more easily got rid of, and this is a sign of favor-
able progress : the spasmodic paroxysms become less frequent
and violent, and gradually cease altogether; but the changes
here indicated may extend over a month or six months, accord-
ing to circumstances, the season of the year having much
influence'in hastening or retarding them, summer being, of
course, the most favorable time. It is a common impression
7 \ )
that, at whatever time of year an attack of Hooping Cough
commences, it will not end until May; this is simply because
of the change in the weather which generally takes. place in Jone
THE Docror. 279
about the course of that month. With a strong, healthy child
(when proper care is taken), there is little to apprehend from
this disease, provided it be not complicated with others, such
as inflammation of the lungs, or any head affection producing
convulsions ; it then proves a most dangerous malady, and is
fatalto many. With children of a full habit, the fits of cough-
ing often cause bleeding at the nose, but this should not be
viewed with alarm, as it relieves the vessels of the brain, and
is likely to prevent worse consequences.
To weakly children Hooping Cough is a very serious malady
—to all it is frequently a very sore trial, but to them it is .
especially so: therefore great care should be taken not to
expose them to the danger of catching it ; that it is contagious
there can be no doubt, and although some parents think lightly
of it, and imagining their children must have it, at one time or
another, deem that it matters little when, and therefore take
no pains to protect them against it, yet we would impress
upon all our readers, who may have the care of infants, that a
heavy responsibility lies at their door. It is by no means cer-
tain that a child will have this disease ; we have known many
persons who have reached a good old age and never contracted
it; and it is folly and wickedness needlessly to expose those
placed under our care to a certain danger.
Like fever, Hooping Cough has a course to run, which no
remedies, with which we are at present acquainted, will
shorten ; the severity of the symptoms may be somewhat miti-
gated, and we may, by watching the course of the disease, and
by use of the proper means, often prevent those complications
which render it dangerous, and this brings us to the considera-
tion of the proper mode of
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cold; there is probably restlessness and slight fever, with irri-
tation in the bronchial passages; this goes on gradually
increasing in intensity for a week or ten days, and then begins
to assume the spasmodic character ; at first the paroxysms are
slight, and of short duration, with a scarcely perceptible
“hoop,” but soon they become more frequent and severe; a
succession of violent expulsive coughs is followed by a long-
drawn inspiration, in the course of which the peculiar sound
which gives a name to the disease is emitted ; again come the
coughs, and again the inspiration, following each other in
quick succession, until the sufferer, whose starting eyes, livid
face, swollen veins, and clutching hands, attest the violence of
the struggle for breath, is relieved by an expectoration of
phlegm resembling the white of an egg, or by vomiting. When
the paroxysm is over, the child generally resumes its play, or
other occupation, and frequently complains of being hungry.
As the disease proceeds, the matter expectorated becomes
thicker, and is more easily got rid of, and this is a sign of favor-
able progress : the spasmodic paroxysms become less frequent
and violent, and gradually cease altogether; but the changes
here indicated may extend over a month or six months, accord-
ing to circumstances, the season of the year having much
influence'in hastening or retarding them, summer being, of
course, the most favorable time. It is a common impression
7 \ )
that, at whatever time of year an attack of Hooping Cough
commences, it will not end until May; this is simply because
of the change in the weather which generally takes. place in Jone
THE Docror. 279
about the course of that month. With a strong, healthy child
(when proper care is taken), there is little to apprehend from
this disease, provided it be not complicated with others, such
as inflammation of the lungs, or any head affection producing
convulsions ; it then proves a most dangerous malady, and is
fatalto many. With children of a full habit, the fits of cough-
ing often cause bleeding at the nose, but this should not be
viewed with alarm, as it relieves the vessels of the brain, and
is likely to prevent worse consequences.
To weakly children Hooping Cough is a very serious malady
—to all it is frequently a very sore trial, but to them it is .
especially so: therefore great care should be taken not to
expose them to the danger of catching it ; that it is contagious
there can be no doubt, and although some parents think lightly
of it, and imagining their children must have it, at one time or
another, deem that it matters little when, and therefore take
no pains to protect them against it, yet we would impress
upon all our readers, who may have the care of infants, that a
heavy responsibility lies at their door. It is by no means cer-
tain that a child will have this disease ; we have known many
persons who have reached a good old age and never contracted
it; and it is folly and wickedness needlessly to expose those
placed under our care to a certain danger.
Like fever, Hooping Cough has a course to run, which no
remedies, with which we are at present acquainted, will
shorten ; the severity of the symptoms may be somewhat miti-
gated, and we may, by watching the course of the disease, and
by use of the proper means, often prevent those complications
which render it dangerous, and this brings us to the considera-
tion of the proper mode of