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Enlargement of the Tonsils.This enlargement gives rise to many inconveniences ; the tonsils are liable to repeated attacks of acute inflammation, after each one of which the swelling becomes greater and the irritation in the throat is augmented. When the tonsils have attained a certain size, the voice is rendered hoarse ; breathing is labored and noisy, especially during sleep. Indeed, a child's slumbers are frequently much disturbed by fits of choking, from which he awakens in terror. Swallowing may also be impeded and laborious ; sometimes the food and drink escape into the nose. If this condition be allowed to proceed, there is apt to occur an impairment of hearing in consequence of the spread of the inflammation through the eustachian tubes into the ear. In rare cases suffocation has been caused by the collection of mucus in the throat. Treatment. - In most cases the child's general health needs attention. He should be provided with the best of food and allowed plenty of recreation; in short, all those measures which evidently conduce to the improvement of the health should be employed. In addition, it may be well to administer tonic medicines. The following formula may be given: Syrup of the iodide of iron, - - One ounce. Glycerine, ----- One ounce. Water, ------ Two ounces. A teaspoonful of this may be taken after meals. If the child be evidently scrofulous, as indicated by the pallor, enlargement of the glands in the neck, and the other usual symptoms, cod-liver oil should be administered. Local treatment in the throat can sometimes be made effectual in reducing the size of the tonsils, or at least in preventing the occurrence of unpleasant symptoms. This treatment may consist in the use of astringent gargles, and in the application of remedies directly to the enlarged tonsils by means of a camel's-hair brush. The following gargle may be employed : Alum, - One drachm. Glycerine, - One ounce. Tincture of myrrh, - Three drachms. Water, ----- Four ounces. The local applications should be made by brushing the tonsils once or twice a day with the following solution : Tannin, ..-.--- Twenty grains. Brandy, ----- One ounce. Camphor water, - Five ounces. This may be used to swab the throat. For this purpose a piece of sponge as large as a hickory nut may be tied firmly onto the end of a piece of wood or whalebone. The sponge is moistened with the solution, and then rubbed thoroughly over the surface of the tonsils and the neighboring part of the throat. It will generally be necessary to hold the tongue down with the handle of a spoon during this process. Care must be always taken to fasten the sponge firmly upon the handle, in order to prevent the possibility of its slipping off into the throat. Benefit can also be derived from the inhalation of liquids by means of an atomizer. For this purpose the following solution may be employed three times a day : Listerine, ----- One ounce. Tannic acid, ----- Half a drachm. Glycerine, - - - - - Two ounces. Water, ----- Three ounces. This may be used warm, with an ordinary hand atomizer. It is rarely possible to reduce the swelling of the tonsils materially in this way. The most that can be hoped for is to prevent an aggravation of the difficulty, to keep the throat clear of mucus and to toughen the membrane somewhat, so that there will be less possibility of frequent acute attacks. In most cases it will be desirable to remove the tonsils when these have attained a size such as to cause the more serious symptoms above related. The operation for removing the tonsils is a very simple one, and it occasions the patient but little pain. But first, if you want to come back to this web site again, just add it to your bookmarks or favorites now! Then you'll find it easy! Also, please consider sharing our helpful website with your online friends.
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