Miscellaneous

What follows is a list of miscellaneous conditions that do not fit under any of the other section headings or fit under many.

Poisoning

Poisoning can often be an accident but can also be deliberate, for example in cases of attempted suicide. We don't have any antidotes available and thus we must treat what symptoms we can. Do -not- ever induce vomiting as you re-introduce the poison to the digestive tract. Instead attempt to wash the poison through the body using copious amounts of water. Sometimes milk works better, though it is up to you to determine what would most help your patient. If your patient becomes unconscious, keep the airway open and be prepared to resuscitate.

Food Poisoning

Poisoning can also be caused by 'bad' food and is rarely fatal. There may be nausea, vomiting and cramping abdominal pains. Diarrhoea, headaches, fevers, shock and collapse may also occur. The most effective treatment is to get your casualty to lie down and give them plenty of bland fluids such as water, diluted fruit juice or weak tea. Time is generally the best remedy.

Fever

Fevers are usually caused by an infection of sorts, whether from conditions such as influenza or from local infections, such as abscesses. A moderate fever is not harmful but higher ones can be. It may even trigger fits in infants and young children. In the early stages there may be pallor and the patient may experience a 'chilled' feeling – goose pimples, shivering and chattering teeth. This may be followed by hot, flushed skin, sweating, headaches, aches and pains. You should get your patient to bed, if not already there, and let them rest. Give them plenty of bland drinks. A small dose of spirits may help an adult to a more comfortable sleep. If the fever is high or if the casualty is a young child, cool them by applying compresses of tepid water. Administer borage as necessary if the fever continues.

Headache

Headaches may develop for no apparent reason but can often be traced to tiredness, nervous tension, stress or emotional upset, or even undue heat or cold. They may range from constant low-grade discomfort to a 'blinding' pain that is completely incapacitating. Help your patient to sit or lie down in a quiet place. If possible deal with any likely cause, for example loud noise, bright light or lack of fresh air. Administration of basil or feverfew can help.

Migraines

Many people are prone to these severe 'sickening' headaches. They can be triggered by a variety of causes. Many sufferers usually recognise and know how best to deal with an attack. They usually follow a pattern that can be readily recognized. There may be a warning period with disturbance of vision, in the form of flickering lights and/or a blind patch and an intense throbbing headache may develop, which may be one-sided. There may be discomfort in the upper abdomen, nausea and vomiting. Sufferers cannot usually tolerate bright light or noise. Treatment is as for headaches.

Toothache

Steady toothache, sometimes made worse by hot or cold food or drinks, is usually due to a decayed tooth. Throbbing toothache indicates an infection and there may be swelling in the painful area and bad breath. Application or administration of cayenne, clove, plantain or a small measure of neat spirits, held in the mouth near the tooth, may help or relieve the symptoms. Decayed teeth should be removed as soon as possible, the patient often being drugged with fellis first.

Diarrhea and Vomiting

The most likely causes are food poisoning or the consumption of contaminated water. When both occur together there is an increased risk of dehydration, especially in infants and young children. Give your patients plenty of bland drinks, slowly and often. Barberry can be used to treat diarrhea, adders-tongue and basil for vomiting. Once the appetite begins to return give the patient bland starchy food, such as tubers, for a day.

Cramp

This condition is a sudden, involuntary and painful muscular spasm. Cramps commonly happen during sleep but can also be caused by strenuous exercise or by the loss of excessive salt and fluid from the body from profuse sweating. They can often be relieved by stretching and massaging the affected muscle.

Mindhealing

Anyone who is unhappy is encouraged to seek out someone with whom they can discuss their problems. Healers who soothe troubled minds follow in the footsteps of Ancient psychologists and psychiatrists. Often the Healer may need do nothing more than listen; at other times the Healer may have to seek help elsewhere, such as with the Harpers. The therapy of dietary conditions such as anorexia nervosa also comes under the jurisdiction of the MindHealer. In these cases, it is often necessary to monitor the patient to ensure that they begin to eat correctly. However, this should be combined with therapy, examining why the patient feels a need to treat their body this way.

Fire-Head

This is a condition native to Pern and commonly seen amongst Southern folk. Its initial symptoms are similar to that of a sudden cold, with the patient going hot and cold, staggering and their skin becoming sensitive. Delirium and thirst become apparent before they finally collapse. It can be aggravated by going *between*. The patient should be transferred to a dark room and their eyes bandaged to protect them from the light. Padded blocks should be used on either side of the head to stop it from moving unnecessarily and wet, cool cloths should be applied to the forehead on a regular basis. The fever lasts for a few days and the patient will complain of spots in front of their eyes as they begin to recover. These spots last as long as the headache. Once the spots have disappeared the patient should be exposed to a darkened room. If it is not dark you may cause damage to the eyes. Patients should be rehydrated with fruit juice, of not too tart or too sweet a mixture, as soon as they are able to sip. Slowly re-introduce them to foods, using bland starchy ones such as bread to begin with. You should encourage your patient to sleep as much as possible, the addition of fellis helping the Healer if the patient is uncooperative.

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