8.  Quinsy, Raw Beef Has Cured.—­“Bind raw beefsteak over the tonsils on one or both sides of the throat as required.”  The beefsteak acts as a poultice and counter-irritant, drawing the inflammation out in a short time.  This is very good, and is easily prepared.

9.  Quinsy, Easy and Simple Remedy for.—­“Strong sulphur water.  Broke up two cases I know.”

Physicians’ treatment for Quinsy.—­The external applications used should now be hot.  Hot water; hot poultices, cloths wrung out of smartweed hot, and thyme tea or golden seal teas.  The same steaming process and hot water gargles can be used as given under follicular tonsilitis.  But if it continues the tonsils or tonsil must be opened to save pain and life.  Just as soon as there is suppuration they should be opened.  It will feel softer to the finger touch when ready for opening.

Prevention of Attacks.—­By taking care a good many attacks of tonsilitis can be avoided.  A person subject to this trouble must be careful about taking cold.  He should not sit down with wet clothes, or feet, or shoes that are wet.  Girls should wear rubbers and keep dry feet and skirts.  Sleeping in damp unused beds is bad.  Putting on underwear that has not been dried thoroughly and aired, and the use of bedding, pillows, etc., in the same condition should not be tolerated.  Sleeping on the first floor is generally unhealthy for such persons, for it is generally damp.

[192 Mothers’ remedies]

Do not get chilled; wear sufficient clothing.  Drying clothes in a kitchen is an abomination and terrible to one subject to this disease or rheumatism.  You can keep from having it so often by proper care.  It is likely to return, and repeated attacks will cause permanently enlarged tonsils and they will become so diseased that they, will not only be annoying, but dangerous to health and life.  You will go around with your mouth open, “talk through your nose.”  The tonsil must then be removed, also the adenoids in the throat, to enjoy proper mental and physical health.  Enlarged tonsils with pus in them are a menace to anyone.  A person who has had these troubles should be careful not to expose himself to the danger of taking cold after an attack.

The parts are still tender and in danger of a return upon the least error in your daily life.  I once had a friend who had a return of tonsilitis brought on through going out too soon, and the second attack was worse than the first, a genuine “hummer.”

What to do with enlarged tonsils.—­Moderate enlargement of the tonsils giving rise to no symptoms or inconvenience need not be interfered with.  When, however, the enlargement is great, or when with moderate sized tonsils there are resulting troubles, such as liability to inflammatory rheumatism attacks, active local treatment will be called for; especially is this true when the tonsils contain pus and interfere with the breathing.  They should be removed.  An anaesthetic is not usually necessary, as the pain is not severe.