Herb-Robert (Geranium Robertianum) is a common British annual or biennialherb of the Geranium family with an unpleasant scent and thin, reddish glandular stems that branch stiffly. The leaves are alternate, long-stemmed and are palmately divided into between three and five lobes, which are in turn divided twice over. The flowers are reddish-violet in colour, long-stalked and usually grow in pairs. It is astringent, diuretic and aromatic and is used in medicine externally to treat skin disorders and septic cuts, and internally for diarrhoea, kidney and bladder disorders. Research Herb-Robert
The development of bed sores in a patient in hospital, is usually considered to indicate bad nursing. Bed sores occur from interruption of the nutrition of areas of skin where the blood supply has been impaired by pressure. Bed sores are almost inevitable in some patients. The very thin, the very heavy, the incantinent and those who through some injury to the spine have lost the sensation of the skin at these points are most likely to develop pressure sores. Common sites for bed sores are the sacral area and the heels. In patients with septic conditions, nutrition is impaired by prolonged fever and there is frequently anaemia. Their toxic condition renders them less likely to move about and the greatest care needs to be taken to prevent the development of these pressure ulcers. Frequent change of position and massage of pressure points with spirit followed by powder is the best method of prevention. Early post-operative mobilisation of all patients who are fit to get up has done much to prevent this distressing complaint.
In unconscious patients or those who have had some injury to the spinal cord, a large pressure sore can develop as soon as twelve hours after the injury or onset of the illness. A bed sore on the sacral area may even develop from the patient's position on the operating table during a long operation. Although pressure sores rarely develop over the scapulae or the elbows, these points are subject to soreness and require similar preventive treatment when a patient is washed. An ulcer may develop on the shin from the weight of the other leg, if the legs of an unconscious patient are left crossed. Research Bed Sores
Meningitis is an inflammation of the membrane, known as the pia mater, which covers the outer surface of the brain and spinal cord. There are several distinct types of this disease, which is caused by the entrance of germs into the membrane. The commonest of these types are as follows: 1. Cerebrospinal Fever ('Spotted Fever') caused by the Meningococcus. 2. Septic meningitis, due to invasion by the Staphylococcus and Streptococcus. 3. Tuberculous meningitis, resulting from invasion by the Tubercle Bacillus. 4. Syphilitic meningitis, caused by the Spirochaete of Syphilis. In a rigid cavity like the skull there is very little room for the accommodation of the products of inflammation, which therefore give rise to pressure on the surface of the brain and to irritation of its surface. Meningitis is a very dangerous disease, and unless treated very early it is often fatal. Research Meningitis
Septic is a term describing tissue in a state of sepsis. Usually the term is applied to cuts and wounds in an animal which have become infected. Research Septic
Septic meningitis is usually due to extension of infection to the pia mater from adjacent structures. Thus, it arises commonly from chronic infection of the middle ear, infection of the scalp, fractured skull, and bullet wounds of the head, which are common in war-time. At the time of injury the patient may merely feel upset, but deeper trouble may be taking place inside the skull. For this reason all injuries to the head, even though they may appear to be trivial, should be carefully watched. Moreover, in all cases where meningitis is suspected the ear drum should be examined. As in all forms of acutemeningitis, there is headache, vomiting and drowsiness, accompanied by high fever with rigors (attacks of shivering as the temperature rises). Later there is restlessness with delirium, and a painful stiff neck so that the head is drawn backwards. Research Septic Meningitis
In architecture, an absorption bed is a large pit, filled with loose, coarse stones, and a distribution system of pipes, and used to absorb the effluent contents from a septictank. Research Absorption Bed
Abbreviations
Research Herb-Robert
