How to Stop a Case of Hiccups
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Part of The Young Citizen: The Magazine for Young People
- Title
- How to Stop a Case of Hiccups
- Year
- 1940
- Rights
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- Fulltext
- 388 THE YOUNG ClTIZEN October, 1940 HEALTH AND SAFETY SECTION HOW TO STOP A CASE OF HICCUPS ONE of the earliest annoyances of man is hiccups. Infants are subject to hiccups· befor,e they are born, but this style of hiccups is of little concern to anybody. Hiccups becomes personally annoying after birth. Hiccups (spell it hiccough if you wish, but pronounce it hiccup just the same) is defined by· the doctor as "a spasmodic inspiration with closure of the glottis." It is easier just to think of hiccups as practically the opposite of the act of coughing. The muscle in charge is the diaphragm, which is the large muscle below the heart and lungs, and above the ~bdominal organs. When the diaphragm contracts . spasmodically-that is, in a jerky way-air is taken into the body through a constricted (tightened, cramped, or squeezed) opening, and you have hiccups and make the usual sound characteristic of that annoyance. As far as doctors have been able to discover, hiccups is completely useless. Sometimes it lasts a week or longer and causes serious exhaustion. The ordinary hiccups, however, which most of us have occasionally, is usually caused by some slight irritation of the abdominal organs. The diaphragm may be irritated. by hot food ·or drink. A stomach distended by food or gas may press against the diaphragm and cause it to kick back with hiccups. Alcoholic drinks are irritating, and often cause hiccups. There are a number of simple ways of controlling or stopping a case of hiccups. (Pleau turn to page 397.) SAFETY FIRST By MRS. PAZ]. EUGENIO* COMPLETE each of the following numbered sentences by choosing the best of the.three given reasons. I. We practice fire drills at school---. (a) to train pupils in marching (b) so that pupils will know how to act during a fire ( c) to train pupils in going in and out of the rooms 2. Movie theaters arn provided with exits---. (a) for decorative purposes 0 (b) providing fresh air to theater patrons · ( c) so that people can pass out promptly in case of fire 3. Automobiles have horns in order--. (a) . to frighten people (b) to make a noise in the street ( c) to warn people of their approach 4. Dogs should wear muzzles---. (a) so that they will not bite passers-by (b) so that they will not be caught by the police ( c) so that owners can identify them 5. A person should not take a lighted candle inside of a mosquito net because---. (a) it might set fire to the house (b) it might make the air too warm ( c) it might waken the children who are sleeping *Teacher, Cecilio Apostol Elementary School, Manila. October, 194() CHOPIN (Continu'tl j,.Om 1agt 383) polka. The music of the mnzurka it not as ceremonious as· that of the pofotwise. More ·than fi'fty mmzurkt1S, · .1111 . .iii concert form, were wriit~n by this romposer. A btillade, when written as an instrumental tompo· sition, is a sort of narrative -that is, it tells a story by ·means of mµsic. Chopin wrote four of these. One of them, which you must hear either by piano or phonograph when you have an opportunity, is his Bt1lfode in G 111i11or. In this bt1lftide Chopin tells in music ~ heroic legend' of the l\tiddle Ai;es in Poland. The hero of this lei;end is a man named Wallcnrod. The story is told in epic (narra· tive) poetry, and Chopin gives us the same s~ory by means of music. If you learn the ·theme of the poem, the music will be wonderfully clear ·when you hear it. The voice of a l'olish bard (poet} urging the muse of Polish liberty· is heard throughout the h111lt1de. If you hear this music· on a piano or a phonograph, try to idcritify t:1c theme whirh rcprcsc1its the voice of the bard. Another wc11 known com· positinn l:y Chopin is rnllcd the J/ i1111te T1't1llz, but the THE YOUNG CITIZEN French people ca11 this la vt1lse d11 le petit chien, that is, "the walfz of the little dog." An.:ording to a story, this music was suggested to Chopin by the antics of a little dog at play. An artist has sketched an imaginary picture of this scene; this sketch is reproduced on page 383. You will surely want to hear the "little dog waltz." Chopin was a true poet, although he uses the piano instead of words for his medium of expression, and to him is rightfully given the immortal title, "l~oct of the Piano.'' REVlEW I. Spell and pronounce the name of Chopin (pro· nounccd shr;'1.c-pan). 2. Where and 'when was Chopin born? Died when? 3. Tell of Chopin's life. +. Name three different kinds of musical compositions which Chopin wrote. 5. What name has ·been given to Chopin? MY FAITHFUL DOG (C1111Ji1111ed f,.0111 flt1f1e 379) 397 HOW TO STOP Hl~CUPS (Canti11ued from page 388) It is well for everybody to know at least several of these. Co11gh or sneeze. This is the opposite of the hii:cups n1echanism, and will often stop it. Sugar on the tongue_ Put a small amount· of sugar on the tip of a spoon and deposit it as far back on the tongue as you can. Then swallow. The·dry su"gar requires some effort to get down and · the muscles br01.1ght into play quiet the spasm of hiccups. Salt, ·vinegar, ice, and cold u:aler. . These are ef. fective in much the same way as sugar. Pull .;trongly on the long11f. When more effective measures are needed in a persistent l.'.ase of hil:cups, try this, It 1s effective. ·Apply pres.mre to .the bt1c:k of the 11<'ck. This may be effective, because that is where the nerve controlling hiccups ·is located. Na11un (desire to vomit) mused by tickling the.back of the throat, usually gets results in stubborn cases. When none of theoe remI am sure that if it had .edies is effective, and it not been for the help of my has continued for several faithful dog, I would have hours, call a doctor. He may drowned. I rewarded him wash out your stomach and with more· affection than give sedatives (sleep-pro·t•ver and kinder treatment. ducing drugs).