Family Medicine Chest

Here is a list of useful medicines and dressings with a description of their uses. All are quite cheap and worth stocking at home in readiness for minor illnesses.

Keep them in a box or cupboard with a lock - or store them well out of the reach of children.

Soluble Aspirin Tablets

Good for headaches, colds, sore throats (gargle with the solution), and pains in general. Aspirin should NOT be given to children under 16.

Paracetamol Mixture

For relief of pain or fever in young children.

Sedative Cough Linctus

For dry or painful coughs - but not coughs caused by common colds.

Menthol Crystals

Add to hot water to make steam inhalations for treating catarrh and dry or painful coughs.

Vapour Rub

Again, for steam inhalations. Also useful for children with stuffy noses or dry coughs. Rub on the chest and nose.

Ephedrine Nose Drops

For runny noses in children over one year old. Use before meals and at night but not for more than four days.

Antiseptic Solution

One teaspoon diluted in warm water for cleaning cuts and grazes.

Antiseptic Cream

For treating septic spots, sores in the nose and grazes.

Calamine Lotion

For dabbing (not rubbing) on insect bites, stings and sunburn.

Dressing Strips

For minor cuts.

3" Wide Crepe Bandage

To keep dressings in place. To support sprained or bruised joints.

Cotton Wool

For cleaning cuts and grazes.

Thermometer

For fevers.

Tweezers

For removing splinters.