Abstract
In this study pneumographs of children with acute bronchitis treated with Vicks Vaporub®* or Petrolatum were used. Movement artifacts were used as a measure of the so-called “restlessness” of the children.
The experimental schedule consisted of a 10-minute phase of recording before a 3-minute treatment with Vaporub® or Petrolatum, followed by a 70-minute observation period, during which time pneumograms were also recorded.
Thirty-four Vaporub®-treated children showed an increase in periods without movement artifacts of up to 213.8%, the Petrolatum controls, twenty-six children, up to 62.4% as compared to the corresponding pre-treatment values. It is concluded that Vaporub® is effective in decreasing restlessness in children suffering from acute bronchitis. This effect is quite marked and cannot be due solely to psychological effects of the rub therapy, or to effects of petrolatum without aromatics.
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