Part 17
Caution.--Keep the bowels regular, especially if you have ever had appendicitis before, also be careful of your eating. This disease will attack high livers, hearty eaters and those with constipated bowels more quickly than others.
INFLAMMATION OF THE BOWELS. Mothers' Remedies.--1.--Inflammation of the Bowels, Excellent Remedy for.--"First bathe the abdomen with warm salt water, then lay over the navel a piece of lard the size of black walnut. Hold the hand over this until it softens; then rub well into the bowels. This often relieves when pills and powders fail." The massaging brings about action of the bowels without a cathartic usually. Sweet oil or olive oil instead of lard, will do as well.
2. Inflammation of the Bowels, Red Beet Poultice for.--"Take red beets; chop up, put in bag, warm a little and put across the stomach. This will draw out the inflammation quickly and makes a very good poultice."
3. Inflammation of the Bowels, Hop Poultice for.--"Take hops, strain them and put in a sack. Lay across the stomach and bowels."
4. Inflammation of the Bowels, Griddle Cake Poultice for.--"Apply hot griddle cakes on bowels. This acts as a poultice, and should be replaced as soon as cold." This remedy saved my life when I was seventeen years of age. Am now fifty. This remedy will be found very good, but care should be taken not to burn the patient.
5. Cold or Pain in the Bowels, Spice Poultice for Child or Adult.--"Take a cloth sack large enough to cover abdomen; take all kinds of ground spices, put in the bag and tie up, sprinkle bag lightly with alcohol, just enough to dampen spices; lay this on abdomen." This serves as a poultice and is an excellent remedy for this trouble. This may be used for a child as well as an adult.
6. Inflammation of the Bowels, Simple Remedy Always at Hand for.--"Apply hot woolen cloths to abdomen as hot as can be wrung out, change every few minutes. My life was saved twice when I was several hundred miles from a doctor by this treatment." This simple but never failing remedy is easily prepared and, as we all know, heat is the most essential thing for this trouble, especially moist heat.
7. Inflammation of the Bowels, a Rather Unique Remedy for.--"Cut the head off of a hen, cut open down the breast, take out the inwards, pound flat and roll with rolling pin and apply to the bowels. This will draw out all inflammation, but must be done in as little time as possible." The above remedy can do no harm. Many people use it. Perhaps other poultices would be easier to prepare, just as effective and save the hen.
8. Inflammation of the Bowels, Marshmallow Leaves, a Canadian Remedy for.--"Green marshmallow leaves (dry will do). Wet flannel and apply hot." Make a strong tea of the marshmallow leaves and while hot dip flannels and apply to abdomen.
[DIGESTIVE ORGANS 119]
9. Inflammation of the Bowels, Syrup of Rhubarb for.--"Add to three pints of simple syrup one and three-fourths ounces of crushed rhubarb, one-fourth ounce each of crushed cloves and cinnamon, one dram of bruised nutmeg, one pint of diluted alcohol, evaporate liquid by a gentle heat to one-half pint. Excellent in bowel complaint in one-half dram (one-half teaspoonful) doses every hour until it operates." The rhubarb moves the bowels and casts out all irritating matter. The oil of cloves stimulates the membranes of the bowels and the cinnamon and nutmeg are astringents.
MOTHERS' REMEDIES for Toothache, Dry Salt and Alum for.--1. "Equal parts. Take common salt and alum. Mix and pulverize these together, wet a small piece of cotton and cause the mixture to adhere to it and place in the hollow tooth. At first a sensation of coldness will be produced, which will gradually disappear, as will the toothache. This is an excellent remedy and should be given a trial by any person suffering with this trouble."
2. Toothache, Oil of Cloves Quick Relief for.--"If the tooth has a cavity take a small piece of cotton and saturate with oil of cloves and place in tooth, or you may rub the gum with oil of sassafras." These are both good remedies, and will often give relief almost instantly.
3. Toothache, Home-Made Poultice for.--"Make a poultice of a slice of toast, saturate in alcohol and sprinkle with pepper and apply externally. This will give almost instant relief."
4. Toothache, Clove Oil and Chloroform for.--"Clove oil and chloroform, each one teaspoonful. Saturate cotton and apply locally."
5. Toothache, Sure Cure for.--
"Peppermint water 1/2 ounce Nitre 1/4 ounce Chloroform 1 dram Ether 1 dram Oil of mustard 10 drops
Remark: This remedy will give relief where all others fail. Not only for toothache, but for neuralgia pains in any part of the body, apply with cloth moistened and lay on the parts affected. Continue until relieved."
6. Toothache, Salt and Alum Water for.--"Fill a bottle of any size half full of equal parts of pulverized alum and salt, then fill up the bottle with sweet spirits of nitre. Shake and apply it to the tooth and gums. Apply it freely, as there is nothing to hurt or injure you."
7. Toothache, Oil of Cinnamon for.--"A drop of oil of cinnamon will frequently relieve very serious cases of toothache. Apply to the tooth with a little cotton. This will at least give temporary relief until you can see your dentist and have the tooth treated."
8. Toothache, Reliable Remedy for.--"Chloroform, clove oil, alcohol, one half ounce of each. Mix together and saturate a piece of cotton and place it in the tooth. This is sure to give relief."
[120 MOTHERS' REMEDIES]
9. Toothache, From Decayed Teeth.--"If the tooth is decayed take a small piece of raw cotton, saturate with chloroform and place in cavity."
MOTHERS' TOOTH POWDERS.--1. "The ashes of burnt branches of the common grape vine make a very superior tooth powder. It will clean the blackest of teeth, if continued for a few mornings, to that of pure white."
2. Tooth Powder.--"Precipitated chalk four ounces, powdered orris root eight ounces, powdered camphor one ounce; reduce camphor to fine powder moistening with very little alcohol, add other ingredients. Mix thoroughly and sift through fine bolting cloth." Have used this with great success.
3. Tooth Powder.--"All tooth powders, or anything that has a grit will, with the friction of the brush, scour loose from the enamel of the teeth; and this is far superior to any of them in every respect.
Soap tree bark 1 pound Turpentine 2 ounces Powdered orris root 2 ounces Alkanet root 1/2 ounce
Diluted alcohol, half water, sufficient to make the whole into one gallon. Let it stand in an earthen jar to macerate for fourteen days; stir occasionally, then strain and filter through filtering paper. The alcohol will have no injurious effect. This is an excellent tooth remedy."
4.--Tooth Wash.--"One teaspoonful of boracic acid in a pint of boiling water.
Tincture Myrrh 1/2 teaspoonful Spirits of Camphor 1/2 teaspoonful Essence of Peppermint 1/2 teaspoonful
Use in the water in which you brush your teeth. Let boracic acid water cool, then add last three ingredients."
5. Tooth Powder.--"Precipitated chalk four ounces, pulverized sugar two ounces, powdered myrrh one ounce, pulverized orris root one ounce. Mix and sift through fine bolting cloth. This is fine."
6. Tooth Powder, Commonly Used.--
"Precipitated Chalk 12 drams Rose Pink 2 drams Carbonate of Magnesia 1 dram Oil of Rose 5 drops
Mix all well together and after using it you will find the following mouth-wash fine for rinsing out the mouth."
Antiseptic Mouth Wash.--
"Boric Acid 10 grains Resorcin 4 grains Salol 2 grains Thymol 1/2 dram Glycerin 1/2 dram Pure water 1 ounce
This sweetens and cleanses the mouth."
[DIGESTIVE ORGANS 121]
7. Tooth Powder, Simple and Unsurpassed.--
Cream of Tartar, powdered 3 ounces Cochineal 1 dram Alum, powdered 4 drams Myrrh 1 dram Cinnamon 1 ounce Sugar 1 ounce
Mix and pass through a sieve. This is a preparation that has no superior for cleaning, preserving and whitening the teeth.
PHYSICIANS' TREATMENT for Toothache.--1. Chloretone dissolved in oil of cloves and applied on a cotton wad is very good for toothache.
2. Creosote.--Put on a piece of cotton and put this in the hollow tooth.
3. Toothache in an ulcerated or hollow tooth, caused from wet feet, etc. Take a hot foot bath and drink a hot lemonade, hot ginger, or hot pennyroyal tea, and go to bed and take a good sweat. Aching tooth needs the care of a dentist. It pays to retain your natural teeth in good shape.
INTESTINAL OBSTRUCTION.--Causes.--This may be caused by strangulation, telescope (intussusception) of the bowels, twists and knots, strictures and tumors, abnormal contents.
1. Strangulation is the most frequent cause; this is caused by adhesions and bands from former peritonitis, or following operations. The strangulation may be recent and due to adhesion of the bowels to the abdominal cut or wound, or a coil of the bowel may be caught between the pedicle of a tumor and the wall of the pelvis. These cases are rather common after some operations.
2. Intussusception.--This means that one portion of the bowel slips into an adjacent portion. These two portions make a cylindrical lump varying in length from one-half inch to a foot or more. Irregular worm-like motion of the bowel is a cause of intussusception.
3. Twists and knots.--Most frequent between thirty and forty. (There is an unusually long mesentery.)
4. Strictures and tumors.--These are not very important causes.
5. Abnormal contents.--Fruit stones, coins, pins, needles, false teeth, round worms rolled in a mass. Coins rarely cause inconvenience.
[122 MOTHERS' REMEDIES]
Symptoms of Acute Obstruction.--Constipation, pain in the bowels, and vomiting are the three most important symptoms. Pain sets in early, and may come on abruptly when walking or more commonly when working. It is at first colicky, but soon becomes continuous and very intense, vomiting soon follows and is constant and very distressing. First the stomach contents are vomited, and the greenish bile-stained material, and soon the material vomited is a brownish-black liquid, with a bowel odor. This peculiar vomiting is a very characteristic symptom. Constipation may be absolute, without the discharge of either feces or gas. Very often the contents of the bowel below the obstruction are discharged. The abdomen is usually distended and when the large bowel is involved this is extreme. If it is high up in the small intestine, it may be very slight. At first, the abdomen is not tender, but later it becomes very sensitive and tender. The face is pale and anxious and finally collapse symptoms intervene. The eyes are sunken, the features look pinched and a cold, clammy sweat covers the skin. The pulse becomes rapid and weak. There may be no fever, and it may go below normal. The tongue is dry, parched, and the thirst is incessant.
Recovery.--The case terminates as a rule in death in three to six days, if aid is not given.
Treatment.--Purgatives should not be given. For the pain, hypodermics of morphine are needed. Wash out the stomach for distressing vomiting. This can be done three to four times a day. Thorough washing out of the large bowel with injections should be practised, the warm water being allowed to flow in from a fountain syringe and the amount carefully estimated. Hutchinson recommends that the patient be placed under an anesthetic, the abdomen kneaded, and a copious enema given with the hips placed high or patient in inverted position. Then the patient should be thoroughly shaken, first with the abdomen held downward and subsequently in the inverted position. If this and similar measures do not succeed by the third day surgical measures must be resorted to.
For bloating, turpentine cloths should be used, and other hot, moist applications.
Diet.--Should be very light, if any, for a day or so.
RUPTURE (Hernia).--Hernia means a protrusion of an organ from its natural cavity, through normal or artificial openings in the surrounding structures. But by the term hernia, used alone, we mean the protrusion of a portion of the abdominal contents through the walls, and that is known by the popular term of "rupture."
[DIGESTIVE ORGANS 123]
The most common forms of rupture protrude through one of the natural openings or weak spots in the abdominal walls, as for instance, the inguinal (groin) and femoral canals. The femoral canal is located at the upper and inner part of the thigh, and this place is a seat of rupture, especially in women. Rupture may also occur at the navel, when it is called umbilical hernia or rupture. The contents of a hernia are bowel and omentum (a covering of the bowel) separately or together. The bowel involved in a rupture is usually the lower portion of the small bowel, but the large bowel is sometimes affected. A sac covers the bowel or omentum in a rupture. This sac consists of the protruded portion of peritoneum, which has been gradually pushed through one of the canals (inguinal or femoral) or of the process of peritoneum, which has been carried down by the testicle in its descent, and the connection of which with the peritoneum of the abdomen still continues, not having been obliterated, as it usually is before birth. The former is called an acquired rupture sac; the latter is a congenital rupture sac, and it is found only in groin (inguinal rupture).
Causes.--Rupture is more common in men than in women. It may occur at any time of life. The majority of cases occur before middle age, and the largest number during the first ten years of life, owing to the want of closure of the peritoneum which is carried down by the testicles before birth. Rupture is most frequently strangulated between the ages of forty and fifty.
Location.--The great majority of cases of rupture are groin or inguinal rupture.
Symptoms.--A fullness or a swelling is first noticed in the groin, which is made worse in standing, coughing and lifting. This disappears on lying down and reappears on rising in many cases, even at first; coughing makes the lump or swelling harder. It may come on both sides, when it is called double rupture or hernia.
MOTHERS' REMEDIES.--Rupture, Poultice for.--"Take equal parts of lobelia and stramonium leaves; make a poultice and apply to the parts. Renew as often as necessary. This combination makes a very effective poultice and is sure to give relief."
PHYSICIANS' TREATMENT.--A person should wear a truss (support) that fits perfectly, and this should not cause any pain or discomfort. The truss should be worn all day, taken off at night after going to bed and put on before rising, when still lying down. If it is put on after rising a little of the gut may be in the canal and pressed down by the support. There are many kinds of supports.
Operations now performed for rupture are very successful if the patient takes good care for months afterwards until the parts are thoroughly healed. The operation simply closes a too large opening. The testicles descending through the groin canal from the abdominal cavity before birth and in congenital rupture, left too big an opening. In acquired rupture, these natural openings were enlarged by lifting, falls, etc. The round ligament of the womb goes down through this canal and sometimes there is too large an opening left or acquired by accident.
Irreducible Rupture.--This is when the rupture cannot be returned into the abdominal cavity, and it is without any symptoms of strangulation. They are of long standing and of a large size. This condition is often due to carelessness of a patient in not keeping in a reducible rupture with a proper support. Adhesions form, holding the rupture. Even if it is small, it gives rise to much discomfort and the patient is always in danger of strangulation of the rupture.
Operation for radical cure is generally a success.
[124 MOTHERS' REMEDIES]
Strangulation Hernia or Rupture.--This means the rupture is so tightly constricted that it cannot be returned into the abdominal cavity, and its circulation is interfered with; then there is not only obstruction to the passage of the feces, but also an arrest of circulation in the protruded portion of bowel which, if not relieved, results in gangrene and death. This occurs more often in old than in recent ruptures and more often in congenital than in acquired rupture.
Symptoms.--Sudden and complete constipation with persistent vomiting. The lump may be tense, hard and irreducible. Then there is faintness, collapse; severe abdominal pain, complete constipation, with no gas passing, then vomiting, at first of food, then of the bile-stained fluid and finally of fluid with a bowel odor. All these symptoms increase and the patient gradually sinks from exhaustion in eight or nine days, though in very acute cases the patient may die within forty-eight hours.
MOTHERS' REMEDIES.--Strangulated Hernia, Hop Poultice for.--"A large warm poultice of hops over the abdomen will be found one of the best known means of relieving strangulated hernia."
PHYSICIANS' TREATMENT.--It must be reduced or an operation must be performed and soon.
To reduce.--The patient is put under an anesthetic and placed on his back with the hips (pelvis) raised and the thigh of the affected side flexed, bent up and rotated inward if the rupture be inguinal or femoral. This motion relaxes the parts. The neck of the sac is then seized with the thumb and fingers of one hand, and thus fixed, while with the other hand, the operator endeavors to return the strangulated gut by gentle pressure in the proper direction. In femoral rupture, this is at first downward, to bring the gut opposite the opening then backward and then upward. In groin (inguinal) rupture it is usually slightly upward and outward. It must be coaxed, kneaded and squeezed carefully. Care must be taken. If it cannot be returned in from five to ten minutes no further time should be wasted, but an operation should be performed immediately. This consists in cutting down to the constriction and through it, thus allowing the rupture to be reduced.
The patient should be kept in bed and treated the same way as for other abdominal operations.
Caution.--Persons with rupture must be very careful not to lift or fall. If a support is worn it must fit perfectly and be worn with comfort.
[DIGESTIVE ORGANS 125]
INTESTINAL COLIC. (Enteralgia).--Causes.--Predisposing; poor general condition, worry, over-work, nervous disposition. Exciting causes; exposure, gas in the bowels, mass of feces, undigested or irritating food, cold drinks, green fruit, ice cream when a person is very warm.
Symptoms.--Intermittent pain usually in the umbilical (navel) region, moving from place to place, dull or sharp pain, relieved by pressure or bending forward. Abdomen is distended or drawn back. It lasts a few minutes or many hours, ending gradually or suddenly, after a passage of gas or movement of the bowels.
PHYSICIANS' TREATMENT.--1. Remove cause first if possible. Mild cases; put heat to the abdomen by hot water bag, wring cloths out of hot water and put in them ten drops of turpentine and place over the bowels hot. Give dose of peppermint water or ginger tea.
2. Severe case.--Morphine hypodermically, if necessary, in a severe case; mustard poultice is good, also a spice poultice.
3. Tincture of Colocynth (bitter cucumber) is an excellent remedy for this trouble. I have often used it with great success. Put five drops of it in a glass half full of water and give two teaspoonfuls every fifteen minutes until relieved. A few doses generally relieve the patient.
THE LIVER.--The liver is the largest gland in the body, and is situated in the upper and right part of the abdominal cavity. The lower border of the liver corresponds to the lower border of the ribs in front and to the right side. It weighs fifty to sixty ounces in the male; in the female, forty to fifty ounces. It is about eight to nine inches in its transverse measurement; vertically near its right surface it is six to seven inches, while it is four to five inches thick at its thickest part. Opposite the backbone from behind forward it measures about three inches. The left lobe, the smallest and thinnest, extends to the left, over what is called the pit of the stomach.
BILIOUSNESS.--This condition presents different symptoms in different cases, but it always includes languor, headache or dizziness, perhaps some yellow color of the skin and conjunctiva, and a general sense of want of tone, depression of spirits and discomfort.
Causes.--The liver does not perform its function well, or there is a retention of bile in the bile ducts. Most of the symptoms do not depend directly upon the changes in the bile, but upon failure of proper digestion in the stomach and intestines. Certain poorly prepared foods or improper food for stomach digestion, quickly cause the development of active fermentation and its results irritate the stomach mucous membrane bringing about a faulty stomach secretion of mucus, which causes further trouble. It may end in a sick headache.
TREATMENT. Prevention.--Normal, easily digested food, open bowels. Active exercise, horseback riding, massage of the liver region. Stooping over and bending from side to side and bending back with feet close together are good aids.
[126 MOTHERS' REMEDIES]
Diet.--Do not over-eat. Avoid alcohol in any form. Stimulating foods such as spices, mustard salads, concentrated meat extracts and meat broths, pepper, horseradish are not to be used. Do not use too much salt; strong coffee and tea are harmful. In severe cases milk either diluted with water or lime water or peptonized should alone be used.
Gruels, albumen water, kumiss, buttermilk and oyster broth may be allowed. Orange juice as well as lemonade may generally be given. Fasting is good in biliousness. No one will starve in a few days of fasting.
MOTHERS' REMEDIES.--1. Biliousness, Lemons for.--"One lemon squeezed in a glass of water with a very little sugar, repeat for several days." Lemon is a very good medicine, and it is surprising to know how few people realize what medical properties the lemon contains. This is a good, simple, but very effective remedy.
2. Biliousness, Salt and Water for.--"Take a teaspoonful of salt to a cup of water and drink before breakfast for a few mornings." It is a well-known fact that a little salt in warm water before breakfast is laxative and also cleanses the system and bowels on account of its purifying action.
3. Biliousness, (chronic) Dandelion Tea for.--"Dandelion root is highly recommended for this." The root should be collected in July, August or September. Dose:--A strong tea may be taken freely two or three times a day, or the fluid extract may be purchased at any drug store.
4. Biliousness, a cheap and very safe plan.--"Drink plenty of cold water and exercise freely in the open air." Following the above advice is often better than medicines and spring tonics, also unless doing hard physical labor, cut down on the meat eating. In fact, eat less generally for a time.
5. Biliousness, Salt Lemonade for.--"Hot salt lemonade night and morning. Juice of one lemon and teaspoonful salt to as much hot water as you can drink."
6. Biliousness, Boneset Tea for.--"Pour hot water on boneset and let stand until it is cold. Take a swallow occasionally." This is very good.
PHYSICIANS' TREATMENT. Medicines.--1. Nitro-hydrochloric acid three drops three times a day in half a tumblerful of water is valuable.
2. Twenty drops of fluid extract of Queen's root three times a day.
[DIGESTIVE ORGANS 127]
3. The following combination forms a good pill to be taken every night:
Extract of Chirata 40 grains Podophyllin 4 grains Wahoo 8 grains Culver's root 8 grains Creosote 10 grains
Mix and make into twenty pills. Take one every night.