Rhubarb, eight grains; Ipecacuanha, one grain; Dill-water, one ounce. As the tongue cleans, and the stools become more natural, a wine-glass, three times a day, of some bitter infusion, such as cascarilla, orangepeel, or gentian, may be taken with advantage. If the diarrhoea continues for any length of time, it is always wise to have the surface of the body kept warm with flannel, and this is best accomplished by a flannel roller bound gently round the abdomen. But in either form of this disease, whatever remedies are proposed, there is one mode of treatment applicable to both, and which is the most important of all - a proper system of diet. The food must be sparing in quantity, of the mildest quality, and such as to leave, after the process of digestion, as little excrementitious matter as possible. In a recent attack, the first day the patient should only take mild drinks, containing a smail quantity of unirritating nutriment; such as barleywater, or arrow-root made with water. During the next day or two the same diet must be continued; but may be given in larger quantity, and of greater strength. Tapioca, sago, and rice-gruel, might be added to the list. When the irritation is somewhat allayed, on the third or fourth day perhaps, broth may be taken; but no solid food of any kind, least of all solid animal food, until the disease is removed or greatly allayed. As soon as this is the case, a small quantity of the lightest animal food may be taken: chicken, with wellboiled rice, game, roast mutton and beef, may follow; but lamb and veal, for the future, should be avoided. It may be observed, that in some cases, where the diarrhoea has been of long standing, a drier diet is best, the liquid food appearing to keep up the disease. Rice well boiled, and merely moistened with a little broth, is the best and one of the most desirable articles of diet in such cases. SECT. V. - PALPITATION OF THE HEART. THIS is an affection so common and well known that it is unnecessary to describe it. If it occur for the first time during pregnancy, it is rarely connected with disease of the heart itself: it is therefore without danger, although a very distressing symptom. Occasionally there is connected with it throbbing of the vessels in the temples, as also in the abdomen; the latter not unfrequently mistaken by the patient for the pulsatory beatings of the heart itself. It will make its attack repeatedly in the course of a day, particularly after a meal; and very frequently at night, on first lying down in bed; and it may be brought on at any time by the slightest agitation of mind. Treatment for an attack. When it comes on it is to be relieved by putting the hands and arms up to the elbows in water, as warm as can be borne — friction with the warm hand applied to the feet - absolute rest—and taking the following draught: Compound spirits of ammonia, half a tea-spoonful; Camphor mixture, a wine-glass. It may be repeated again in an hour or so, if necessary. It will be well to keep a bottle of this mixture in the bed-room; a resource will always be then at hand, and the dread which attends anticipation in a great measure removed. This is the more necessary, as an attack, if it comes on in the night, is always very distressing. The patient awakes, perhaps out of a frightful dream, with a sense of fluttering in the region of the heart calls out for breath-begs to have the curtains of the bed withdrawn, the door of the room openedand will tell you she feels as if she was dying; wine, brandy, any stimulant that is at hand is resorted to, for the husband or friend of the patient is naturally much excited, and in his alarm scarcely knows how to act. Now there is no occasion for alarm; the sufferer must be assured of this; her mind must be soothed and quieted; the means just pointed out for the relief of a paroxysm must be used; the palpitation will after a little time cease, and the patient will drop off into a quiet and tranquil sleep. These attacks may be prevented by taking for ten days or a fortnight a tea-spoonful of the following electuary, three times a day: Carbonate of iron, one ounce and a half; The bowels must be carefully regulated; a wineglass of beaume de vie is the best aperient, provided there are no piles. Fatigue and all exertion must be avoided, and the mind kept perfectly tranquil. SECT. VI. — FAINTING FITS. FAINTING may occur at any period of pregnancy; but is most frequent during the first three months, and especially about the time of quickening. It may come on when the person is at perfect rest; but it is ordinarily produced by more than usual exertion exposure to heat or any sud den excitement of the mind. The paroxysm or fit is sometimes of short duration; and the individual does not lose her recollection; she has a knowledge of what is going on about her, and soon recovers; but in other instances the fainting fit is complete, and of long duration, continuing for an hour or upwards. The treatment during a fit. This consists in immediately placing the patient in the recumbent posture the use of pungent volatiles - sprinkling the face with cold water-free exposure to air, and the cautious administration of cordials. And if the fit continue long, the extremities must be kept warm, and the friction of a warm hand be applied to the feet. It is scarcely necessary to add, that those who are subject to these attacks ought to avoid fatigue -crowded or hot rooms-fasting too long, quick motion, and agitation of mind. The bowels must be strictly attended to; and a wine-glass of the infusion of calumba or cascarilla, taken every morning, will be useful in giving tone to the system. After a few weeks the disposition to fainting will altogether subside. SECT. VII. PILES. PREGNANT women are very subject to piles. Both with costiveness and diarrhoea they are a frequent attendant, but particularly with the former. They will usually disappear, if slight, as soon as the bowels are restored to healthy action; but they may not, and then will give rise to great suffering. |