Constipation. There is no more frequent source of bodily discomfort than constipation of the bowels. The principal causes are neglect of timely attendance upon the calls of nature, want of exercise, excess of mental strain, and all the causes of dyspepsia, of which it is an almost constant part. Fresh and stewed fruits are the best natural laxatives. Prunes are especially opening. The following prescriptions will be found quite useful. In mild forms: Take of rhubarb 304 The Family Doctor root and Castile soap each, half a drachm; oil of anise, four drops; mix, and divide into twenty pills. Take one or two as required. Or, take of rhubarb, Castile soap and compound extract of colocynth, each half a drachm; mix and divide into twenty pills. Take one or two as required. In obstinate constipation, take of rhubarb two scruples, aloes, one scruple, extract of nux vomica, four grains; mix, and divide into twenty pills. Take one as needed. Habitual constipation occasions great distress, and produces grave morbid changes in the organs of assimilation, lungs, heart and nerves. Take of rhubarb and aloes each, one-half drachm ; extract of belladonna, three grains; oil of cloves, three drops; mix, and make twenty pills. Take one twice daily. Or, take of aloes and sulphate of iron, of each, one scruple; make twenty pills, and take one twice a day. Cascara Sagrada lozenges, two at bedtime, are also most effectual. Or, take of Epsom salt, four ounces, dilute sulphuric acid, four drachms, sulphate of iron, sixty grains, water, two pints; mix, and take a tablespoonful before breakfast. A most useful prescription for women habitually constipated. Oxgall sometimes is invaluable, as follows: Oxgall, thirty grains, willow charcoal, pulverized, sixty grains, solid extract nux vomica, five grains; mix, make thirty-six pills. One at bedtime. But better than to take medicines every day or two will be the use of an injection of warm water, white soap, salt and molasses; sweet or castor oil, or glycerine may be added. A suppository of soap is less disagreeable to some persons, and will generally act well. It is made by cutting a piece of good yellow soap to the shape, and rather less than the size of the last joint of the little finger. Dip it in castor oil, or olive oil, or lard, and introduce it within the rectum. But after all, rational attention should be paid to diet, exercise, bathing, massage, accompanied by regularity in going to stool to solicit movements. The Family Doctor 305 Consumption. Consumption may begin after a severe acute bronchitis or broncho-pneumonia, or more gradually, with an apparently slight hacking cough, or with a hemorrhage, or with dyspepsia and general debility. In- creasing, in most cases slowly, the pectoral and constitu- tional disorder becomes developed. We have, then, pains in the chest, frequent and severe cough, hemorrhage occasionally, and pallor, hectic fever with bright flush of cheek, emaciation, arrest of menstruation in the female, night sweats and diarrhoea, lastly death, mostly by ex- haustion, but sometimes by suffocation. The spirits of the patients are apt to be cheerful, even hopeful of life almost to the last.

AI-modernized reading of the original text

Constipation. There is no more frequent source of bodily discomfort than constipation of the bowels. The principal causes are neglect of timely attendance upon the calls of nature, want of exercise, excess of mental strain, and all the causes of dyspepsia, of which it is an almost constant part. Fresh and stewed fruits are the best natural laxatives. Prunes are especially opening. The following prescriptions will be found quite useful. In mild forms: Take of rhubarb 304 The Family Doctor root and Castile soap each, half a drachm; oil of anise, four drops; mix, and divide into twenty pills. Take one or two as required. Or, take of rhubarb, Castile soap and compound extract of colocynth, each half a drachm; mix and divide into twenty pills. Take one or two as required. In obstinate constipation, take of rhubarb two scruples, aloes, one scruple, extract of nux vomica, four grains; mix, and divide into twenty pills. Take one as needed. Habitual constipation occasions great distress, and produces grave morbid changes in the organs of assimilation, lungs, heart and nerves. Take of rhubarb and aloes each, one-half drachm ; extract of belladonna, three grains; oil of cloves, three drops; mix, and make twenty pills. Take one twice daily. Or, take of aloes and sulphate of iron, of each, one scruple; make twenty pills, and take one twice a day. Cascara Sagrada lozenges, two at bedtime, are also most effectual. Or, take of Epsom salt, four ounces, dilute sulphuric acid, four drachms, sulphate of iron, sixty grains, water, two pints; mix, and take a tablespoonful before breakfast. A most useful prescription for women habitually constipated. Oxgall sometimes is invaluable, as follows: Oxgall, thirty grains, willow charcoal, pulverized, sixty grains, solid extract nux vomica, five grains; mix, make thirty-six pills. One at bedtime. But better than to take medicines every day or two will be the use of an injection of warm water, white soap, salt and molasses; sweet or castor oil, or glycerine may be added. A suppository of soap is less disagreeable to some persons, and will generally act well. It is made by cutting a piece of good yellow soap to the shape, and rather less than the size of the last joint of the little finger. Dip it in castor oil, or olive oil, or lard, and introduce it within the rectum. But after all, rational attention should be paid to diet, exercise, bathing, massage, accompanied by regularity in going to stool to solicit movements. The Family Doctor 305 Consumption. Consumption may begin after a severe acute bronchitis or broncho-pneumonia, or more gradually, with an apparently slight hacking cough, or with a hemorrhage, or with dyspepsia and general debility. Increasing, in most cases slowly, the pectoral and constitutional disorder becomes developed. We have, then, pains in the chest, frequent and severe cough, hemorrhage occasionally, and pallor, hectic fever with bright flush of cheek, emaciation, arrest of menstruation in the female, night sweats and diarrhoea, lastly death, mostly by exhaustion, but sometimes by suffocation. The spirits of the patients are apt to be cheerful, even hopeful of life almost to the last.

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