The housekeeper's companion

If stomach-ache does come, in spite of all reasonable precautions, then, if you have no doctor at hand, or in case you don't, in your wisdom, think fit to call one in, or in case you cannot pay him if you do — Then, faute de mieux, give from a quarter of an ounce of tincture of rhubarb to half an ounce, according to age and strength, with from two to four drops of laudanum, and four or five drops of essence of ginger in about a wineglass or a little more of water. A little sugar and grated nutmeg in it will do no harm, and make it more palatable. Cut him, or her, as the case may be, a bit of thin fresh lemonpeel, and give it to set the little teeth into as soon as the succus amarus is swallowed, to take the taste away; or, if you cannot get this, then a thin slice of a ripe apple, or a small suck at an orange. A child won't take medicine any the better another time, for having had the nasty taste in its mouth for minutes after it has swallowed its first dose. Put the child to bed, warm and comfortable; and, if the pain continues, repeat the dose, and apply warm fomentations, flannels wrung out in hot water, with a few drops of spirits of turpentine sprinkled on them to the pit of the stomach. Better still, if you are near and have access to a hospital dispensary; or, failing that, to a good chemist's, then have the following recipe made up, and give it: Ten grains of carbonate of magnesia; lo grains of aromatic powdered chalk; 15 to 20 drops of the tincture of rhubarb; i ounce of peppermint water. Repeat the dose in half an hour if the pain be not quieted. This will suit a child of eight or ten years of age. For pain in the stomach in infants, try, before you give Dill or any other medicine, gentle pressure with the palm of the warm hand on the abdomen, quietly and steadily applied. The pain, probably owing to wind only, will pass away. N. B. — Have woolen clothing (as soft flannel) worn next the skin. Whole-meal bread, but not bran bread for little children, and fine oatmeal only should be used. Avoid newlybaked bread too. Second day bread is the best, well-fired, and not raw and doughy. If pain be aggravated by pressure and rubbing, the stomachache may be more serious, and advice should be sought. Warm light poultices and one dose only of castor-oil. The directions for the use of laudanum must be regulated according to the age of the child; viz., one drop for every year of its age. For adults, the castor oil and peppermint draught should be advised too. 2. In an Adult. — Act much m the same manner as with this complaint in a child, if you have nothing better within reach than tincture of rhubarb; only, of course, use a stronger dose, say from half an ounce to an ounce of the tincture, and from five to ten drops of laudanum. In case you can get it made up, probably no better prescription can be given than that which bears in Hospital Pharmacopoeias the barbarous Latin name of Haustus carminativus, the draught, that is, that acts like a charm, viz: Five grains of rhubarb powder, with the same quantity of powdered ginger; lo grains of bicarbonate of soda; 20 drops of the aromatic spirits of ammonia, and i ounce of cinnamon water; or, if you cannot get that, plain water will do.