Mother's Remedies by Thomas Jefferson Ritter (positive books to read txt) 📕

and among sailors on long voyages. It has become a very rare disease in the United States.

Predisposing Causes.—Overcrowding; dark unhealthy rooms; prolonged fatigue; mental depression.

Exciting Cause.—The lack of fresh vegetables, poisoning from slightly tainted food, or an infection. The gums are swollen, sometimes ulcerated, skin is spotted, bluish, etc,

[BLOOD AND DUCTLESS GLANDS 255]

Symptoms.—It comes on gradually (insidiously). There is loss of weight, progressively developing weakness and pallor, very soon the gums are swollen and look spongy and bleed easily. The teeth may become loose and fall out. The breath is very foul. The tongue is swollen, but it may be red and not coated. The skin becomes dry and rough and (ecchymoses) dark spots soon appear, first on the legs, and then on the arm and trunk and particularly about the hair follicles. These are spontaneous or follow a slight injury. In severe cases hemorrhages under the periosteum (the covering of the bones) may cause irregular swelling, especially in the legs, and these may break down and form ulcers. The slightest bruise or injury causes hemorrhages into the injured part. Extravasion under the skin, especially in the lower extremities may be followed by permanent hardness (induration) and stiffness due to connective tissue infiltration (scurvy sclerosis). There may be pains in the joints and often watery swelling (oedema) of the ankles. Bleeding from internal mucous membranes is less common than from the skin. The appetite is poor, palpitation of the heart and feebleness and irregularity of the pulse are prominent symptoms. Owing to the sore gums the patient is unable to chew the food. The urine often contains albumin and is scanty and concentrated. There are weariness, depression, headache and finally delirium or coma, or symptoms due to hemorrhages within the brain; or day and night blindness may be present.

Recovery.—The patient will recover if the cause can be removed, unless it is far advanced. Death may result from complications.

Treatment. Preventive.—Fresh or canned vegetables or fruit must be eaten.

Treatment for the attack.—Dr. Osler, of England, says: "I think the juice of two or three lemons daily and a diet of plenty of meat and fresh vegetables will cure all cases unless they are far advanced. For the stomach small quantities of scraped meat and milk should be given at short intervals, and the lemon juice in gradually increasing quantities. As the patient gains in strength you can give a more liberal diet, and he may eat freely of potatoes, cabbage, water cresses, and lettuce. A bitter tonic may be given. Permanganate of potash or dilute carbolic acid forms the best mouth-wash. Penciling the swollen gums with a tolerably strong solution of nitrate of silver is very useful. Relieve the constipation by enemas."

ADDISON'S DISEASE. Diseases of the Suprarenal (above Kidneys) Bodies.—A constitutional disease characterized by great weakness, stomach and bowel symptoms, heart weakness, and dark coloring of the skin.

Causes.—It usually occurs in men from twenty to forty years old. The skin and mucous membrane and sometimes the serous, like the pleura, etc., membranes are pigmented (darkened).

Symptoms.—There is a gradual onset of weakness, changeable symptoms in the stomach and bowels and darkening of the skin. There is great feeling of fatigue and feeble irregular action of the heart; nausea and vomiting and often absence of appetite and some diarrhea. The abdomen may be painful and drawn back in the course of the disease. The pigmentation (coloring of the skin) varies from the light yellow to dark brown, olive or black. It usually begins on the skin or regions naturally pigmented; or where pressure is exerted by the clothing. The mucous membranes are also pigmented. Death may occur from fainting, extreme weakness, convulsions or delirium or through tuberculosis. Usually death occurs within one year, though this may occur in a few weeks to two years, sometimes after intervals of improvement.

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Treatment.—This must be to meet the indications as they arise. It is a serious disease and should be under the supervision of a competent physician.

DISEASES OF THE SPLEEN. 1. Rupture of the spleen.—This may occur spontaneously from no apparent cause, or from hurts received in cases of typhoid or malaria.

Symptoms.—Severe pain, and signs of intestinal hemorrhages.

2. Acute inflammation of the spleen (splenitis).—This occurs in acute infections after injuries.

Symptoms.—They are pain, tenderness, and enlargement of the spleen.

Treatment.—Treat the cause and relieve the pain. As this is a serious and painful affection a physician should be called. The pain is often relieved by a mustard poultice or hot fomentations. The patient should remain in bed for acute inflammation of the spleen no matter what the cause.

3. Chronic Splenitis. Causes.—It comes from malaria, syphilis or leukaemia, etc.

Symptoms.—There is the feeling of weight and symptoms of pressure on the lungs or bowel.

Treatment.—Remove the cause. If it comes from malaria, attend to that, etc.

MOTHERS' REMEDIES. 1. Blood Purifier, Molasses and Sulphur as a.—"Take a pint of molasses to five cents' worth of sulphur, and mix well." A teaspoonful four times a day in the spring will do wonders towards purifying the blood.

2. Blood Purifier, Sassafras Tea, Known all over as.—"Sassafras tea made from the root and boiled to extract the strength." Drink freely of this for a few days in the spring. It thins the blood, and is a good tonic.

3. Blood Purifier, Herb Tea Used as.—

    Burdock Root 2 ounces
    Yellow Dock 2 ounces
    Slippery Elm Bark 1 ounce
    Mezeron Root 1 ounce
    Licorice Juice 1 ounce

Simmer gently in three pints of water down to one quart; when cold, strain and add one-fourth ounce of iodine potassium." A wineglassful may be taken three times a day. This preparation is a fine blood purifier and can be relied upon.

[BLOOD AND DUCTLESS GLANDS 257]

4. Blood Purifier, Sweet Fern for.—"Make a tea of this and drink freely. This is very good to take in the spring of the year, as it thoroughly cleanses the system."

5. Blood Purifier, Doctor Recommends Senna and Salts for:—"Five cents' worth of senna leaves, one tablespoonful of epsom salts in one quart of cold water; cover and let stand over night, then strain and put in bottles. Take a wine-glass full every morning until you feel well." This is from Mrs. Jonathan Shaw, she has used it with good results in her family. A physician in England told her if people would use this the year round they would seldom need a doctor.

6. Blood Purifier, Remedy Easy to Make for.—"We always use one teaspoonful of cream of tartar, two spoonfuls of sulphur, and mix with syrup. Any size spoon will do. Take a teaspoonful at a dose." This is an excellent remedy, and should be taken before retiring; about three times a week would be sufficient.

7. Blood Purifier, Beech Bark and Blackberry Root a Good.—"One gallon white beech bark (after the rough bark is removed), good big handful of blackberry root (cut fine), and also of sassafras root. Cover with cold water and steep to get the strength, then strain. When cool (not cold) add one pint baker's yeast and one cup sugar. Let it stand twenty-four hours in a warm place. Then strain and set in a cool place. Take a wineglassful three times a day before meals. This has been highly recommended to me by a friend from Kalkaska, Michigan."

8. Blood Purifier, from a Madison, Connecticut, Mother.—"Take blackberry root, black cherry bark, spruce boughs, wintergreens: sarsaparilla roots; steep in a large vessel, till all the goodness is out; strain and when lukewarm put in a cup of yeast, let work and bottle up."

9. Blood Purifier, How to make, Celery Compound for a.—

    "Celery Compound 2 ounces
    Chamomile Flower 1 ounce
    Sassafras Root 1 ounce
    Senna Leaves 1 ounce
    Mandrake 1 ounce
    Wintergreen Essence 1 ounce
    Whisky 1 gill
    White Sugar 1 pound
    Hops 2 handfuls

Steep three hours in four quarts of water, strain, add sugar, when cold add wintergreen and whisky. Dose:—One teaspoonful before meals and at bedtime."

10. Blood Purifier, Another Effective Herb Remedy.—"Pour boiling hot water on four ounces of gentian root with two ounces of dried orange peel, a sufficient amount of water should be used to exhaust the strength in the root and orange peel; then boil in a porcelain pot until there is left one-half pint of the concentrated infusion to every ounce of gentian root used. Then to every one-half pint add one half ounce alcohol. The effect of the alcohol is to coagulate it from a quantity of jelly looking substance which must be separated by straining. This is one of the best strengtheners of the human system. Dose:—One teaspoonful in an ounce of water."

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11. Blood Purifier, Burdock for.—"The root is the part employed eliminating very rapidly the specific poison from the blood. Best administered in decoction by boiling two ounces of the root in three pints of water, to two pints. Dose:—One tablespoonful four times a day." Burdock is a splendid blood purifier and is not expensive. It can be purchased at any drug store for a reasonable amount.

DISEASES OF THE THYROID GLAND.—Inflammation of the thyroid gland, (Thyroiditis),—Acute inflammation of the gland, simple or suppurative. It may develop in a patient with goitre, or acute infectious diseases, or from other parts, or from wounds. The gland is enlarged and soft and may contain abscesses.

Symptoms.—Pain, tenderness, and enlargement of the part or of all the gland. Fever may be present even in cases without signs of pus forming (suppuration). If there is great enlargement, there may be symptoms of compression of vessel, nerves or the windpipe.

Treatment.—If there is pus it must be carefully opened. The patient must remain quiet in bed. Sometimes cold applications relieve. Do not use warm applications. This disease is not frequent and the patient needs care and watching more than medicine.

GOITRE (BRONCHIAL). Causes.—No satisfactory explanation can be given for this disease. It seems to be more prevalent where lime-stone water is used. Heredity plays a part. This is an enlargement of the thyroid gland. Chronic enlargement of the thyroid is sporadic. Cases are scattered and endemic in certain mountainous regions. It affects young women most often. A great excess in lime drinking water may be the cause. It is very prevalent about the eastern shore of Lake Ontario and in parts of Michigan. It is a common complaint in this country.

Symptoms.—There is a gradual painless enlargement of the whole gland or one lobe, etc. It may press on the windpipe, and cause difficult breathing, also on the blood vessels and nerves.

Recovery.—This is usually favorable as to life, but not so favorable as a cure. It becomes chronic. A sudden fatal ending may come.

GOITRE, MOTHERS' REMEDIES,—1. Three Ingredient Remedy for.—"The following treatment is excellent, but must be continued for several months:

    Extract of Belladonna 1/2 dram
    Compound Ointment Iodine 1/2 dram
    Vaselin 1/2 ounce

Apply this to the affected parts several times a day."

If this treatment is kept up faithfully it is sure to help.

[Illustration: Thyroid Gland.]

[BLOOD AND DUCTLESS GLANDS 259]

2. Goitre, Simple Remedy for.—"Wring a cloth from cold water and bind it around the neck every night when retiring. This is a sure cure if continued for some time."

3. Goitre, Inexpensive Remedy for—"Apply the following several times a day: Extract of belladonna one-half dram, compound ointment of iodine two drams; this treatment must be kept up several months." The above treatment will be found very beneficial and is not an expensive one.

PHYSICIANS' TREATMENT for Goitre.—1. Locally tincture of iodine; paint some on the gland once or twice a day until it gets a little sore and keep it so for weeks, or use cosmoline and put in it about one-quarter as much iodine and rub on. Lard will do instead of cosmoline. The parts should be kept red and a little sore. Use also iodide of potash, five grains, three times