10. One-half of a drop of Fowler's solution every two hours is useful in
nausea following a spree. So also one drop dose of nux vomica every half
hour.
APPENDICITIS.--Inflammation of the vermiform appendix is the most
important of acute bowel troubles. Sometimes the appendix may contain a
mould of feces, which can be squeezed out readily. Sometimes foreign
bodies like pins are found there; in about seven per cent of cases foreign
bodies are found.
It is a disease of young persons. Fifty per cent occur before the
twentieth year. It is most common in males. Persons who do heavy lifting
are quite subject to the disease. Some cases follow falls or blows.
Indiscretions of diet are very apt to bring on an attack, particularly in
those who have had it before. Pain in the appendix in such persons,
frequently follows the eating of food hard to digest. Gorging with peanuts
is also a cause.
Symptoms.--In a large proportion of cases the following symptoms are
present:--Sudden pain in the abdomen, usually referred to the right groin
region. Fever often of moderate form or grade. Disturbances of the stomach
and bowels, such as nausea, vomiting and frequently constipation.
Tenderness or pain in the appendix region. The pain in fully one-half of
the cases is localized in right lower part of the abdomen, but it may be
in the central portion, scattered, or in any part of the abdomen. Even
when the pain is not in the region of the appendix at first, it is usually
felt there within thirty-six or forty-eight hours. It is sometimes very
sharp and colic-like; sometimes it is dull. The fever follows rapidly upon
the pain. It may range from 100 to 102 and higher. The tongue is coated
and moist usually,--seldom dry. Nausea and vomiting are commonly present.
It rarely persists longer than the second day in favorable cases.
Constipation is the rule, but the attack may start with diarrhea.
Local Signs.--Tenderness of the rectus muscle (to the right of the centre
of the abdomen) and tenderness or pain on deep pressure. The muscle may be
so rigid that a satisfactory examination cannot be made. Sometimes there
is a hardness or swelling in the appendix region. Tenderness, rigidity and
actual pain on deep pressure; with the majority of cases, a lump or
swelling in the region of the appendix.
[Illustration: Vermiform Appendix.
When Affected by Inflamation and Gangrene
Necessitating an Operation.]
[Illustration: Vermiform Appendix.
Showing Different Types.]
[DIGESTIVE ORGANS 117]
Recovery.--Recovery is the rule. It frequently returns. General
peritonitis may be caused by direct perforation of the appendix and death
in appendicitis is usually due to peritonitis.
Surgeons have declared that sudden pain in the region of the appendix,
with fever and localized tenderness, with or without a lump almost without
exception means appendix disease. Rest in bed, take measures to allay the
pain; ice bag applied to the part is very effective.
Operation.--Dr. Osler, of Oxford, England, says.--"Operation is indicated
in all cases of acute inflammatory trouble in this region, whether the
lump is present or not, when the general symptoms are severe, and when by
the third day the features of the case points to a progressive (condition)
lesion. An operation after an acute attack has disappeared is not fraught
with much danger."
Diet.--All food should be withheld for a few days if possible. Liquids,
such as egg albumen, weak tea, thin broth, barley or rice water, or milk
diluted with lime water may be given in small quantities if necessary.
When the acute symptoms have subsided, milk may be taken undiluted, and
eggs may be added to the broth. When the pain and fever have disappeared
entirely, gruels made of rice or barley, soft-boiled egg, scraped beef,
stewed chicken, toast, and crackers may be added to the list; still later,
mashed potatoes and vegetables, finely divided and strained, may be
allowed and, finally, when well, usual diet resumed.
APPENDICITIS, Mothers' Remedies.--Home Treatment Found Good for.--"To
allay the pain and stop the formation of pus in appendicitis it is
recommended that a flannel cloth be saturated with hot water, wrung out,
drop ten to fifteen drops of turpentine on it and apply to the affected
parts as hot as the patient can bear. Repeat until relief is obtained.
Then cover the bowels with a thin cotton cloth, upon which place another
cloth wrung out of kerosene oil. This sustains the relief and conduces to
rest and eventual cure. It is an essential part of the absorbent cure for
appendicitis, and since its adoption doctors do not resort to a surgical
operation half so often." The above is a standard remedy and will most
always give relief.
PHYSICIANS' TREATMENT for Appendicitis.--The bowels should at first be
moved by an enema, The patient should be perfectly quiet in bed. The
ice-bag should be applied to the part, but wrapped in flannel and flannel
also on the skin, It must not be allowed to make the flesh too cool. This
coolness relieves the inflammation of the part. Small doses, from
one-tenth to one drop, of aconite can be given for the fever and
inflammation the first twenty-four hours. Dose every one to three hours.
But little medicine is now given in appendicitis.
[118 MOTHERS' REMEDIES]
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."