Dried sulphate of iron 2 drams
Carbonate of potash 2 drams
Syrup enough to make a mass
Mix and make forty-eight pills. Take one to three, three times a day after
meals.
4. If the appetite is poor, bitter tonics such as gentian, quassia,
cinchona, or nux vomica are needed.
Compound Tincture Cinchona 2 ounces
Compound Tincture Gentian 2 ounces
Mix. Take one teaspoonful before meals, in a little water.
5. Tincture of nux vomica in doses of two to three drops after meals is a
good stomach and bowel tonic.
6. Golden seal root made into a tea is good in some cases, especially if
the tongue is much coated.
7. Oil of Erigeron or flea-bane is good for oozing bleeding. Dose: Three
to five drops in a capsule every four hours.
8. Oil of cinnamon in one dose of one-half dram is good where flea-bane
oil cannot be used or obtained; usual dose, one to five drops. An infusion
can be made of the cinnamon bark and drank freely.
[WOMAN'S DEPARTMENT 507]
9. Cranesbill (Geranium maculata). The fluid extract is splendid when
diluted three or four times with boiled water, used locally for bleeding
from the womb, or as an injection for the same; or an infusion can be made
of the plant and injected into the vagina. The local cause mentioned
should be treated. The displacement should be corrected.
DYSMENORRHEA or Difficult Menstruation.--This term means difficult and
painful monthly periods. The pain may occur before, during or after the
periods.
Causes.--It may be caused by a narrow cervical canal, the canal from the
inner womb to the vagina. This is often very narrow and almost closed.
Again it is produced by the womb being turned back and bent on the canal,
thus partially closing it. This causes the blood to be retained in the
womb and then the womb contracts to expel the blood, pains being the
natural result. Diseases of the womb and ovaries also cause it. Sometimes
the membrane of the womb is cast off in the form of shreds or even a cast
of the inner womb.
Symptoms.--The flow may be scanty, moderate or profuse, often clotted. The
pain varies. It may be slight before the flow, or the first day or two, or
it may be severe, agonizing and continuous for one or two days, or during
the whole period and sometimes for some days after there may be pains.
MOTHERS' REMEDIES. 1. Painful Menstruation, a Good Tonic for.--"This may
be relieved by sitting over the steam of a strong decoction of tansy,
wormwood, and yarrow, and fomenting the abdomen with the same. Then take
the following in wineglassful doses:--One ounce each of ground pine,
southern wood, tansy, catnip and germander, simmering in two quarts of
water down to three pints and pour boiling hot on one ounce of pennyroyal
herb, strain when cold and take as per dose above."
2. Painful Menstruation, a Home Remedy for.--"Let the patient take an
active cathartic; then when put to bed let a half cup of hop tea be given;
and a douche of one quart of hot water into which ten drops of laudanum
have been dropped, be injected." A cathartic is not necessary in all
cases. If the bowels have been moving freely do not take one. The douche
will give great relief providing the woman can take one while
menstruating. Some women can and some cannot.
[508 MOTHERS' REMEDIES]
PHYSICIANS' TREATMENT.--If the womb is displaced it should be corrected.
Any disease of the womb or ovaries should be treated. If the canal is too
much closed, gradual and careful dilation between the periods, will often
remove this cause in time. The bowels should be kept regular at all times.
1. For the attack.--Never take opium or alcohol for it in any form; it is
so easy to form the habit and a doctor who gives it is simply dodging
effective general and local treatment between the periods. If it is due to
taking cold, or from any local cause, the following treatment is good:
The patient should take a hot sitz bath, being well covered by a blanket,
while in the tub and afterwards, and should immediately get into bed as
soon as the buttocks are dried and remain there well covered. A turpentine
stupe is now to be used, prepared as follows: Place a tin cup containing
the turpentine in a vessel containing hot water. This will keep the
turpentine warm. Dip a piece of flannel into very hot water and wring it
out in a twisted towel, and after it is perfectly dry and no dripping, dip
it into the hot turpentine and wring it out again to free it from too much
of the drug. Apply the cloth while hot and allow it to remain until it
causes discomfort. Then withdraw it or it will blister the skin if left on
too long. Fomentations wrung out of teas like hop, pennyroyal, smart-weed,
etc., applied and kept warm often do much good. At the same time
pennyroyal tea can be drank freely. A five-cent package can be bought at
any drug store. Hot lemonade will help also. The object is to produce
relaxation of the tissues through the local applications and tea drinking.
If there is constipation, the bowels should be moved freely with epsom
salts, half ounce dose, in the morning before breakfast. If there is much
pain a belladonna suppository, one-half grain of the extract, can be
inserted into the rectum.
2. If the patient's nervous system is run down the "Rest Cure" will be of
benefit, and medicines to strengthen the nerves. Exercise, outdoor life,
horseback riding are of great benefit in toning the system.
3. Fluid extract of blue cohosh is a good medicine in this disease,
especially if there is some rheumatism during the interval. One or two
drops every hour will be enough.
4. Tincture of Pulsatilla in doses of three drops every hour is good for
the pain, especially in blonde girls and women.
5. Tincture of Cocculus I have found to be of great benefit. Put five
drops of a good pure tincture into a glass half full of water and give two
teaspoonfuls every ten to fifteen minutes until relieved. This I give in
cases I am called to and have not the time then to find out what the real
cause may be.
DISPLACEMENTS.--Turning back or retro-displacements. This includes retro-
version and retro-flexion. Retro-version means turning back, in plain
terms. Retro-flexion means bending back, bending of the body of the womb,
or the neck, backward. Retro-flexion is more common than retro-version.
Causes.--Some are congenital, that is, from birth, and a few are the
result of some injury, falls or blows. It is more often found in
child-bearing women, and this may be due to the fact that the womb has not
returned to its normal size and weight, and therefore there is more weight
for the ligaments to hold up. The ligaments often relax and do not support
the womb as thoroughly as before.
Symptoms.--Backache, a sense of weight in the lower abdomen, difficult
menstruation, leucorrhea, sterility, or repeated abortion and
constipation. The constipation is often due to the womb lying on the
rectum.
[WOMAN'S DEPARTMENT 509]
Treatment.--This is to replace the womb and keep it in position. Supports
of various kinds are used to keep the womb in position after it has been
replaced, They must fit thoroughly and give no pain or any discomfort
whatever. They are called supports or pessaries. If they are fitted
properly they do much good. They should be removed often (every month) and
not allowed to grow fast or cause sores in the vagina. There are the ring
support and the stem variety and others. The stem variety can be taken out
and replaced by wearer at any time. They are made to buckle around the
abdomen. They are bungling but effective. The ring kind should be
introduced by a competent person who should see that it is of correct size
and shape, and worn with comfort. Sometimes these supports fail to cure
when adhesions and other diseases exist; it may be impossible to wear
them.
Operations.--One operation is to break up the adhesions, the body of the
womb brought forward and sewn (sutured) to the abdominal wall. Another
operation is to shorten the round ligaments in the inguinal (groin) canal.
These are the usual operations, and they are quite successful.
FALLING OR PROLAPSE OF THE WOMB.--The womb may come down and remain in the
vagina (incomplete falling). When the womb escapes at the vulva it is
called a complete falling (prolapse or procidentia).
For the Incomplete Kind.--Replace the womb and wear a support for months.
For the Complete Falling.--Replace the womb. The patient should remain in
bed with daily, hot, prolonged vaginal injections of water for a few
weeks. The injection daily of white oak bark tea, of the strength of one
ounce of the bark to a pint of hot water, is often of great benefit.
If these measures fail to cure, an operation may be necessary.
MOTHERS' REMEDIES. 1. Falling of the Womb. Unicorn Root for.--"Make a
strong tea of unicorn root, and take a half teaspoonful three times a day,
This is an excellent remedy for falling of the womb," This is very easily
prepared and not bad to take, and in addition to this use an injection of
witch-hazel or golden seal.
2. Falling of the Womb, a Fine Herb Combination for.--"Peach leaves,
mullein leaves and hops made into a tea, and a pint used twice a day as an
injection often cures when other remedies fail." We all know that this
combination of herbs is healing and especially in female trouble. The
hops, especially, are very soothing to the affected parts.
3. Falling of the Womb, a Physician's. Treatment.--"Knee-chest position.
Get down on the knees and put chest and chin to the floor. Retain this
position about three minutes several times a day." This is a splendid
thing to do, and is recommended by all physicians.
[510 MOTHERS' REMEDIES]
4. Falling of the Womb, a Never Failing Remedy for.--"Ague root (Aletris
Farinosa) is a valuable agent to prevent tendency to miscarriage and
falling of the womb. It is especially useful for the purpose of restoring
the activity of the generative organs giving them vigor and healthy
action. Dose of the tincture is from six to ten drops three times a day
and of the powdered root five to eight grains." This is an old tried
remedy, and is frequently used by physicians alone or in combination with
other remedies.
5. Falling of the Womb, White Oak Bark for.--"A mild infusion of white oak
bark, or of alum or tannin, used in quantities of a pint, as a douche,
will often give immediate relief."
LEUCORRHEA. (The Whites).--This is an over-secretion from the glands that
pour out their contents into the vagina or the cervical canal of the womb.
Causes.--It is dependent upon many causes. Tear of the neck of the womb
(cervix), displacements, inflammation of the womb and vagina, a run-down
condition of the system from any cause. The character of the discharge
varies.
From a Torn Cervix, the discharge is thick and mucus-like in character.
In Inflammation of the Canal of the Cervix.--A thick mucus discharge also
comes from this trouble.
Inflammation of the Body of the Womb.--The discharge is thin and watery.
If the Inflammation is Caused by Gonorrhea the discharge would partake of
the pus-like variety.
Symptoms.--Local: is of course mainly the discharge or the irritation
often produced by it, especially if it is thin. It then irritates the
parts. The patient will be run down. It will be hard to do anything,
frequently the patient is very nervous and irritable.
MOTHERS' REMEDIES. 1. Leucorrhea, Slippery Elm for.--"The immediate cause
of leucorrhea is either congestion or inflammation of the mucous membrane
of the vagina or womb, or both. It is not a disease, but a symptom of some
vaginal or uterine disorder; hence, general or specific tonics may be
needed but appropriate injection as auxiliary treatment will very much
assist in cure. The patient should bathe frequently and freely expose
herself to the sunshine, and have good ventilation in the house. If the
vaginal passage is very tender and irritable, an infusion, or tea, of
slippery elm bark is very soothing and may be used freely with a vaginal
syringe. Whatever injection is employed, should be preceded by the free
use of castile soap and warm water to thoroughly cleanse the parts."
Always lie down after an injection.
[WOMAN'S DEPARTMENT 511]
2. Leucorrhea, Glycerin for.--"One part glycerin to six parts water is a
very soothing lotion when there is much tenderness, pain or heat in the
vagina. A teaspoonful of tartaric acid in a pint of warm water is a
specific, in some cases, acting like magic. Whatever lotion is employed,
always use it warm. After cleansing with soap suds, the medicated lotion
of not less than two ounces should be injected."
3. Leucorrhea, Common Tea for.--"A very simple remedy that every woman has
in the home is a decoction of common tea; used as an injection twice daily
is very beneficial." The tea has an astringent action and the tannin
contained in the tea leaves is very effective. This remedy is a harmless
one, and every woman suffering with this disagreeable disease should give
this remedy a trial.
4. Leucorrhea, Witch-hazel for.--"Cleanse the parts well with clear warm
water, then inject two quarts of warm water in which has been dropped a
tablespoonful of witch-hazel." This is a very good remedy and sure to give
relief.
5. Leucorrhea, White Oak Bark for.--"White oak bark one ounce, water one
pint. This makes a very good injection and will be found very effective,"
6. Leucorrhea, a Good Herb Remedy for.--"Inject into the vagina with a
female syringe, a tea of bistort or beth root, and cranesbill, night and
morning and take the following night and morning in wineglassful doses.
White Pond Lily Root. 2 ounces
Unicorn Root 2 ounces
Wahoo Root 1 ounce
Golden Seal 1 ounce
Cinnamon 1 ounce
Add three pints of water, simmer to one quart, pour boiling hot upon one
ounce of grated nutmeg, one-half ounce ginger, powdered, one half pound of
granulated sugar. Exercise in the open air and nourishing food are
indispensable."
7. Leucorrhea, Common Vinegar for.--"Two tablespoonfuls vinegar in two
quarts of water (warm or hot), used as a douche at bedtime, until cured,"
This will cure some mild cases and has an astringent action.
8. Leucorrhea, an Easily Prepared Remedy for.--"Red oak bark tea used with
syringe; follow with hot water." Steep the red oak bark and make a tea of
it, using about two or three teaspoonfuls of the bark to a pint of hot
water. This acts as an astringent and the red oak bark contains a good
deal of tannin which is very beneficial in cases of this kind.
9. Leucorrhea, Home-Made Suppositories for.--"Take a small piece of
medicated cotton, and saturate in pure glycerin and insert in the vagina
at night, after a warm salt injection has been taken to thoroughly cleanse
the parts." So many women of today are careless about taking injections,
at least once or twice a week. Many of these diseases could be avoided in
the beginning by women being more cleanly. This saturated cotton acts as a
suppository absorbing the mattery secretion and in that way relieves the
congestion.
[512 MOTHERS' REMEDIES]
10. Leucorrhea, a Good Home Remedy for.--"Cleanse the parts affected with
warm water with a little castile or ivory soap in it, by means of an
injection. Then inject a full syringe of the mixture, made by dropping a
tablespoonful of extract of witch-hazel (Pond's is best) into warm water;
repeat each night until cured." The injection of soap and water is one of
the essential things to do for leucorrhea, as it cleanses the parts
thoroughly and the witch-hazel is very soothing and healing.
11. Leucorrhea, a New York Doctor's Remedy for.--"Fluid extract of Oregon
grape root (sometimes called mild grape) mixed with a simple syrup and
given in teaspoonful doses, three times a day, is recommended by Dr. W. W.
Myers, as a curative for leucorrhea."
PHYSICIANS' TREATMENT.--First is to do away, if possible, with local
disease, like inflammations, tear of the cervix, etc. The general system
should be built up with tonics. The same treatment as for anemia and
chlorosis will be usual for this trouble. Refer to those diseases.
Local.--The vagina should be kept as clean as possible with the hot water
injections. To the hot water many simple remedies can be added with much
benefit.
1. One ounce of white oak bark in a pint of boiling water makes a good
injection for this trouble. Before any medicine is used the vagina should
always be washed out by an injection of warm water. Then follow with the
indicated injection and retain it as long as possible.
2. Tannic acid and glycerin, equal parts, one ounce to two quarts of warm
water, is a good injection.
3. Lloyd's Golden Seal is splendid, used in the proportion of four
teaspoonsful to a pint of warm water.