1. ABORTION OR MISCARRIAGE is the expulsion of the child from the womb
previous to six months; after that it is called premature birth.
2. CAUSES.--It may be due to a criminal act of taking medicine for
the express purpose of producing miscarriage or it may be caused by
certain medicines, severe sickness or nervousness, syphilis, imperfect
semen, lack of room in the pelvis and abdomen, lifting, straining,
violent cold, sudden mental excitement, excessive sexual intercourse,
dancing, tight lacing, the use of strong purgative medicines, bodily
fatigue, late suppers, and fashionable amusements.
3. SYMPTOMS.--A falling or weakness and uneasiness in the region of
the loins, thighs and womb, pain in the small of the back, vomiting
and sickness of the stomach, chilliness with a discharge of blood
accompanied with pain in the lower portions of the abdomen. These may
take place in a single hour, or it may continue for several days. If
before the fourth month, there is not so much danger, but the flow
of blood is generally greater. If miscarriage is the result of an
accident, it generally takes place without much warning, and the
service of a physician should at once be secured.
4. HOME TREATMENT.--A simple application of cold water externally
applied will produce relief, or cold cloths of ice, if convenient,
applied to the lower portions of the abdomen. Perfect quiet, however,
is the most essential thing for the patient. She should lie on her
back and take internally a teaspoonful of paregoric every two hours;
drink freely of lemonade or other cooling drinks, and for nourishment
subsist chiefly on chicken broth, toast, water gruel, fresh fruits,
etc. The principal homeopathic remedies for this disease are ergot and
cimicifuga, given in drop-doses of the tinctures.
5. INJURIOUS EFFECTS.--Miscarriage is a very serious difficulty, and
the health and the constitution may be permanently impaired. Any one
prone to miscarriage should adopt every measure possible to strengthen
and build up the system; avoid going up stairs or doing much heavy
lifting or hard work.
6. PREVENTION.--Practice the laws of sexual abstinence, take frequent
sitz-baths, live on oatmeal, graham bread, and other nourishing diet.
Avoid highly seasoned food, rich gravies, late suppers and the like.
[Illustration]
[Illustration: AN INDIAN FAMILY. THE SAVAGE INDIAN TEACHES US LESSONS
OF CIVILIZATION.]
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