5674. Cholera Tincture

5674.    Cholera Tincture. Tinctures of rhubarb, cayenne, opium, and spirits of camphor, with essence of peppermint, equal parts of each, and each as strong as can be made. Dose, from 5 to 30 drops, or even to 60, and repeat until relief is obtained, every 5 to 30 minutes. Many lives have been saved by the timely use of this valuable medicine.

5675. Treatment of Dysentery

5675.    Treatment of Dysentery. A slight attack will often yield to the employment of a dose of castor oil; warm fomentations or mustard poultices being applied over the belly; the patient being confined to bed, and only allowed to partake of food the most simple in its nature, that is, farinaceous food, cream, or milk (with one-third of lime-water, if requisite), thin broths, etc.. Perfect rest in the horizontal posture is almost essential. A warm bath for 20 minutes, or a shorter time if the patient feels faint, will often give great relief. Stimulants should be forbidden in mild cases; but where the patient is becoming weakened by the disease, port wine, as the best stimulant in these cases, may be given in beef- tea, or alone. And the rule of little and often may be strictly observed. Early treatment is most important in dysentery, and therefore the medical man should be sent far without loss of time, in case the simple means recommended are ineffectual.

5676. Indian Cure for Dysentery

5676.      Indian Cure for Dysentery. In diseases of this kind, the Indians use the root and leaves of the blackberry bush, a decoction of which in hot water, well boiled down, is taken in doses of a gill before each meal, and before retiring to bed. It is an almost infallible cure.

5677. Simple Remedy for Dysentery

5677.   Simple Remedy for Dysentery. The following simple remedy has been known to cure the most obstinate and malignant forms of dysentery when all the ordinary methods were ineffectual: Take hot water, 1 gill; vinegar, 1/2 pint; mix; then continue to add common salt as long as it will be dissolved, stirring and irritating it freely and frequently. Give for an adult 1 table-spoonful every hour until the bloody discharges cease, or until it operates freely on the bowels. The patient must remain in bed.

5678. Antacids

5678.    Antacids. Medicines that neutralize the acid of the stomach, and thus tend to remove heartburn, dyspepsia, and diarrhea. The principal antacids are the carbonates of potassa, soda, ammonia, lime, and magnesia. Ammonia is the most powerful, and when the acidity is conjoined with nausea and faint-ness, is the best; when great irritability of the coats of the stomach exist, potash is preferable; when accompanied with diarrhea, carbonate of lime (prepared chalk); and when with costiveness, magnesia. The dose of the carbonates of potassa and soda in powder is half a tea-spoonful; of chalk, a teaspoonful; of magnesia, a dessert-spoonful; and of carbonate of ammonia, 10 grains, or a teaspoonful of the solution. All these are taken in water.