5894. Abstinence as a Cure for Disease

5894. Abstinence as a Cure for Disease. Disease may often be cured by abstinence from all food, especially if the disorders have been produced by luxurious living and repletion. The latter overtaxes nature, and it rebels against such treatment. Indigestion, giddiness, headache, mental depression, etc., are often the effects of greediness in meat and drink. Omitting one, two, or three meals, allows the system to rest, to regain strength, and allows the clogged organs to dispose of their burdens. The practice of drug-taking to cleanse the stomach, though it may give the needed relief, always weakens the system, while abstinence often secures the same result, and yet does no injury.

5895. Antidotes for Poison

5895.    Antidotes for Poison. It need hardly be said that medical assistance must be sent for at once; but, meanwhile, as it is of the greatest importance to administer some aid as soon as possible, the subjoined directions may bo followed. "When any poisonous or other hurtful thing has been swallowed, take instantly half a glass of water - cold, not hot - put into it a heaping tea-spoonful of salt, and another of ground mustard; stir it rapidly 3 or 4 times; if there is no salt at hand, use mustard alone; catch the patient byq the nose and toss it down. The reason for using cold water is that, in the hurry, the water may be hotter than thought for, and may scald the throat, causing eventual, if not instant death. The salt and mustard make the speediest emetic known, and are almost everywhere to be had in a moment. It brings up the contents of the stomach more or less completely. And for fear that some remnant may be left, administer a cupful of strong coffee, and then the white of 2 or 3 raw eggs, either first, as may be tho quickest had, because these are two domestic articles which are found in every house, and nullify the effects of a greater number of virulent poisons than perhaps any other articles known. (Hall.)

5896. Treatment in Cases of Poisoning

5896.    Treatment in Cases of Poisoning. Dr. Hall says: Whatever is done must be done quickly. The instant a person is known to have swallowed poison by design or accident, give water to drink, cold or warm, as fast as possible, a gallon or more at a time, and, as fast as vomited, drink more; tepid water is best, as it opens the pores of the skin and promotes vomiting, and thus gives the speediest cure to the poisonous article. If pains begin to bo felt in tho bowels, it shows that part at least of the poison has passed downwards; then large and repeated injections of tepid water should bo given, the object in both cases being to dilute the poison as quickly and as largely as possible. Do not wait for warm water - take that which is nearest at hand, cold or warm, for every second of time saved is of immense importance; at the same time send instantly for a physician, and as soon as he comes turn the case into his hands, telling him what yon have done. This simple fact cannot be too widely published; it is not meant to say that drinking a gallon or two of simple water will cure every case of poisoning; but it will cure many, and benefits all by it3 rapidly diluting quality. (Journal of Health.) A short summary of tho antidotes resorted to in reference to particular poisons is given below. They should, of course, be administered as speedily as possible.