CONSTIPATION, or COS- TIVENESS.— Professor Phoebus, of Giessen, refers habitual costiveness to the following causes : — 1. The too spare use of articles of diet which promote the action of the bowels. Water is placed first. It is taken by many in insufficient quantity. In sedentary occupations the sensation of thirst is too seldom excited, and the habitual frequency of such sensation may be diminished if the satisfaction ol the call be neglected. To this class of ailments belong fruits, salads, sour milk, honey, and fat. Many country CON *35 CON people, who sett all their produce, eat little of these things, and the poorer Inhabitants of towns get them in in- sufficient quantity. Those persons who can procure them, eat salads and fats In too small quantities. 2. Too little bodily exercise. 3. Want of exercise of the large intestine. This is the most influential of all the causes. It is an error to suppose that the power of the will extends only over the sphincter ; for it prevails much higher, only it re- quires more time for its exertion. Several minutes, or a quarter of an hour, may be required to initiate the evacuatory movement. By exercising it, we increase the disposition of the intestine to act, but this is rarely the case in less than five minutes. Numerous remedies have been recom- mended for constipation; but the ac- tion of medicinal substances in so chronic an affection may become pre- judicial, especially such as exert a chemical acdon, as salts or drastics. If a stool is desired, the patient must earnestly practice the necessary gym- nastic, which consists in alternate movements of the rectum as during actual evacuation, and in rapidly draw- ing in and then expanding the abdominal muscles. Such movements may be commenced in the chamber and com- pleted in the closet, several minutes, a quarter of an hour, or even more, being required. If evacuation has com- menced, but has not proved productive enough, the movements must be con- tinued, the person resolving not to quit the closet until the aim has been attain- ed. The movements are the same as those normally employed ; but they are more rapid, and continued for a longer time. Kneading and rubbing the abdo- men, may be useful, but they are un- necessary ; and may be reserved for those not able to follow the above directions, such as children, &c. An adult should compel a stool every day. In from four to eight weeks a complete mastery may be acquired over the intestine, so that a stool may be always secured once in the twenty-four hours. This powerful agency acts more efficiently when conjoined with articles of diet favourable to an open state of the bowels. A large quantity of water will be more easily drank if 1 at first carbonic acid gas be added. An adult, during winter, should take from fifty to seventy ounces daily (de- ducting from this the equivalent of any artificial drinks he may take,) a larger quantity still during great bodily exer- tion, and from one-and-a-half to twice the quantity in a summer. When raw fruit gives rise to flatulence, it may be taken cooked with spices, and especially when dried and cooked. With greater regularity of stools, flatulence becomes less, the food being retained for a less time within the canal. Exercise is of great service ; but it exerts no sudden effect, and at first may even induce con- stipation.

AI-modernized reading of the original text

CONSTIPATION, or COS- TIVENESS.— Professor Phoebus, of Giessen, refers habitual costiveness to the following causes : — 1. The too spare use of articles of diet which promote the action of the bowels. Water is placed first. It is taken by many in insufficient quantity. In sedentary occupations the sensation of thirst is too seldom excited, and the habitual frequency of such sensation may be diminished if the satisfaction ol the call be neglected. To this class belong fruits, salads, sour milk, honey, and fat. Many country CON *35 CON people, who sett all their produce, eat little of these things, and the poorer Inhabitants of towns get them in insufficient quantity. Those persons who can procure them, eat salads and fats In too small quantities. 2. Too little bodily exercise. 3. Want of exercise of the large intestine. This is the most influential of all the causes. It is an error to suppose that the power of the will extends only over the sphincter ; for it prevails much higher, only it requires more time for its exertion. Several minutes, or a quarter of an hour, may be required to initiate the evacuatory movement. By exercising it, we increase the disposition of the intestine to act, but this is rarely the case in less than five minutes. Numerous remedies have been recommended for constipation; but the action of medicinal substances in so chronic an affection may become prejudicial, especially such as exert a chemical acdon, as salts or drastics. If a stool is desired, the patient must earnestly practice the necessary gymnastic, which consists in alternate movements of the rectum as during actual evacuation, and in rapidly drawing in and then expanding the abdominal muscles. Such movements may be commenced in the chamber and completed in the closet, several minutes, a quarter of an hour, or even more, being required. If evacuation has commenced, but has not proved productive enough, the movements must be continued, the person resolving not to quit the closet until the aim has been attained. The movements are the same as those normally employed ; but they are more rapid, and continued for a longer time. Kneading and rubbing the abdomen, may be useful, but they are unnecessary ; and may be reserved for those not able to follow the above directions, such as children, &c. An adult should compel a stool every day. In from four to eight weeks a complete mastery may be acquired over the intestine, so that a stool may be always secured once in the twenty-four hours. This powerful agency acts more efficiently when conjoined with articles of diet favourable to an open state of the bowels. A large quantity of water will be more easily drank if 1 at first carbonic acid gas be added. An adult, during winter, should take from fifty to seventy ounces daily (deducting from this the equivalent of any artificial drinks he may take,) a larger quantity still during great bodily exertion, and from one-and-a-half to twice the quantity in a summer. When raw fruit gives rise to flatulence, it may be taken cooked with spices, and especially when dried and cooked. With greater regularity of stools, flatulence becomes less, the food being retained for a less time within the canal. Exercise is of great service ; but it exerts no sudden effect, and at first may even induce constipation.

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