Heat applied to the painful part will fre-
quently do good ; any convenient mode of
application will answer. On some parts of
the body a niiistard-plastcr is just the thing.
SiDisliiiic will (as I have seen) cure some
attacks. On the other hand, I have read of
ice applications having the same effect ; but
I have never witnessed its trial. The Jap-
anese remedy, menthol, or oil of peppermint,
is conveniently applicable in tlie form of
rounded sticks, made by the druggists by
mixing it with spermaceti. One of these
may be gently rubbed over the painful part
for a few moments at a time.
Various powerful anodynes are some-
times advised by physicians to be put upon,
or hvpodermically injected near the seat of
severe and obstinate neuralgic pain. As in
the case of rheumatic joints a rag soaked in
laiidamim, laid on the part and covered with
oiled silk (or oiled paper) will often stupefy
the nerves of the part so as to quell the pain.
Anodyne liniments are often used with ad-
vantage. I may mention one which is
moderate in strength and safe (applied out-
side only) : mix one drachm of chloral hy-
drate with four jluidoitnces of soap liniment.
This is to be gently rubbed in, for a few
minutes at a time, over the part affected
with pain.
Pain at time of menstruation {dys-
nienorrhcca^ is habitual with some women,
and occasional wdth others. For its pre-
vention, those liable to it should keep quiet
for a couple of days before the expected
time, and then for another day or two.
When the pain has commenced, the proper
position is lying down. Warmth, not ex-
cessive, but enough for entire comfort, is
also needful. Hot drinks, such as ginger
tea, or hot water with a little essence of
ginger in it, or a teaspoonful of compound
spirits of lavejider, will be suitable. So will
spirits of camphor, or camphor water, and, in
bad cases, paregoric, or even (carefully)
laudanum. Clothes wrung out of hot water
may be applied to the lower part of the ab-
domen. Very severe suffering of this kind
may, in rare cases, call for injection of
laudanum into the bowels.
Piles (small lumps at or near the amis,
i.e. outlet from the lower bowel) are some-
times very painful, especially at or after the
486
time of movement of the bowels. Consti-
pation should be avoided, as far as possible,
by those who are troubled with piles, and
yet purging actively will not agree with
them. Rhubarb is the best laxative in such
cases ; or sulphur , not magnesia.
Inflamed piles may be soothed, if much
heated, by application of very cold water.
Yet, contradictory as it seems, warm, or
moderately hot water, will give still more
comfort in some cases. A flaxseed poultice
into which a teaspoonful of laudanum has
been poured will be suitable when the pa-
tient is in bed with a bad attack. An oint-
ment, as cold cream (of the apothecary),
should be frequently applied. It is well to
know that an attack of pain and soreness in
piles (which are often present without giving
much trouble) may be many times prevented
by the early and free anointing of the parts
with cold cream, tallow, or lard.
Page 146
Presented as published in 1901. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
Heat applied to the painful part will frequently do good ; any convenient mode of application will answer. On some parts of the body a mustard-plaster is just the thing. Sunshine will (as I have seen) cure some attacks. On the other hand, I have read of ice applications having the same effect ; but I have never witnessed its trial. The Japanese remedy, menthol, or oil of peppermint, is conveniently applicable in tlie form of rounded sticks, made by the druggists by mixing it with spermaceti. One of these may be gently rubbed over the painful part for a few moments at a time.
Various powerful anodynes are sometimes advised by physicians to be put upon, or hvpodermically injected near the seat of severe and obstinate neuralgic pain. As in the case of rheumatic joints a rag soaked in laudanum, laid on the part and covered with oiled silk (or oiled paper) will often stupefy the nerves of the part so as to quell the pain. Anodyne liniments are often used with advantage. I may mention one which is moderate in strength and safe (applied outside only) : mix one drachm of chloral hydrate with four fluidounces of soap liniment. This is to be gently rubbed in, for a few minutes at a time, over the part affected with pain.
Pain at time of menstruation {dysmenorrhoea^ is habitual with some women, and occasional wdth others. For its prevention, those liable to it should keep quiet for a couple of days before the expected time, and then for another day or two. When the pain has commenced, the proper position is lying down. Warmth, not excessive, but enough for entire comfort, is also needful. Hot drinks, such as ginger tea, or hot water with a little essence of ginger in it, or a teaspoonful of compound spirits of lavender, will be suitable. So will spirits of camphor, or camphor water, and, in bad cases, paregoric, or even (carefully) laudanum. Clothes wrung out of hot water may be applied to the lower part of the abdomen. Very severe suffering of this kind may, in rare cases, call for injection of laudanum into the bowels.
Piles (small lumps at or near the amis, i.e. outlet from the lower bowel) are sometimes very painful, especially at or after the
time of movement of the bowels. Constipation should be avoided, as far as possible, by those who are troubled with piles, and yet purging actively will not agree with them. Rhubarb is the best laxative in such cases ; or sulphur , not magnesia.
Inflamed piles may be soothed, if much heated, by application of very cold water. Yet, contradictory as it seems, warm, or moderately hot water, will give still more comfort in some cases. A flaxseed poultice into which a teaspoonful of laudanum has been poured will be suitable when the patient is in bed with a bad attack. An ointment, as cold cream (of the apothecary), should be frequently applied. It is well to know that an attack of pain and soreness in piles (which are often present without giving much trouble) may be many times prevented by the early and free anointing of the parts with cold cream, tallow, or lard.