The class of medicines which particu-
larly tone up a weak and relaxed stomach
are the simple vegetable bitters. Such are
quassia, columbo, gentia7i, and some others.
Simple bitters we call these, because they
have no other very positive quality except
the bitter taste, and no marked effect upon
the human S3^stem except as tonics to the
stomach . (In large draughts their infusions
or " teas " will act as emetics.^
There are some bitters which have other
very important actions. Quinia is one, got
from Peruvian bark ; it acts powerfully on
the nervous system, and is the special
remedy for malarial fevers. The same bark
contains also cinchonia, and several other
more or less bitter tonic and nei^vine ' ' alka-
loids," as the chemists name them.
Nux Vomica is a very powerful bitter
nervine tonic. Out of it is obtained str3^ch-
nia, one of the deadliest of poisons, but also
one of the most valuable of medicines,
when used with judgment, care, and skill.
With this information, we may venture to
add that the tincinre of mix vomica, in ten-
drop doses, twice or thrice daily, is one of
the most effective of all the stomachic bit-
ters ,^ in cases of continued weakness of di-
gestion, with flatulence.
These bitters generally improve the ap-
petite, which is almost always poor when
the stomach is otherwise weak. For the
same end, as appetizers, mineral acids are
useful ; dilute aromatic sitlphnric acid, for
example, under the common name of elixir
of vitriol, and clilorohydric acid, formerly,
and sometimes now, called hydrocholoric, or
muriatic acid. Nitronniriatic acid adds a
special tendency to act upon the liver. One
or other of these acids, and most of all the
last named, is often given to the subjects of
prolonged indigestion, along with the vege-
table bitters.
To Reduce Inflammation.
A serious task, this is, in many instances;
taxing the doctor's skill, and not very rarely
baflling him. How, then, can one say any-
thing about it in a work on Home Medi-
cine ? A few clear principles seem to be all
that can be here spoken of, referring the
reader for a larger discussion of the subject
to treatises designed for the medical pro-
fession.
Inflammation (as already said in that
part of this book which dealt with the
nature of diseases) may affect any organ or
portion of the living body. When it attacks
one of the more important organs, or even
extensively involves the skin, life may be
endangered by it. If only a small part, as
an eye, ear, hand, or foot, is inflamed, there
is usually much less danger, though there
may be a great deal of suffering. Moreover,
an inflammation may spread, as from the ear
or the eye to the brain ; or some poisonous
(septic) matter may be formed in the in-
flamed part, and by blood-poisoning {sep-
tico'niia), the whole bod}^ may suffer and
perhaps die. Septicaemia is very often
fatal, but a vast multitude of people have
inflamed hands, feet, eyes, noses, jaws, etc.,
without either it or the allied disorder,
pyaemia. The liability to such accidents of
inflammation is greatest where the atmos-
phere of the place is foul.
Taking a broad general view of inflam-
mations as a class of disorders, it may be
said that they have three stages, or progres-
sive changes.
First comes excitement. Towards the
centre of the inflamed part, the arterial
491
28
THE FAMILY DOCTOR
Page 153
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
The class of medicines which particularly tone up a weak and relaxed stomach are the simple vegetable bitters. Such are quassia, columbo, gentian, and some others. Simple bitters we call these, because they have no other very positive quality except the bitter taste, and no marked effect upon the human system except as tonics to the stomach . (In large draughts their infusions or " teas " will act as emetics.^
There are some bitters which have other very important actions. Quinia is one, got from Peruvian bark ; it acts powerfully on the nervous system, and is the special remedy for malarial fevers. The same bark contains also cinchonia, and several other more or less bitter tonic and nervine ' ' alkaloids," as the chemists name them.
Nux Vomica is a very powerful bitter nervine tonic. Out of it is obtained strychnia, one of the deadliest of poisons, but also one of the most valuable of medicines, when used with judgment, care, and skill. With this information, we may venture to add that the tincinre of nux vomica, in tendrop doses, twice or thrice daily, is one of the most effective of all the stomachic bitters ,^ in cases of continued weakness of digestion, with flatulence.
These bitters generally improve the appetite, which is almost always poor when the stomach is otherwise weak. For the same end, as appetizers, mineral acids are useful ; dilute aromatic sulphuric acid, for example, under the common name of elixir of vitriol, and chlorohydric acid, formerly, and sometimes now, called hydrocholoric, or muriatic acid. Nitronniriatic acid adds a special tendency to act upon the liver. One or other of these acids, and most of all the last named, is often given to the subjects of prolonged indigestion, along with the vegetable bitters.
To Reduce Inflammation.
A serious task, this is, in many instances; taxing the doctor's skill, and not very rarely baflling him. How, then, can one say anything about it in a work on Home Medicine ? A few clear principles seem to be all that can be here spoken of, referring the reader for a larger discussion of the subject to treatises designed for the medical profession.
Inflammation (as already said in that part of this book which dealt with the nature of diseases) may affect any organ or portion of the living body. When it attacks one of the more important organs, or even extensively involves the skin, life may be endangered by it. If only a small part, as an eye, ear, hand, or foot, is inflamed, there is usually much less danger, though there may be a great deal of suffering. Moreover, an inflammation may spread, as from the ear or the eye to the brain ; or some poisonous (septic) matter may be formed in the inflamed part, and by blood-poisoning {septicaemia), the whole bod}^ may suffer and perhaps die. Septicaemia is very often fatal, but a vast multitude of people have inflamed hands, feet, eyes, noses, jaws, etc., without either it or the allied disorder, pyaemia. The liability to such accidents of inflammation is greatest where the atmosphere of the place is foul.
Taking a broad general view of inflammations as a class of disorders, it may be said that they have three stages, or progressive changes.
First comes excitement. Towards the centre of the inflamed part, the arterial