Mother's Remedies, Thomas Jefferson Ritter [reading well .TXT] 📗

the steam of a strong decoction of tansy, wormwood, and yarrow, and fomenting the abdomen with the same. Then take the following in wineglassful doses:—One ounce each of ground pine, southern wood, tansy, catnip and germander, simmering in two quarts of water down to three pints and pour boiling hot on one ounce of pennyroyal herb, strain when cold and take as per dose above."

2. Painful Menstruation, a Home Remedy for.—"Let the patient take an active cathartic; then when put to bed let a half cup of hop tea be given; and a douche of one quart of hot water into which ten drops of laudanum have been dropped, be injected." A cathartic is not necessary in all cases. If the bowels have been moving freely do not take one. The douche will give great relief providing the woman can take one while menstruating. Some women can and some cannot.

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PHYSICIANS' TREATMENT.—If the womb is displaced it should be corrected. Any disease of the womb or ovaries should be treated. If the canal is too much closed, gradual and careful dilation between the periods, will often remove this cause in time. The bowels should be kept regular at all times.

1. For the attack.—Never take opium or alcohol for it in any form; it is so easy to form the habit and a doctor who gives it is simply dodging effective general and local treatment between the periods. If it is due to taking cold, or from any local cause, the following treatment is good: The patient should take a hot sitz bath, being well covered by a blanket, while in the tub and afterwards, and should immediately get into bed as soon as the buttocks are dried and remain there well covered. A turpentine stupe is now to be used, prepared as follows: Place a tin cup containing the turpentine in a vessel containing hot water. This will keep the turpentine warm. Dip a piece of flannel into very hot water and wring it out in a twisted towel, and after it is perfectly dry and no dripping, dip it into the hot turpentine and wring it out again to free it from too much of the drug. Apply the cloth while hot and allow it to remain until it causes discomfort. Then withdraw it or it will blister the skin if left on too long. Fomentations wrung out of teas like hop, pennyroyal, smart-weed, etc., applied and kept warm often do much good. At the same time pennyroyal tea can be drank freely. A five-cent package can be bought at any drug store. Hot lemonade will help also. The object is to produce relaxation of the tissues through the local applications and tea drinking. If there is constipation, the bowels should be moved freely with epsom salts, half ounce dose, in the morning before breakfast. If there is much pain a belladonna suppository, one-half grain of the extract, can be inserted into the rectum.

2. If the patient's nervous system is run down the "Rest Cure" will be of benefit, and medicines to strengthen the nerves. Exercise, outdoor life, horseback riding are of great benefit in toning the system.

3. Fluid extract of blue cohosh is a good medicine in this disease, especially if there is some rheumatism during the interval. One or two drops every hour will be enough.

4. Tincture of Pulsatilla in doses of three drops every hour is good for the pain, especially in blonde girls and women.

5. Tincture of Cocculus I have found to be of great benefit. Put five drops of a good pure tincture into a glass half full of water and give two teaspoonfuls every ten to fifteen minutes until relieved. This I give in cases I am called to and have not the time then to find out what the real cause may be.

DISPLACEMENTS.—Turning back or retro-displacements. This includes retro- version and retro-flexion. Retro-version means turning back, in plain terms. Retro-flexion means bending back, bending of the body of the womb, or the neck, backward. Retro-flexion is more common than retro-version.

Causes.—Some are congenital, that is, from birth, and a few are the result of some injury, falls or blows. It is more often found in child-bearing women, and this may be due to the fact that the womb has not returned to its normal size and weight, and therefore there is more weight for the ligaments to hold up. The ligaments often relax and do not support the womb as thoroughly as before.

Symptoms.—Backache, a sense of weight in the lower abdomen, difficult menstruation, leucorrhea, sterility, or repeated abortion and constipation. The constipation is often due to the womb lying on the rectum.

[WOMAN'S DEPARTMENT 509]

Treatment.—This is to replace the womb and keep it in position. Supports of various kinds are used to keep the womb in position after it has been replaced, They must fit thoroughly and give no pain or any discomfort whatever. They are called supports or pessaries. If they are fitted properly they do much good. They should be removed often (every month) and not allowed to grow fast or cause sores in the vagina. There are the ring support and the stem variety and others. The stem variety can be taken out and replaced by wearer at any time. They are made to buckle around the abdomen. They are bungling but effective. The ring kind should be introduced by a competent person who should see that it is of correct size and shape, and worn with comfort. Sometimes these supports fail to cure when adhesions and other diseases exist; it may be impossible to wear them.

Operations.—One operation is to break up the adhesions, the body of the womb brought forward and sewn (sutured) to the abdominal wall. Another operation is to shorten the round ligaments in the inguinal (groin) canal. These are the usual operations, and they are quite successful.

FALLING OR PROLAPSE OF THE WOMB.—The womb may come down and remain in the vagina (incomplete falling). When the womb escapes at the vulva it is called a complete falling (prolapse or procidentia).

For the Incomplete Kind.—Replace the womb and wear a support for months.

For the Complete Falling.—Replace the womb. The patient should remain in bed with daily, hot, prolonged vaginal injections of water for a few weeks. The injection daily of white oak bark tea, of the strength of one ounce of the bark to a pint of hot water, is often of great benefit.

If these measures fail to cure, an operation may be necessary.

MOTHERS' REMEDIES. 1. Falling of the Womb. Unicorn Root for.—"Make a strong tea of unicorn root, and take a half teaspoonful three times a day, This is an excellent remedy for falling of the womb," This is very easily prepared and not bad to take, and in addition to this use an injection of witch-hazel or golden seal.

2. Falling of the Womb, a Fine Herb Combination for.—"Peach leaves, mullein leaves and hops made into a tea, and a pint used twice a day as an injection often cures when other remedies fail." We all know that this combination of herbs is healing and especially in female trouble. The hops, especially, are very soothing to the affected parts.

3. Falling of the Womb, a Physician's. Treatment.—"Knee-chest position. Get down on the knees and put chest and chin to the floor. Retain this position about three minutes several times a day." This is a splendid thing to do, and is recommended by all physicians.

[510 MOTHERS' REMEDIES]

4. Falling of the Womb, a Never Failing Remedy for.—"Ague root (Aletris Farinosa) is a valuable agent to prevent tendency to miscarriage and falling of the womb. It is especially useful for the purpose of restoring the activity of the generative organs giving them vigor and healthy action. Dose of the tincture is from six to ten drops three times a day and of the powdered root five to eight grains." This is an old tried remedy, and is frequently used by physicians alone or in combination with other remedies.

5. Falling of the Womb, White Oak Bark for.—"A mild infusion of white oak bark, or of alum or tannin, used in quantities of a pint, as a douche, will often give immediate relief."

LEUCORRHEA. (The Whites).—This is an over-secretion from the glands that pour out their contents into the vagina or the cervical canal of the womb.

Causes.—It is dependent upon many causes. Tear of the neck of the womb (cervix), displacements, inflammation of the womb and vagina, a run-down condition of the system from any cause. The character of the discharge varies.

From a Torn Cervix, the discharge is thick and mucus-like in character.

In Inflammation of the Canal of the Cervix.—A thick mucus discharge also comes from this trouble.

Inflammation of the Body of the Womb.—The discharge is thin and watery. If the Inflammation is Caused by Gonorrhea the discharge would partake of the pus-like variety.

Symptoms.—Local: is of course mainly the discharge or the irritation often produced by it, especially if it is thin. It then irritates the parts. The patient will be run down. It will be hard to do anything, frequently the patient is very nervous and irritable.

MOTHERS' REMEDIES. 1. Leucorrhea, Slippery Elm for.—"The immediate cause of leucorrhea is either congestion or inflammation of the mucous membrane of the vagina or womb, or both. It is not a disease, but a symptom of some vaginal or uterine disorder; hence, general or specific tonics may be needed but appropriate injection as auxiliary treatment will very much assist in cure. The patient should bathe frequently and freely expose herself to the sunshine, and have good ventilation in the house. If the vaginal passage is very tender and irritable, an infusion, or tea, of slippery elm bark is very soothing and may be used freely with a vaginal syringe. Whatever injection is employed, should be preceded by the free use of castile soap and warm water to thoroughly cleanse the parts." Always lie down after an injection.

[WOMAN'S DEPARTMENT 511]

2. Leucorrhea, Glycerin for.—"One part glycerin to six parts water is a very soothing lotion when there is much tenderness, pain or heat in the vagina. A teaspoonful of tartaric acid in a pint of warm water is a specific, in some cases, acting like magic. Whatever lotion is employed, always use it warm. After cleansing with soap suds, the medicated lotion of not less than two ounces should be injected."

3. Leucorrhea, Common Tea for.—"A very simple remedy that every woman has in the home is a decoction of common tea; used as an injection twice daily is very beneficial." The tea has an astringent action and the tannin contained in the tea leaves is very effective. This remedy is a harmless one, and every woman suffering with this disagreeable disease should give this remedy a trial.

4. Leucorrhea, Witch-hazel for.—"Cleanse the parts well with clear warm water, then inject two quarts of warm water in which has been dropped a tablespoonful of witch-hazel." This is a very good remedy and sure to give relief.

5. Leucorrhea, White Oak Bark for.—"White oak bark one ounce, water one pint. This makes a very good injection and will be found very effective,"

6. Leucorrhea, a Good Herb Remedy for.—"Inject into the vagina with a female syringe, a tea of bistort or beth root, and cranesbill, night and morning and take the following night and morning in wineglassful doses.

    White Pond Lily Root. 2 ounces
    Unicorn Root 2 ounces
    Wahoo Root 1 ounce
    Golden Seal 1 ounce
    Cinnamon 1 ounce

Add three pints of water, simmer to one quart, pour boiling hot upon one ounce of grated nutmeg, one-half ounce ginger, powdered, one half pound of granulated sugar. Exercise in the open air and nourishing food are indispensable."

7. Leucorrhea, Common Vinegar for.—"Two tablespoonfuls vinegar in two quarts of water (warm or hot), used as a douche at bedtime, until cured," This will cure some mild cases and has an astringent action.

8. Leucorrhea, an Easily Prepared Remedy for.—"Red oak bark tea used with syringe; follow with hot water." Steep the red oak bark and make a tea of it, using about two or three teaspoonfuls of the bark to a pint of hot water. This acts as an astringent and the red oak bark contains a good deal of tannin which is very beneficial