MEDICAL NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11878, 1 February 1902, Page 5 (Supplement)

MEDICAL NOTES.

1 . - PURGATIVE MEDICINES. Constipation ic a symptom of ill-healthy and it should not be considered a disease . of itself. 8 fet It should in most cases bo treated by change of diet and change in the habits of V; • life, and- it is not wise to look upon it as an ailment for which purgative medicines must . necessarily be token ; indeed, in many cases tonic medicines will do even more good. > • ' When this symptom of disordered health is of 'frequent occurrence less meat should bo eaten and less white bread; the proportion of green, - fresh : vegetables and of fruit ;■ • - should be increased. Some preserved fruits - will 1 also be found useful, such as prunes, " Imperial plums, dates, and figs. Oily- foods; are also desirable, such as sardines in oil 1 and oil with salads. * '* ' Should, however, a purgative be decided upon, which drugs are least open to objection? There are a great variety of quack, medicines" recommended foir tiliis purpose but we are unable conscientiously to advise ' the use of any of these, because their composition is kept secret, and we are ignorant' ■ of their constituents and of the proportions . of even the valuable drugs which they contain. 01 well-known remedies we may men-' tion first castor oil— vegetable preparation., This is excellent in many ways, and safe in \ action, but it is very nasty. An adult may. take one di two tablespoonfuls. ; Rhubarb, either as a powder or" as tine-i ture, is a safe and mild purgative, best; suited for children, as also is senna, which' is made for children into a syrup. Senna- 5 tea, the leaves infused in hot water, used to be a common remedy in schools. Jalap -powder is another favourite small ' dosesi are given in jam to children, and large doses for adults are given rubbed up in milk or: syrup. 1 ' Scammony resembles jalap. Aloes is a more powerful drug, generally made into pills, and should seldom be taken unless ordered by a doctor. The same may be said of podophyllin, a vegetable extract, given in pills. The most recent vegetable favourite is ease; this is very nasty in the liquid forms, but it is now in constant use in the form of sugar and chalk-coated tabloids. There are, then, the largo variety of mineral salts, such as sulphate of magnesia, sulphate of soda, phosphate of oda. These are taken freely diluted in water; they are safe and elective. Calomel is' a powerful mercurial purgative, once very commonly given in doses of one to five grains to grown-' . up persons, but has now almost fallen into disuse. HINTS FOR THE SLEEPLESS, If you suffer from insomnia perhaps of the following suggestions may help you. ( , Remember that drugs-should only be taken' under doctor's ■ order and when other '' methods fail. .. .. . .• ; .;V i , First consider the digestion any disorders : ■ affecting it should be attended to before the . question of sleeplessness is tackled, for by ; v curing indigestion one often secures restful'. > nights. s ' Other important matters are temperature and ventilation. The temperature .should not exceed 55deg. or 60deg, ; for the ordi- ; i| nary adult 55deg. will be right, but. old ( people and little children require more heat.. t-j Bedclothes should not be heavy, and blan- ;" kets are better than thick quilts. . They : . weigh less and are less stuffy. ,An eiderdown, .if well; ventilated with eyelet-holes, is all right, but otherwise it, by confining the,air, often makes the body feel feverish ' and renders sleep impossible.:^ Bathing; often induces sleep. Either aJ • hot or a cold plunge is frequently efficacious.. Care must be taken not to prolong the bath W:' too much, and a sponge bath or : foot bath ;J will answer the purpose in houses where there is no bathroom. ; After a brisk rub- ~ bing with towels retire to bed ; immediately:' and sleep will probably follow. ■""Massage is most helpful to some sufferers >' >1 from insomnia. If there be no one-at hand. who understands the art; anyone with fair ■ intelligence can rub the bead: and' the feet ; slowly and gently in such a way as to 'n-j duce.sleep. If this rubbing follows a warm[ . j bath, in . a quiet, . dark, or dimly-lighted room, the patient will probably be asleep: in a-quarter to half an hour. A hot drink) / on • retiring to bed is often exceedingly, use- ' ful, and for general use nothing is, probably f :'; better than hot milk or beef tea. . For the'. . aged a cup of black coffee on retiring some-. : times has excellent effect in inducing sleep.t. : by improving the cerebral circulation. When! ' sleeplessness is the result; of : over-fatigue. ' one may convert the fatigue' into natural' . tiredness by a little stimulant. • . 1 ; ;