[108 Mothers’ remedies]

Bitter tonics can be taken such as gentian, columbo, quassia.  Change of air and scene may be needed.  Sometimes morphine must be given for the attack.  A physician should do this.  If there is much gas, soda and peppermint are good.

Diarrhea:—­Causes.

(a) Improper or excessive food, including green or over-ripe fruit.

(b) Poison substances; such as decomposed milk or meat either fresh or canned:  or caused by arsenic, mercury or colchicum.

(d) Exposure to cold, wet or draughts.

(c) Stomach disorder, preventing thorough digestion.

(e) Extension of inflammation from other organs.

Symptoms.—­Sudden colicky pain in the bowels, moving about with rumbling noises.  The pain is not constant and is followed at intervals with a sudden extreme desire to empty the bowels.  The stools may be four to twenty a day, watery or gruel-like in appearance and they sometimes contain mucus or undigested food.  The stools usually relieve the pain for the time.  It usually lasts two or three days or longer.

Mothers’ remedies.—­Diarrhea.—­1.  “Wild Sage Tea.”  Wild sage tea is a very good remedy for bowel trouble because of its astringent virtues.  Before the sage is used, however, the bowels should be thoroughly cleansed with castor oil or salts.

2.  Diarrhea, Egg and Nutmeg for.—­“Beat up an egg, grate in half a nutmeg and sweeten to taste.  Repeat two or three times during the day.  Remarks:  Has been known to help in chronic cases when doctors’ medicine failed.”

3.  Diarrhea, Scorched Flour and Sugar for.—­“Scorched flour in boiled milk or scorched flour and sugar eaten dry is very good.  This is a simple but a never failing remedy if taken right at the beginning of the trouble.”

4.  Diarrhea, Excellent Compound for.—­

“Paregoric                 1 ounce
Tincture of Camphor      1/2 ounce
Tincture of Ginger       1/2 ounce
Tincture of Red Pepper   1/2 ounce
Essence of Peppermint    1/2 ounce
Ether                    1/2 ounce

    Mix.—­Dose for adult, one teaspoonful to four of water every two hours
    if necessary.  This is an excellent remedy.”

5.  Diarrhea, Spice Poultice for.—­“Make a poultice of all kinds of ground spices, heat whisky and wet the poultice, apply to the stomach and bowels.”

6.  Diarrhea, Blackberry Root Tea for.—­“One-half ounce blackberry root boiled in one pint water fifteen minutes, strain.  Dose.—­One teaspoonful every hour or two until relieved.”

[Digestive organs 109]

7.  Diarrhea, Hot Milk, for.—­“A glass of sweet milk that has been boiled well.  Drink hot; use several times daily until checked.”

8.  Diarrhea, Castor Oil for.—­“Castor oil.  Dose.—­One to four teaspoonfuls according to age.  Wrap warm flannel around abdomen.”

9.  Summer Complaint, Former Canadian’s Remedy for.—­“Eat one blossom of the May weed every hour or two until relieved.  This remedy came from Port Huron and has been used by my father with success.”