Physicians’ treatment for Appendicitis.—­The bowels should at first be moved by an enema, The patient should be perfectly quiet in bed.  The ice-bag should be applied to the part, but wrapped in flannel and flannel also on the skin, It must not be allowed to make the flesh too cool.  This coolness relieves the inflammation of the part.  Small doses, from one-tenth to one drop, of aconite can be given for the fever and inflammation the first twenty-four hours.  Dose every one to three hours.  But little medicine is now given in appendicitis.

[118 Mothers’ remedies]

Caution.—­Keep the bowels regular, especially if you have ever had appendicitis before, also be careful of your eating.  This disease will attack high livers, hearty eaters and those with constipated bowels more quickly than others.

Inflammation of the bowels.  Mothers’ Remedies.—­1.—­Inflammation of the Bowels, Excellent Remedy for.—­“First bathe the abdomen with warm salt water, then lay over the navel a piece of lard the size of black walnut.  Hold the hand over this until it softens; then rub well into the bowels.  This often relieves when pills and powders fail.”  The massaging brings about action of the bowels without a cathartic usually.  Sweet oil or olive oil instead of lard, will do as well.

2.  Inflammation of the Bowels, Red Beet Poultice for.—­“Take red beets; chop up, put in bag, warm a little and put across the stomach.  This will draw out the inflammation quickly and makes a very good poultice.”

3.  Inflammation of the Bowels, Hop Poultice for.—­“Take hops, strain them and put in a sack.  Lay across the stomach and bowels.”

4.  Inflammation of the Bowels, Griddle Cake Poultice for.—­“Apply hot griddle cakes on bowels.  This acts as a poultice, and should be replaced as soon as cold.”  This remedy saved my life when I was seventeen years of age.  Am now fifty.  This remedy will be found very good, but care should be taken not to burn the patient.

5.  Cold or Pain in the Bowels, Spice Poultice for Child or Adult.—­“Take a cloth sack large enough to cover abdomen; take all kinds of ground spices, put in the bag and tie up, sprinkle bag lightly with alcohol, just enough to dampen spices; lay this on abdomen.”  This serves as a poultice and is an excellent remedy for this trouble.  This may be used for a child as well as an adult.

6.  Inflammation of the Bowels, Simple Remedy Always at Hand for.—­“Apply hot woolen cloths to abdomen as hot as can be wrung out, change every few minutes.  My life was saved twice when I was several hundred miles from a doctor by this treatment.”  This simple but never failing remedy is easily prepared and, as we all know, heat is the most essential thing for this trouble, especially moist heat.

7.  Inflammation of the Bowels, a Rather Unique Remedy for.—­“Cut the head off of a hen, cut open down the breast, take out the inwards, pound flat and roll with rolling pin and apply to the bowels.  This will draw out all inflammation, but must be done in as little time as possible.”  The above remedy can do no harm.  Many people use it.  Perhaps other poultices would be easier to prepare, just as effective and save the hen.