[138 Mothers’ remedies]

2.  Constipation, Substitute for Castor Oil.—­“Take good clean figs, and stew them very slowly in olive oil until plump and tender, then add a little honey and a little lemon juice, and allow the syrup to boil thick.  Remarks.—­Keep this in a covered glass jar and when a dose of castor oil seems necessary, a single fig will answer every purpose.  Not unpleasant to take.”

3.  Constipation, Hot Water for.—­“A cup of hot water, as hot as one can drink it, a half an hour before breakfast.”  The hot water thoroughly rinses the stomach and helps the bowels to carry off all the impurities.

4.  Constipation.  Excellent Nourishment for Old People.—­“A tablespoonful of olive oil three times a day internally for weak or very old people:  it can be injected,—­used as an enema.”  Olive oil will be found very beneficial for young people as well as old.  It acts as a food for the whole system and is very nourishing.

5.  Constipation, Salt and Water for.—­“A pinch of salt in a glass of water taken before breakfast every morning.  I have found it a very good remedy.”  This is a remedy easily obtained in any home and will be found very helpful.  Few people seem to realize how valuable salt is as a medicine.  It acts as a stimulant and loosens the bowels.

6.  Constipation, Water Cure for.—­“Drink a quantity of water on retiring and during the day.”  This simple home remedy has been known to cure stubborn cases of constipation if kept up faithfully.

7.  Constipation, Tonic and Standard Remedy for.—­“Calomel one ounce, wild cherry bark one ounce, Peruvian bark one ounce, Turkish rhubarb ground one ounce, make this into one quart with water, then put in sufficient alcohol to keep it.”  Dose:—­Take a small teaspoonful each morning when the bowels need regulating, or you need a stimulating tonic.

8.  Constipation, Glycerin and Witch-Hazel Remedy Where Castor Oil Failed—­ “Equal parts of glycerin and witch-hazel.”  Dose :—­One teaspoonful every night at bedtime.  In severe cases where you have been unable to get a movement of the bowels by the use of other cathartics, take a teaspoonful every two hours until the bowels move freely.  This remedy has been known to cure when castor oil and other remedies have failed.

9.  Constipation, Well-known Remedy for.—­

“Fluid Extract Cascara Sagrada    1 ounce
Syrup Rhubarb                     1 ounce
Simple Syrup                      2 ounces

Mix.”

One teaspoonful at night or fifteen drops four times a day for an adult.

[Digestive organs 139]

10.  Constipation, Effective Remedy, in the most Stubborn Cases of.—­

“Fluid Extract Cascara Sagrada   1 ounce
Fluid Extract Wahoo              1 ounce
Neutralizing Cordial             2 ounces

Mix.”

Adults may take a teaspoonful of this mixture before retiring, this will be found very effective in the most stubborn cases of constipation.