Physicians’ treatment for Constipation. 1.  One year to three years.—­For infants one teaspoonful or less of black molasses or store syrup, or of olive oil; and Mellin’s food eaten dry, is good for babies a year and older.

2.  Small Children.—­Increase cream in the milk, give oatmeal or barley water.  Castile soap suppository, enema, massage, castor oil, or citrate of magnesia if drugs are needed.

3.  Older Children.—­In older children, fruit, oatmeal, etc.  Black molasses is good for children, one to two teaspoonfuls.

4.  Fluid Extract of Cascara Sagrada.—­Dose:  ten to sixty drops at night.  This is good for a great many cases and sometimes it cures the trouble, but on the other hand it seems to injure some people.

5.  The Aromatic Cascara is also good; doses are larger and pleasant to take.  This is more agreeable for children.

6.  The Compound Licorice Powder is a mild, simple laxative and effective.  It is composed of senna eighteen parts, licorice root powder sixteen parts, fennel eight parts, washed sulphur eight parts, sugar fifty parts.  Dose:—­One to two teaspoonfuls.

7.  For one dose, or one capsule, the proportions would be: 

One        amount for
capsule       one dozen
Aloin                    1/4 grain       3 grains
Extract of Belladonna    1/8 grain       10 grains
Extract Nux Vomica       1/4 grain       3 grains
Powdered Gentian           3 grains     36 grains

Mix and put up in twelve capsules and take one at night.

There are many tablets and pills made that can be bought at any drug store.  No doubt some of them are first class, though perhaps not attaining to that high degree of virtue claimed in their advertising columns.

[144 Mothers’ remedies]

Itching of the anus. (Itching Piles) (Pruritus ani).Causes.—­An inherited or an acquired nervous constitution.  Disease of the colon, rectum or anus.  Improper diet.  Skin affections in that region.  Operations about the rectum and anus with resulting discharge sometimes.  Diseases in the neighboring organs.  Disease of the general system.  Diarrhea, discharge of mucus and pus, fissure, etc.  Irregular habits and dissipation.  Over-seasoned foods such as lobster, salmon, shell-fish and foods containing much grease or starch are especially conducive to it; the same is true of tea, coffee, cocoa, strong alcoholic drinks.  Skin diseases, lice, pin worms often cause it.

After Operations.—­Some part has not healed, and there is left an irritating discharge.

Symptoms.—­There is intense itching at the anus, increased by warmth, and contact of the buttocks.  The itching grows worse after the patient becomes warm in bed.  It may spread and extend to the scrotum, down the limbs and sometimes over the lower back.

Physicians’ treatment for itching of anus.  Preventive and Palliative.