Treatment.—­Great relief is experienced in the attacks by the hot baths or fomentations which sometimes are able to cause the spasm to relax.  If the pain is very severe morphine should be given by the hypodermic method and inhalations of chloroform given until morphine has had time to act.  Local applications are sometimes grateful,—­hot poultices or cloths wrung out of hot water may be helpful.  Cloths wrung out of steaming hop, wormwood, or smartweed teas, are of benefit sometimes.  Change of position often gives relief; when the stone is large an operation may be needed.  The patient should drink freely of hot lemonade, soda water, barley water.  When the patient is free from the attack, he should live a quiet life and avoid sudden exertion of all kinds.  There should be a free passage of urine always.  The patient should drink daily a large but definite quantity of mineral, or distilled water which is just as satisfactory.  You may take the citrate or bicarbonate of potash.  Mineral springs are good to visit, such as Saratoga, Hot Springs, Arkansas, etc.  Abstain from alcohol and eat moderately.  Live an open-air life with plenty of exercise and regular hours.  The skin should be kept active; a cold friction bath in the morning is good, if one is strong; but if he is weak and debilitated the evening warm bath should be substituted.  The patient should dress warmly, avoid rapid alterations in temperature, and be careful not to allow the skin to become suddenly chilled.

Diet.—­Most persons over forty eat too much.  One should take plenty of time to eat, and not too much meat should be eaten.

“Queen of the Meadow.”—­The Indians used this medicine quite frequently in the treatment of kidney and bladder troubles.  A lady, whom I know well, told me that she had a cousin who was affected with the kidney stone colic.  At one time, when he was suffering from an attack, an Indian happened in their home and saw him suffering.  He went into the meadow and dug some of this remedy and made a tea of it.  It seemed to do the work, for while he gave it, the pain was eased and he never had any more attacks.  I give this for what it is worth.  The remedy will certainly do no harm for it is a good diuretic.

Inflammation of the bladder. (Cystitis).  Causes.—­It may occur from injury from passing a catheter, etc., from the use of drugs like cantharides, from the presence of a stone, from stricture of the urethra and from gonorrhea or cold.

Symptoms.—­The urine is passed more frequently, sometimes the desire to pass the urine is almost constant.  The distress is relieved for only a few minutes by passing the urine; sometimes only a few drops are passed, and it gives no relief from the desire for passing urine.  The straining is extremely severe.  Sometimes the patient will lean over the vessel quivering with the muscular effort to pass urine.  The bowels often move at the same time from the straining.  The urine becomes thick with much mucus, then scanty, and then tinged with blood.