Mothers’ remedies.—­1.  Pregnancy, A Great Aid for.—­“Soothing syrup or Mother’s friend, while pregnant.  Two ounces each of cramp bark, blue cohosh, slippery elm, raspberry leaves, squaw vine, orange peel and bitter root.  Simmer gently in sufficient water to keep herbs covered for two hours, strain and steep gently down to one quart.  Let it stand to cool, then add one cup granulated sugar, and four ounces alcohol.  Dose.—­One tablespoonful two or three times a day for several weeks before the birth of the child.  This has been thoroughly tried and causes an easy birth where difficulty has been expected.”

2.  Nausea of Pregnancy, Menthol and Sweet Oil for.—­“Vomiting and nausea of pregnancy; a twenty per cent solution of menthol in sweet oil; use ten drops on sugar when nausea appears.”  The menthol acts on the stomach and quiets it.  This will be found very beneficial.

3.  Pregnancy, Bouillon or Broth for.—­“Was weak and generally run down.  Family physician warned me I would never survive the birth of another child.  I bought each day several beef bones and boiled them for three hours.  I also bought chicken feet, scalded them and scraped them until the outside skin peeled off, then boiled the chicken feet with the bones.  Skim surface from time to time.  I would then heat up a raw egg in a glass and fill glass with this broth and drink it warm.”  This lady would take a glass whenever thirsty or six or seven times a day.  She increased in strength immediately, within a year was the mother of a healthy baby girl now nineteen years old and believes her life was saved by the above.  Anyone will find this worth trying.

[Obstetrics or midwifery 523]

Indigestion and Heart-burn.—­This should be treated the same as under other conditions.  Diet, habits, should be regulated.  The bowels and kidneys should be regulated and do their eliminating work.  For heart-burn the popular remedy, magnesia may be taken or dilute hydrochloric acid with nux vomica.  One teaspoonful or effervescing citrate of magnesia dissolved in water and drank, is a convenient remedy.  Also, five drops of diluted hydrochloric acid in water, taken after meals, through a tube, and one or two drops of nux vomica before meals is beneficial.  The following is an excellent combination from Dr. Hare, of Philadelphia: 

Dilute Hydrochloric Acid                      2 drams
Essence of Pepsin                             1 ounce
Compound Tincture of Gentian enough to make   4 ounces

Mix.  Take one or two teaspoonfuls in a little water with meals.

In cases where it is impossible to eat anything the patient must be fed by the rectum.  In such cases a doctor must be called.  Fortunately such severe cases are very rare.  The following for rectal feeding is given by Dr. Manton, of Detroit, and is a good combination.  Give every four hours: 

    Liquid Beef Peptonoids 3 drams
    White of an Egg
    Whisky 3 drams
    Beef Tea or Warm Water enough to make 3 ounces