The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1825-10-05
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from the Boston Medical Intelligencer. J
HEALTH OF SEPTEMBER.

I1GS1A IL Vi DIR EsJu D I1(l.
Since making our last monthly report,
there has been distressing reverse in
the health Of the inhabitants of many
parts of our country. Fever, cholera,
and dysentery, have spread their pestif-
erous influences through every district,
and broken with unrelenting force the
ties of family, kindred and friends. In
fants and the aged havetsufered most
from the diseases of this seasons
though the dearest and most defenceless
members of the community are the most
likely to fall victims to the ravages of
death. 1t is certain that much may be
done by judicious attention to clothing,
exercise and diet, to defend weak con-
stitutions, and fortify strong ones, against
the attacks OF disease. But there is such
a thing as too much, or mistaken kind
ness; mothers are too apt to be eternal
ly dosing, and forcing down the threats
of their children "a iargon of nostrums
and nursery specifics, which, by inter
rupting the natural functions Of the d.
gestive organs, disturbing the healthy
circulation ofthe blood, and effeminating
the whole system, are certain, if any
thing can do it, to kindle up the fame
of fever, or whatever disease the hab-
1t is most predisposed to take, instead of
extiDguishing it. Let mothers and nurs-
es at once renounce this pernicious Gus
tom of blindly experimenting with the
health of their children, which is moth
ing less than tampering with machines,
the organization of which they are en-
tlrely ignorant. Medicines, to do good
In any case, must be stronger than the
cause of the disease which they are in
tended to counterfeit. If employed In
a manner to be efficient, aud without a
clear understanding of the object to be
attained, they will be as likely to con-
firm and strengthen the disease, as to
oppose it. If, as is generally the case
IN nurseries, such articles only are made
use of, and in such quantities as cannot
do any hart j! they do no good, nothing
can be gained, and the time will be lost
in worse than useless delay, which
might have otherwise been employed
in overcoming incipieut disease, and
rescuing from premature death an object
of the fondest hope and of the utmost
solicitude.
The Importance of warm clothing,
both in the prevention and cure of bow
ell complaints, is too obvious to require
much said on the subject. We will on
ly observe, therefore, that warmth
should be the first object; for if a per-
son only wears his ordinary clothing, he
will receive comparatively little benefit
from the use of any other means. A
waistcoat of flannel or fieecy hosiery
ought always to be worn next the skin
when there is the least appearance of
disorder of the bowels, and should be
laid aside with the greatest caution.
The bowels should be kept lax, and
free from whatever has tendency to
create irritation and gripping. EPSON,
or Glauber's salts, are better for this
purpose than castor oil or most other
'Purgatives. In the beginning of bowel
complaints, particularly dysentery, it is
improper to employ either opiates or
astringents; but in the advanced stage
of diseases of this description, when the
patients strength is exhausted by fire.
quent returns of the complaint, proceed
ing rather from relaxed state of the
bowels, than from an active stage of the
disease, a judicious use Of these rene
dies will be proper and beneficial, taxi
ing care TO obviate costiveness, and
evacuate the contents Of the intestines
from time 10 time, by administering
some gentle laxative. A few grains Of
rhubarb at this time is the best. Every
sort of food which readily tends to pu-
tretactioD, also all kinds Of fermented or
splrituous liquors, ought carefully to
be avoided throughout the whole course
of this class Of disorders, 4-s