Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1850-09-04
DYSENTERY.

This disease will generally yield to varl.
Gus aslringent medicines, some Of which
are known tp slmos, every family. But,
occasionally, i. prevails as an epidemic, and
is very malignant, and sometimes fatal. In
such cases, it bids defiance to all common
medicines, and resort mus. be had to those
Of a more powerful nature.
For an obstinate case Of the dysentery,
we consider charcoal powder one Of the
safest and most efficacious remedies. Some
years ago, friend had child that fingered
long with all obstinate case Of dysen,ery,
until it became emaciateG, and so debilitated
that the attending ply ysician concluded sha,
any further medical aid was useless, as i:
was hopeless case. Some persons sug-
gested to the desponding parent that char
coal would be remedy, and i, was adminis-
tered, and the child unexpectedly recovered
This and other similar cases, with the
consideration Of the peculiar properties of
charcoal, as admirably adapted TO this pur-
pose, have induced us 10 use it, in our fami-
ly, for dysen.ery and protracted cases of
summer complain, in children, and we have
always found i. sure remedy but we
would remark that we have no, had to treat
very severe cases; not having any of very
violen, attack, and by the use of this reme-
dy, preventing any cases of long standing.
Having had no definite rules for prepar
ing this medicine, nor prescriptions for
dose, we have followed our own judgment,
as follows Take some pieces of white
pine,-which every one can obtain, as most
boards are made of this ,imber,-perfeclly
pure, being free from knots or discoloration;
burn them ill they begin to fall TO peices,
then quench them. Crumble this charcoal
upon plate, and mix it with honey enough
to make paste, if the palien. can take no.
ney if not or If it is not convenient, use
moasses or lard. When made into paste
which prevents the charcoal flying away,
rub it thoroughly on the plate with case
knife, until it is ground ss fine as possible.
Add some more honey or molasses, and
give it alone, or in warm wafer, or herb tea.
To nursing infants, give teaspoonful for a
dose TO adults, tablespoonful. If i, does
not check the disease, repea, i, in light
doses.
! In very severe cases Of dysentery the in
ner coat Of the bowels sloughs of, and the
excoriated inlestines bleed and are very ten
der. As the foul matter should be removed,
it is not always advisable to stop the dis
charges Immediately by the most powerful
astringent therefore i. is better to give a
light dose of some gentle laxative with the
charcoal. Honey, moasses and lard are all
laxatives, and when the recent discharges
have been very foul it may be we'll TO give
very light doses Of castor oil with the char
coal. Give also tea of raspberry leaves,
for infama,ion of the bowels, and light
doses of hot drops, to relieve pain, which
also checks the disease, and promotes a
healthy action Of the bowels.
We use white pine, and grind it fine, SO
that there be no gri. to erritate the bowels.
We use the charcoal Immediately after burn
ed, or that which has been recently burned
and kept corked iigh, in bottles, as freshly
burned charcoal is powerful absorbent OF
gasses, particularly Of amonla and foul odor,
and if it becomes saturated, il will have less
effect as medicine.
Charcoal is a powerful an,iseptic and is
excellent to prevent modification, to which
the in,eslines are tending, as they become
putr Charcoal is a good purifier in
nature. Tainted mea, is purified and made
sweet by boiling it in pot with some
pieces Of charcoal. Morifa,ion has been
cured by charcoal pou,ices. Charcoal dust
is s.yp,ic, and is used with success in stop
ping blood. II also correc,s acid.y in the
stomach. These are its chemical qualities,
and j. may have other valuable properties
Mechanically, charcoal dust is loosening
like sand, and is therefore, less liable 10 pro-
duce too sudden stoppage of the lax.