The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1854-08-17
From the 81. Louis family Journal Of Homocpall,y
Constipation.


/ Constipation.
1 The first observation we have to make on
this complaint, and which we may well con.
slider problcmatical, is that every one whose
bowels are constpated, may congratulate
himself that he hns no worse complaint
Whoever has paid attention to the subject
must be aware that nearly all persons who
are disposed to costiveness, live long and
keep their strength, except when they in
jure themselves by taking aperent med-
cines. Those Oh the contrary, who are sub
ject to frequen diarrhoea are early in life
debilitated and seldom grow old No diar-
rhoea can appear where there is not some
poisonous noxious matter, or morbid DISPOSE
ton in the body, while on the other hand,
much perspiration, and the eating of animal
food are sufficient to produce constipation.
The very popular opinion that purgiDg con-
tributes to health, not only when the body
suffers from sickness but also occasionally
when it is in a healthy state and that impu-
rites are driven out oIthe body by it. is en-
] tirely erroneous and without foundation. II
serves 20 keep up the sale Of drugs, and it
has been repealed for some years until it is
almost universally received. 1t is part of
the traditionary medical creed of the world
and no one dares to doubt it. Physicians
spread and this idea, because their whole art
consists chiefly in bleeding, purging, and
giving emetics. This creed is the pivot up
on which the whole of the old system turns
and patients, deferring to authority must
need submit. When this erroneous method
Of treatment is prescribed with due conf
dence and solemnity, heart and purse (but
! not always the bowels) open, and persons
in sound health feel downright longing
to be properly scrubbed and cleaned in
side
Every one who will make the following
experiment upon horse, or upon himself,
will be convinced that our supposition to
purging is well founded. Let aperient med
icines G taken for a week, and however
good may have been the state Of the health
previously at the termination OF this period
all sorts OF impurities will be discharged,
particularly after jalap and Colonel. AS tn
happens in every instance, either to man
or beast, and even to those who had never
been i'll, il is proof that these impurities
have been produced by drugs. We are fire.
quen,y able to Judge from the nature OF the
secretion what has administer. After salts
the evasion always smells like rotten eggs,
after drastic gums they are thin and watc-
ry--after mercury, green, and after magne-
STA and rhubarb generally sour, &c. " hen
we inquire into the cause which produces
this purrinc, we find that all poisonous sub
stances have similar effect, and that for
this reason we may class the purgatIvcs with
proprietv among the poisons. Some esteem
them real godsend, and imagine that these
drugs have been created for this very pur-
pose. But if we admit that these drugs are
intended TO be used as medicines, 1t 10 no
reason because we see them produced IN
larre quantities, that we should make an ex
.ensiye use OF them Virulent poisons, al
though given in small portions, produce
vomiting and purging, or ininre the stomach.
The less yirulent poisons are called purga-
lives. merely because they do not kill imme-
,nedately, but are generally rejected BY ma
ture.
Persons suffering from constipation, and
seeking occasionally to be relieved, or SUI
ferino from other complaints connected with
it, should be given TO the manner OF living
moderation in the use Of meat, which must
not te eaten three times day, is to be OBJ
served free use of things salted Is to be
avoided: mastication attended to, especially
iftaeth have been lost, the food eaten TO be
well cut up, and considerable quantity of
vegetables, fruit and bread to be taken with
meat-soup to be INDUCED in, tea avoided,
and all sprituous liquors and beer which
contain uarcotics--sour milk or butter milk
to be preferred--dcsPised as these things
arc. vet the COW gives us nothing more
rhi
persons. Persons with whom constipation
is complaint should always eat fruit at
dinner. md dried fruit in preference or good
ripe apples; instead of butter and cheese
they should use apple sauce or apple but
ter; they should not chew or smoke before
meals, or should give up smoking altogether
which, besides being filthy habit, effects
the saliva; finally they should aeeustom
themselves to drink glass OF water before
going to bed.