The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1862-02-25
DYSPEPSIA AND CONSTIPATION.

This disease is not to be cured by medical pre-
scriptions got from books. You must get at the
cause and remove it. OF dyspeptics, scarcely
two may be affected alike. In many cases, abuse
of the stomach is doubtless the trouble. All
aperient pills increase the weakness which causes
the complaint; to this rule there is exception.
All nostrums and patent medicines of whatever
pretcnsions, injurious. In any
relief be obtained from their use.
Whoever tobacco or malt liquors. or even
coffee, and finds symptoms Of indigestion, must
first abandon these habits, and it will be time
enough to think of active medical treatment when
it is found that the disease is not removed Who
ever has troubled mind, or is confined to monot-
onous toll without exercise of labor bodily
recreation, and finds himself dyspeptc, must first
seek relief by correcting these causes; for, long
as they exist, pampering the disease, medicine
can be of no avail.
If there he any drain upon the vital powers in
any direction, beyond heathful moderation, it
must be checked before we can hope to return to
the digestive organs the vigor of which they are
robbed. No doctors stuff can supply the natural
forces which only the vital chemistry of the living
body can create Like intoxicating spirits
dyspeptic medicines may for the moment exhil-
crate patient and make him feel great things,
but afterwards, they each make the trouble greater
than before.
Beware of tea and toast, and such like diet as
remedies for dyspepsia. These but do impose
unreasonable tasks upon impaired digestion.
What is wanted is exactly the opposite regimen
namely, food that is small in bulk and rich in
substantial nutriment; something which with the
least power of exertOn the stomach can turn into
rich blood to relieve the poverty Of the fluids
Rare beef steak, for instance, not fried in pan of
fat and sole leathered, but quickly embrowued on
q grid-iron, and served up with the oozing juccs
of red life; and if fluid accompaniment is desired,
let try port wine weakened to suit the strength
of the organs, but rather reduced in quantity
than watered much.
Bran bread is Of no account in this disease 1t
is excellent for constipation, if used now and then
but not continuously. We must discriminate be-
tween these complaints. In constipation, often.
the digestion is even super-excellent and torpor
of the bowels, which occasions the trouble, is due
to the too thorough absorption of the liquid parts
OF our !, cd, leaving a resdum too dry and riuid
to be freely moved forward through the curvatures
of the lower bowels The distressing affIiction
grows out Of the impacton of matter in the colon
from this cause, giving dull pains which Danish
sleep and good humUr. Pills are not the remedy
for this distress, but tcpd cold water injections
which readily reach the colon. and by supplying
moisture, at an equal degree Of dampnes>, cause
the latter to crack and often fall to pieces. The
requisite degree of moisture is preserved by oc-
casionally throwing water the model with
syringe, the rosehead of which is perforated with
very fine holes by spriuklng it with large brush,
or hanging wet cloths over it during the inter
walls Of abor.-Sctentifc 1mcrican