American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1879-04-05
CARE OF THE HEALTH,

CARE OF THE HEALTH.
OXIDE OF ZINC IN DIARRHEA.-Dr.
lacquer, of Nantes, recommends the
employment of oxide of zinc in diarrhea
The formula which he has employed is
the following: Oxide of zinc, 81 grains !;
packets, one to be taken every six hours.
In all the cases which he observed, oxide
of zinc produced rapid cure of diarrhea.
In fourteen cases observed by Puygau-
tier, the cure was even more rapid,
since in only one case were three doses
are considered to have been more salts
factory, inasmuch as in several cases
the malady had endured from one to
many months, and other methods of
treatment had not produced any i'm
provement. Thus he concludes that,
although by no means to be held as ex-
elusive treatment, the employment of
OXIDE of Zinc deserves to be more gen.
orally known as useful in diarrhea.
SALT IN INTERMITTENT FEVER. The
directions are to take a handful of pow
. dered white salt, such as is used in
kitchens, and roast it in a clean stove
(new, if possible) width moderate heat
till it becomes of a brown color, like
that of roasted coffee. The dose for an
adult is a soup spoonful dissolved in a
glass of warm water, taken at once. 1t
should be stated that when the fever
makes its appearance at intervals of
two, three, or four days, the remedy
should be taken fasting, on the morning
of the day following the fever. To
overcome the thirst excited by the salt,
but small quantity of water should be
taken through a straw. During the 48
hours which followed the taking of the
salt, the appetite should be satisfied with
chicken or beef broth only; it is espe-
cially necessary at the time to observe a
severe diet, and to avoid taking cold.
The author asserts that during the Is
years that he has used this method OF
treatment he has never been unsuccess-
full The remedy is certainly harmless,
and perhaps worthy of . trial.-French
Medical Journal.
SLEEP u AND sLEErLEssxEss.-Al-
though sleep is a natural and involuntary
stntesit may be greatly promoted by
Maintaining . good state of health, by
daily open-air exercise or by riding or
sailing with the face exposed to the air.
by having the stomach free from q
heavy meal or any indigestible sub
stance, and by the mind being undis-
turbed with cares Overfatigue, in
diligence in food or drink beyond what
nature requires, want of proper exer-
else, and mental disquietude, are all
causes of sleeplessness. Breathing in a
confined or over-heated apartment is
also not unusual cause of broken slum-
Der. The temperature most suitable for
sleep is about CO., which gives the sensa-
ton of neither heat nor cold, and ad-
mits of q moderate amount of bed
clothes being used.
r. The best posture for sleep is to lie on
the right or left side, with the arms
crossed over the breast in front, and the
head well up on the pillow. The mouth
should be shut, SO that the breathing
may be carried on exclusively through
the nose. Some persons acquire habit
of sleeping with the mouth open, which
causes the grotesque and offensive &C.
ton of snoring. Going to sleep while
ly ing on the back should be avoided, as,
besides inducing the sleeper to snore, it
is apt to cause disturbing dreams.
When lying down to sleep, the mind
SHOULD be as composed as possible.
Thinking ought to be guarded against,
as productive of wakefulness. Those
who, from nervous irritability, are
habitually bad sleepers, resort to vari-
GUS expedients to secure the blessings
of repose.s One of the most successful
plans consists in mentally repeating q
familiar poem or psalm, so as to alter
the train of thought and lull the con-
seriousness. fa4
1t is a well ascertained fact that sleep,
begins at the extremities; the feet sleep
first, and then the rest of the person.
On this account, in order TO fall asleep,
we require not only to compose the
thinking faculties, but to keep the feet
still. The feet must also have an agree
able warmth. With consciousness of
this fact, the North American Indians,
and others who are in the habit of hi
vouacking in the open air when on dis
tant expeditions, sleep with their feet
toward fire which they kindle for the
purpose. t
Certain drugs act as an opiate and
produce sleep when ordinsry means
fail but these should never be taken
unlessby medical sanction. The prac
tice of using opiates is most detrimental
to health, and, if persevered in. is ruin
Gus to the constitution Coffee and 9th
er beverages act variously on different
individuals. They exhilarate some, and
others they send to sleep. Tea usually
acts as an exhilarant, by stimulating
the nervous system, and should not be
taken less than four hours before going
to bed. ..... f,0
While it is ascertained that sleep is
connected with the state of the brain,