, 1882-07-14
About Emetics.

we are aware, DuV lHch Iutit SClStCt
and common sense to be displayed in
fine use of them, in the way of Undue
ING the nausea, after all. These
medicines, among certain class of
people, are fayorite remedies in the
treatment of numerous complaints,
and we do not know that they are
used as often as they ought to be, in
the place of other remedies, among
the people in general. Emetics, at
certain times, are very valuable
agents and nothing else will take the
place of them. They are just as inn
portant, in their particular places as
cathactics, or opiates, or astringents,
and yet, we suppose, from their inn
agined inelegant mode of operating,
are often substituted for more agree
able if not more suitable remedies. A
man has overloaded his stomach, for
instance. He is much oppressed,
feels squeamish and uncomfortable,
and perhaps has a little pain A
heavy load is experinced under his
waistcoat, his mouth is foul, and he
is more or less troubled with flautu-
lence. He wants to get rid of great
deal of the stuff" he has swallowed,
he knows he does, and he knows that
by his feelings his gastric friend is
overburdened and irritated by his in
diligence; but he does not do it. His
stomach labors on in the work he has
imposed upon it, and, to assist in the
process, he swallows dose of brandy,
or takes a dozen cathartic pills to
hurry it through his organism. This
isn't common sense, for the veriest
idiot would know that all that was
necessary was to evacuate the stom-
ach. Sometimes, too, after eating,
digestion goes on for an hour or two,
and then is suddenly arrested by a
remaining indigestiblc particle or
portion, and more or less spasm, nau-
sea or cramp in the stomach is ex-
perienced. Nature rebels against
such food, and the stomach is unable
to dispose of it. and hence the outcry
and evident desire for it's removal.
In this instance, also, a gentle "horn"
is resorted to, OF else the high pres
sure pills, and then the difficulty is
disposed Of We say disposed Of; it
is not disposed of at all, It's smoth-
ering an artery to stop its bleeding
or blowing it out with powder to
hasten the end of the process.
Happily, many individuals are the
possessors Of stomachs that are capa-
ble of summarily getting rid Of un-
welcome substances of their own
accord, of going it ON their muscle,
and of disposing of this or that in
whichever way their own good judg
ment seems fit to dictate. The man
or woman who digests their food
through the agency of such an organ
as this is possessed of wealth that
money can't be compared to, or that
money cannot buy. Now, it is to
serve this purpose that emetics, in
their various forms, have been given
us
All medicines were intended for
some good object, to assist some or
gan of our body, or the bodies Of the
lower animals, to perform their duty,
or to correct them when disposed to
wander from the path of rectitude.
Emetics are prominent remedies in
the indications which arise in our
daily life for the need of some cor
rective; but, rs a class, they are very
little made use of, and very little un-
derstood in the walks of life. They
are infinitely more useful than ca
thartics, the great resort of people Of
the present day, and at all times a
much less harmful and exhaustive
remedy. People OF olden times
made use of these remedies with the
utmost impunity. An emetic was
administered for everything, from a
simple toothache down to the most
extensive and dangerous ills, and
often they were taken for pleasure,
as we take glss of wine, Ito clear
the head and facilitate the flow of
animal spirits" 1t is related i'll some
work on materia medica that indiyid-
uals in those days We're in the habit
of "discharging their dinners by
these convenient means, that they
might have the pleasure Of again
going through the process OF eating.
The deed was often done two OF three
times in succession, that thus they
might prolong the pleasures OF the
table till their appetites were thor
oughly satisfied.
This would be rather too much of
a good thing" yet we believe it is
wrong that they should have fallen
into such general disuse as they have
to-day. Cathartics could divide half
of their glory; or even more, to this
class of medicines, with great deal
of benefit to the people. But this is
the way we go, first way up and then
way down; first one extreme than an
other. Years ago we abused emetlcs,
to day we are doing the same thing
with cartharti,s, and it should not be.
A discrimination should be made be