Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1883-08-29
Medical Items.

| L uc W bC dhCCtCu W
rheumatic pains, lameness and stiffness
The reasen it is so often these joints il
preference to others, is due to theil
greater exposure. They are often put
directly upon the ground, in place oi
the feet, but without the protection oi
the boots. We use them in pushing
gates and doors and to hold things, "a
a harnessmaker uses his wise. The
knees are often the most exposed OF al
the joints; as in riding either in saddle
or vehicle, they are the first to get wet
or cold. They are above boots and be-
low the coat. These joints should be
protected, and when painful, should be
rubbed vigorously with hot water con-
tanning soda, then with course towel,
and lastly with three parts of fresh lard
to one of oil of peppermint.
To avoid nightmare and dreams,
sleep on the right side, never ON the
back. Let the supper come just five
hours after dinner and four hours before
retiring, and let it be very simple and
light. Eat no vegetables or cured
meats for supper. If you are still troub-
led with dreams, take a little salt in
water on retiring. And let those child
Ten who are very sleepy in the morning
do likewIse-take supper at five O'Clock
and retire at eight; they will waken
early and feel rested. With dinner at
twelve o'clock child is very hungry at
five, and if he eats his supper then, he
will have it digested enough by eight
O'Clock, so that he can sleep and get
fully rested by morning. But if he is
obliged to wait until six O'Clock (which
often means that the good housewife
intends to have supper at six and sue
ceeds at six and quarter, and the
''menfOlks" get ready at six and a
half, and finish at sevenj, he Is very
hungry and eats a great supper that
makes him feel dull and heavy; he re-
tires long before it can be digested,
and, with sleep, every activity of the
body is slowed, and the stomach joins
the other muscular apparatus i'll taking
a rest. The poor child is wakened with
difficulty. and feels worse than before
Very fieshy people may lay aside some
of their burden by avoiding the use of
sugar, starch and fat, eating very spar
ingly of these. Vegetables growing
underground increase ones weight.
Remember the fasts that have been un
broken for days and weeks without
harm. Lean meat will not increase
obesity.
A dropsical swelling may occur al
most anywhere, and is to be distinguish
ed by its smoothness, natural heat and
color, and by the fact that, if firmly
pressed upon by the thumb for ten Sc
conds, it leaves the imprint of the
thumb for a little time, gradually be-
coming smooth again. A bandage is
useful, after gentle friction for a few
minutes. Rest and quiet are useful.
But the cause should be determined by
a competent person. Among the COM
mon causes are leaking of the hearts
valves; thinness of the blood, which is
sometimes watery lin which case the
sufferer is pale and emaciated), and
disease of the kidneys. The dropsy it
self is not disehse, but the result of
disease. The causes are nearly always
mechanical; either there is too much
pressure. or the circulating fluid is thin
enough to escape through its tubes.
The pressure on the veins of the ankle
is chanical-increased when one
stands, diminished when one lies down.
The heart pushes the blood in jets to
the eXtremities, its return is in a steady
stream. Veins have valves that hold
the blood above them from settling
back, away from the heart. Muscular
action passes the veins and relaxes them
by turns, thus increasing the motion of
the blood through the valves.