Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-06-10
BILIOUSNESS AND IT'S TREATMENT.
What Bilious People Should Eat How to Avoid
Sudden Attacks of BiliOusness.

What Bilious People Should Eat. How to Avoid
Sudden Attacks of BiliOusness.
The Family Doctor in Casselrs Family Magazine
for June
The symptoms of biliOusness are I'M
happily but too well known. They differ
in different individuals to some extent,
however A bilious man is seldom a
breakfast-eater. Too frequently, alas! he
has an excellent appetite for liquids, but
lone for solids of morning. His tongue
viii hardly bear Inspection at any time;
If it is not white and furred, it is rough
at all events. The digestive system is
wholly out OF order; diarrhoea, or constipa-
: ton, may be a symptom, or the Two may
alternate. There are very often hemorr-
holds, or loss of blood even.
There may be giddiness, and often
headache, and acidity or fatulence, and
tendernessla lat the base of the stomach. The
pain felt in the right shoulder would in
dictate an extra bad case, but apart from
this, there are aching pains and even stiff
ness in the limbs, with more or less of
cramps in the limb muscles, or burning in
the palms of the hands, with hot perspir-
ing feet.
There may be drowsiness and torpor BY
" :
sorts and conditions of mind, especially
irritability: fits of bad temper that come
on suddenly and go off again, and that
none are so thoroughly grieVed at as the
poor patient himself.
Bilious people generally fly for relief to
aperient pills, and there is no doubt that
they often afford temporary relief by re-
lieving the over-gOrged liver. This really
is antiphlogistic treatment, but it as
suredly is not radical. When tish-pOnd
overhows it's banks, we may let off por-
tion of the water, but after this we ought,
methinks, to find our way to- the other
end of the pool and lessen the inflow.
Well, just a word about treatment.
First and foremost, then, in sudden bill
Gus attacks, that are often accompanied
by great prostration, and by urgent vo-
hitting, it is best to send for medical
man. Such attacks generally come on in
the morning, at the time the body is most
weak | do not think upon the whole I
should be justified in suggesting medi
cinal remedies in this paper, for the
simple reason taat cases differ so. The
mineral acids and bitter vegetable tonics
often do good. SO does nux yomica, and
aconite. Then there is dandelion, and
chloride of ammonium, and alkalies. But
[ can only generalise. A blue pill and
colocynth, followed next day by glass
of Pulna water, will ward off many an at
tack, if the patient goes in for preventive
measures afterwards, and follows course
of rational living. The podOphyllin pill,
from quarter to half a grain of the ex-
tract, in three to five of extract of
hyOscyamus, may do as well as the blue
pill, if not better.
SOda-water or Whitewater and milk
should be drunk next day, and very little
solid food taken, though beef tea mixed
with arrowroot will be found very nourish-
ing; or raw egg beaten up in milk.
Little good will accrue from treating q
case like this, however, if, when he is once
more we'll, the patient returns to his old
non-hygienic habits of life.
''What am to do them" may be asked.
will tell you what you are not to do.
You are not to oyer-eat; you are not to use
sugar or fat to any extent, buildings, pas
try, Or cheese. You are not to touch alcohol.
You are not to sit in over heated rooms.
You are neither to over-wOrk nor over
worry yourself. And you are not to shirk
the mornlng-tub, nor plenty of exercise.
What are you to do for the acidity. Abb
stemiousness, aud Regulation of diet and
habits, will entirely Danish it, and you will
have the pleasure of knowing that its alb
sence is sign of regeneration of the liv-
or.
If you but try week of the treatment I
suggest, [ feel convinced, you will once
more feel pleasure in life, and an interest
in all your surroundings.
But acidity often leads to rheumatism
and on this subject I hope to have more to
say another day. I shall be quite satisfied
with my present paper if it put a few of
my readers on the right road to health,
and that can only be got at by seeking for
and removing first causes instead of treat
ing symptoms.