The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1888-11-11
KIDNEY DISEASE.
Mistaken symptoms and the More
Reliable Ones.


which can he overcome WITH simple
means. with which every one should
be familiar. In constipation. Tor m
stance. remedies are found on the
table: in other words the trouble can.
in nearly all cases. be overcome by
PROPERLY REGULATING THE prEr-
Dietetic treatment s. often all that IS
necessary in nuHiberiess other afiiic-
lions. and surely it can he safely APP
piled by person possessing a reason
able amour. OF intelligence. To keep
within the limits OF safety, one must
draw the lire a: drugs They -houid
not be used except by those who have
a full knowledge OF their action Very
many people are unmindfui OF the
dangers OF .sphysic tipping, " and do
themselves much harm by II. Al
, medicines are dangerous unless taken
under proper conditions and IN cor
rect doses. ChIorate OF potash, which
| is a popular remedy for sore throat, Is
considered harmless, and Is, therefore,
| often taken in much too large duanl-
ties. Death in consequences OF an over
dose occurred in this city some wears
ago. Hence. in attempting self-treat-
| ment. let drugs alone. is rule which
all viii do well to observe. Al things
considered, it cannot be, by any
any means. held that little knowi-
edge OF medicine is dangerous thing.
And instead OF discouraging the nom
| professional against studying the
causes. nature and symptoms OF
| disease. be should he encouraged TO
| do so, for more reasons than we have
| already given.
| my kidneys are troubling me" is a
complaint which one frequently hears
| made. Probably there are no organs
| in the body which are oitener wrong
fully accused Of being refractory than
| the kidneys. fact due TO general
| ignorance Of the symptoms which they
excite when disturbed or diseased:
Doubtless more than nine-tenths OF all
the cases which the patients them
selves believe 10 be kidney trouble are
actually due to disorders OF the liver
and stomach. A cioudiness of the
excretion is assumed to be evidence OF
kidney disturbance, and yet, that APP
pearance is much the oftenest noted
in patients who are simply bilious. In
fact, in kidney trouble alone. unless OF
an acute character, the excretion is
seldom cloudy. When the bladder is
affected then that change is noted.
Persons who sleep in cool rooms in
winter are frequently disturb
ed by the thick appearance
of the excretion, and led 10
dose themselves, Notwithstanding the
fact that they are feeling well. That
condition observed is really of no con-
sequence, and appears in health; the
solid constituents are simply preclpl-
tated by the action of cold, and readi-
ly dissolved again ii heat is applied.
A sediment in the excretion Is COM
mon in hot weather, and generally APP
pears during the subsistence of fe-
brile attack. even If slight. Another
symptom which is almost always con-
strued as an evidence of kidney trou-
ble'i is pain in the back. That Is
verv common error. Pain may occur
in diseases OF the kidney, but it rarely
does so, and hence alone the symptom
is really OF very little importance.
In hot weather the quantity of
fluid passed is much less than
in cold weather, unless liquids in
proportionately greater quantity
are taken into the stomach. a quart
and one pint Is about the normal for
twenty-four hours. Ii the quantity
falls much below that, and no reason
such as we have stated, appears for it,
then it is evident that the kidneys are
less active than they should be. One
popular remedy in those cases is gin,
which cannot be sanctioned. An
other is sweet spirit OF nitre. A few
correct doses OF that taken AT inter-
walls. can do no harm. From one
half to one teaspoonful in tumbler
of water is the dose for an adult, and
it may he repeated, if needed, every
three or four hours until three or four
doses have been taken. Prolonged
use is quite certain TO upset the stom-
ach. Better than either of these, to
stimulate the action of the kidneys, is
cream of tartar water. The proper
way TO prepare it is this; To quart
of boiling water add tablespoonful
OF cream OF tartar, the juice of one
lemon and two tablespoonfnls of
sugar Let il stand on ice until cool.
II this is taken freely it will have the
desired effect. The kidneys fail to
properly perform their functions in
certain diseases-as typhoid fever
aside from those Of the kidneys them
selves. Occasionally in persons who
feel well those organs appear TO be
slightly inactive for day or two at
time. and then the trouble passes off
Only in such cases Is self-treatment
justifiable. Ii the arrangement lasts
for longer time, or the patient is
otherwise ailing, physician must be
consulted, for there is danger in delay.
Being Obliged to get up often at
night" is considered by many an evil
dence OF kidney disorder. That need
points to the bladder as the seat of the
disturbance, and if continuous the adj
vice OF physician is imperative. An
excessive action of the Kidneys, much
above the normal quantity stated, il
persisted for several weeks, would in
dictate diabetes. Occasionally the
quantity is much increased without
that disease being present, but only tor
short time-a day or two-unless the
quantity OF fluids taken is I'M
usually large. Greater activity
of the kidneys Is quite COM
mon symptom in recovery from
a bilious attack, and the patient always
feels better for il.
The true symptoms of kidney dis
ease are not many, but they are very
different from those which are gener-
ally accepted.
The term 9" Bright's disease is used
to'designate variety of important
changes in the kidney. ltmay be acute
or chronic. The first symptom which
usually appears in the acute attack Is
dropsy. which exhibits itself by a
slight pufiineSs in the eyes. At the
same time there is more or less
fever. which is, in some cases,
preceded by chilis or chilly sensations.
There are also loss OF appetite, thirst,
great reStlessness, headache and occa-
sionally pain in the loins Nausea and
vomiting are frequently early ~ mp
toms. The kidneys are inactive. the
quantity OF eNctetion isusually scanty
aud at times has q smoky appearance.
These are the principal signs which
are manifested in an attack OF Brieht's
disease As A rule the chronic form
Of this disease begins slowly. stealing
on, rs it were, insidiou sly. Probably
IN large proportion of eases il exists
for many months before il i discov-
cred, and in the meantime the victims
cons ider them elves perfectly well.
Often the first signs 10 excite uneasi-
ness are general loss of strength
and d growing paleness or saliOwness
of complexion There j. also disin-
eli0atIon 10 exertion, fatigue being
easy. oCcasioasl.y the first symptom
Is drop>y, appearing in puffneSs an
Ger the eyes, or 4 SLIGHT swelling of
the Feet and ankles This j. q promi-
neut symptom in some cases. bat in