The National tribune., 1889-08-29
CHAPTER XXI.
HOME REMEDIES (cantinuedl:

An English humoris6 remarks that no man
wants to be an angel till he has failed in every
| thing else" and as rule, it is equally true
| that people cannot be got to reform their habits
| till they have tried every possible variety of
quack medicine. Wealthy patients. especially,
| deem it q privilege to patroniZe popular nos
| trum-mongers, and as consequence enjoy
| monopoly of certain disorders that yield easily
| enough to frugal mode of life, but resist every
other remedy.
GOVT AND RHEUMATISM.
Gout, for instance has been called IN sristo-
cratic disease, a penalty of Incidence and lux
| urious living; but, like other aristocrats, It
follows the laudable habit of announcing les
| visits by punctual forerunners. About the
| middle of the thirties-rarely sooner, unless
the trouble is hereditary-a " high liver" will
| ono night find himself obliged to notice the
curious fact that the beating of his pulse can
be noticed in one of his great toes so plainly,
indeed, that his heart seems to have slipped
down TO that unexpected quarter. The phe-
nomenon is at first not accompanied by any
painful sensation, but It is too singular or what
anatomsts call asymetrical, to escape attention,
for the other toes are all tho while in their
normal condition In the course of n week the
pulsations become as emphatic as the throbbing
OF nm incipient tumor, and the proprietor OF
the eccentric toe thinks It safest to consult his
family physician. That functionary prescribes
q counter-irritant," but probably prefers to
postpone definite explanation, bearing in
mind that attention riveted upon any afflicted
part Is apt to intensity the aflliction. A man
can think about q hollow tooth till he makes 1t
ache. Many persons cannot remember dis
gushing drug. dish, etc. without having to spit
out the recollection. The best way to get rid
of q headache is to forget all aboutit. But the
grip OF the govt cannot be permanently eIuded
in that fashion. After weeks absence the
demon returns with seven accomplices, and
can DO bafllcd only by failing TO find his victim
at home. For masters of their own time /
would prescribe a pedestrian tour; for others,
pedestrian exercise Mt tho close of tho business
day, and IL necessary continued till after dark.
Walking up and down in front of the house
will not answer the purpose; tedium, If not
fatigue, is too apt to enter an Irresistible plea
for change OF program. But trip of three
or four miles to some point not approached by
n street-car line will imply the necessity OF
walking home before night, and furnish the
requisite motive of perseverance,. The rougher
the road the better; as an alternative OF chronic
govt transient i0ot-soreness is n very cheap ram
som. IL Is natures counter irritaut, aud. COM
bined with honest, sleep-compelling fatigue,
will keep the foe at bay till the cure can be
completed by a removal of the cause.
That cause has been traced TO the influence
of aerld bumors, developed by the accumula-
ton of nndigested food, or by the habitual use
Of Irritating stimulants. Entire abstinence
from alcohol may thus fail 10 remedy the evil,
unless supplemented by great caution in the
usc Of greasy yiands, peppered stcws or other
dishes which experience has. proved TO be spe-
cally undigestible. TTactiHso Of colcLicam (the
common meadow saffron) has often an almost
magical effect in relieving the paroxysms Of
acute gout but as usual IN such cases the re-
lief, besides being purchased at the expense of
general health, Is only transient, and frequent
ly followed by desperate relapse.
DIR. Brown-Sequard tho same physician
whose Elixir of Life" Is Just now setting
the medical fraternity agog. used 10 recon-.
mend draughts of hot water--six ounces every
Is minutes-as specific In the treatment OF
govt and chronic rheumatism, having observed
that perspiration Is apt 20 eliminate tho aerid
humors Of tho system; but on the whole, pre-
yHntinB IL better than cure. and far more
yaluablo suggestion Ia O plan detailed in DIR.
Joseph Drew's communication to the british
Medical Journal few years ago. Having been
for long time victim 10 acute govt, hc found
G decided. but not complete, relief in absti-
nenee from alcoholic liquors. and had almost
resigned himself to the idea of experiencing an
occasional relapse Of his affection, whom no
noticed that those relapses were very apt 10 be
brought on by the use Of soda.biscuits salt
behring's, or any dish containing q largo adj
mixture Of common salt.
The idea once started" he says. was at
once carried into practice. and chloride Of
sodium was placed on tho black list. Salt was
Omitted as an article OF Diet not only as con-
dment. but Ia NIL such admixtures MS sailed
meat aud similar accepted eomestiblcs. The
result In four or Eve weeks has been astonish-
ing. Most of the stiffness has passed away.
Finger rings that had long been laid aside can
BIO worn, aud the phalangeal finger bones have
almost returned 10 their natural size and
shape"
In addition 10 abstinence from alcohol and
pnngent spices pepper. mustard and salt, IL
has proved g good plan TO reduce the daily
meals 10 a minimum Of solid comestibles dur
ing a severe TT OF govt. and at the Same time
increase the qnsntum Of stimulating bev-
erages. That plan viii greatly aid natare In
Kidding the system of irritating humors, and,
together with active exercise tduring tho in
tervals OF the dsorder), will enable tho patient
10 dispense with the use Of virulent drugs.
TooTHACHE.