The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-09-25
BEALTH BINTS
l4i fHG
For Old and Young.
by FELIX L. OSWALD, NJ. D..
CHATTER LXXXIII.
SUMMER CoMPLAINTs-(co -(continued)

| ennui, and the advertisers of certain patent
| nostrums seem almost equally anxious to i'm
press Us with tho idea that in Midsummer no
| inhabitant of tho American continent can escape
the alternative OF medicine or Indigestion.
| Liver er-convulsing pills and bowel plod ng
powders arc urgently recommended as the
only means of salvation from the misery of
dyspepsia, and druggists we'll know the re-
wards of that eloquence.
There is no doubt that tho Summer climate
of our Atlantic slope is rather trying to per-
sons engaged in sedentnry occupation but tho
risk of temporary Costiveness is apt to be
greatly ovorratod. Dry and hot weather. fol-
lowing upon week of raindays, is apt to
aillct indOor-workers with constipation, but
In large plurality of cases tho trouble can
be- relieved by purely hygienic remedies. Cos
tive bowels can be stimulated by as simple
method a. temporary change Of diet, often
even without consulting n graded list of "di-
gestible" viands. The explanation is this:
Every special article Of food can be put to q
specific in tho household of the human
organism: there are bOne-making and blood
making. brain nourishng and lung feeding
comestibes. Some of those dietotic specifics
answer their purpose better than any available
substitute, and their introduction into the
stomach soon sets to work the digestive appa-
ratns even Of an organism more than suili-
GENTLY supplied with other varieties OF food.
Instinct IS pretty safe guide in such mat
tcrs, and there are remarkable cases of dietetic
remedies being indicated by urgent and often
almost Irresistible appetences in the crisis of
"A dangerous disease. A Sontb Carolina physi-
clan Of my acquaintance mentioned tho in
stance of a dock laborer-a longshoreman, as
they would call him in New EngIand-who
was seized with the premonitory symptoms Of
yellow fever and had already sent away some
OF his children to pass the week among his
suburban relatives His headache grew worse
rs tho weather became hotter aud his stomach
rejected all noarishmcnt till tho morning of
the third day, when he WAS taken with n
strange fancy for lot OF ripe blue grapes
displayed in groeer's stand opposite his bed
room window. Tho caprice was gariugly inn
proper from an orthodox medical point Of
view, but the man had tie double advantage Of
being poor aud being master of his own house
hold. Had he been millionaire his bedside
would have been block AIDED by q committee of
watchfu physicians il he had been boy the
emphasis Of his whim would have been moder-
ated by striking arguments, and even under
the circumstances, his wife protested earnestly
against the idea of gratifying his crotchct with
out the special permission of his doctor But
before noon she had 10 10 down town. and the
moment she was gone her husband sent his boy
across tie way 10 get that basket Of grapes.
There were II pounds of them, and after hand
ing his little messenger "A hat full or so, tho
bAAAi up tlib rest. Hli tnB traces OF
his mIsdCmcau0r and soon after fell asleep. He
slept till p. m.--tho first good nap ho had got
Tor days-and when he woke up his fever was
gone, and he then openly Dragged Of having
saved his own life IN spite Of meaiGyal pTcu-
dICes. Ia warm weather instinct often indi-
Gates the timelincs Of dietetic changes by sim
liar appcteucte% Tho regulation faro of
coffee -nnd'hash boarding house or ofa cracker
aud belly cucampmunt Of drilling soldiers
n bgppt an Ipa5Fa l,r Il
varieties Of vegetable food red beets. perhaps,
or string beans carrots or green peas, all of
which know to have tOrmeutod the fancy of
as many different dyspeptics
Only tho monkisb principle OF suspectng the
competence Of our natural instincts prevents
most people from proftng by such hints of
nature. The need OF refrigeration often an
nounces itself in a similar way also the need
of exercise or change of climate, though the
patient may be conscious only Of Il vague rest
lesshess, indicating merely the method Of am
swcring the purposes Of his air -fanishsd organ
ism.
knew q cOnsumptlve who for weeks had
been almost rrazod by the desire to exchange
his city lodgings for a home ia the highlands
Visions ofmolntain SUBMITS, rock springs aud
airy ellis haunted him like the images of a
rnonomania, and no doubt indicated the best
method OF arrcsting the progress of his malady.
For three or four years those longiugs returned
with every Summer but business considera.
tions aud the influence of his relatives induced
him To stay in town, till at last his disease
reached aa uncomfortable stage of develop
ment. His l0ngings then subsidized; natures
appeal had missed its purpose and ceased 10
exert itself for a lost cause.
There are unfortunately. many cases where
such demands Of instinct have to be COM
promised. Very glad to follow your prescrp-
ton II you can get mo free ticket aud
weeks free board at "a Summer resort" your
neccsstous patieut is apt TO answer. especially
after experience has convinced him that n short
picnic excursion is often worse than no remedy
at all. Crowded cars, long tramps over dusty
roads. heavy basket full of refreshments"
that fail 10 refresh. and will burden the stomach
Of their purchaser for days TO come. Rain.
showers rarely fail 10 drive the excursionists to
the shelter of restaurant filled with beer
fumes and tobacco smoke. and before night the
duped dyspoptic is apt To wish he had stayed
az home aud devoted the day to "a private in
terview with II pailul of ico water or lemonade.
Even such makeshifts are preferable to the
alternative Of the blue-pill plan. For a couple
OF days tho desperate expedicnt may answer
its purpose; tho bowels undoubtedly have been
stimulated, and the apparent success is crowned
by brief return OF appetite. But the moment
medication is discontinued, q distressing re-
action sets in; the misery of dull headaches
aggravates the lack OF appetite. aud the bowels
become more c0stive than before.
The dietcuro is followed by no such after
effects, but may be continued all Summer by
slight variations In the bill OF fare. till tho ro-
turn of cooler weather stimulates the organism
TO the requisite pitch of digestive energy. In
the meantime the laxative influence OF a vegeta-
BILE diet can be- supplemented by such mex
pensive remedies as cold sponge baths artificial
cooling OF bedroom, and outdoor exercise In the
cool Of the evening
Ito be cOntiatfsdl