The National tribune., 1890-07-17
| Written for THE NATIONAL TRfBUNEl
HEALTH HINTS
For Old and Young.
ny FELIX L. OSWALD, M. D.,
Author OF Physical Education"; Household
Remedies": The Bible of Nature" etc.
CHAPTER LXV.
SUMMER COMPLAINTS.

SUMMER COMPLAINTS.
A waggish correspondent Of the Toronto Globe
describes district in Hudson's Bay Territory
where the Winters are so severe that the mis-
sonaries could not convert single Indian till
they bethought themselves of representing
Hades as a place of everlasting snow" and
wonders why the same plan is not adopted in
other parts of North America, where cold is
worse atIiction than warmth.
The reason, perhaps, is that Winter troubles
are so much more easily remedied. We have ex-
cclent methods for making our houses COM
Portable in Midwinter, and for such complaints
as chiIlblains and ordinary coughs the con-
ventOnal household recipes really answer their
practical purpose; but in the art Of counter
acting the heat Of the dogday season, the Ma
tons of the North are sadly behind their South
ern peighbors, and tho popular exped ents for
the cure Of Summer complaints are extremely
apt TO aggravate the evil. A very large per-
ccntage of the profits derived from the sale of
quack medicines are effected by the advertise
ment Of mysterious remedies for Summer
affections that would rarely fail to cure them
selves IL simply left alone, and trusted to the
remedial resources of nature. In warm, dry
weather, Tor instance, persons engaged in 5eden-
tary employment are very apt to experience an
occasional irrcguarity in tho usual operation
of the bOwels-a few days constipation that is
really nothing worse than temporary remiss-
remedy itself under the influence Of the first
spell of cooler weather or under purely hygi-
enic treatment of refrigeration aud dietetic
changes. Cooling appliances to the abdomen
by means of n sponge or wet towel, a few min
utes sitz- bath, or even q reduction in the load
of superiluous bedcothing, generally suffice to
remedy the trouble and even in more obstinate
cases constipation can often be relieved by q
change to more frugal and fluid diet-balIed
beans, Graham bread and stewed prunes light
boiled eggs, fresh fruit and berries. and liberal
doses of lemonade cooled down TO the tempera.
ture of fresh spring water.
Combined with sponge baths and outdoor
exercise in the cool Of tho evening, those sim
pie remedies would nearly always bring relief
in the course of few days. while the specifics
OF the nostrum- vender are almost sure to aggra-
waite the evil. For the moment. indeed, Dr.
Quaekenbergs Bowel Pills and Magic Iaxa-
tives answer their ostensiDle purpose tho
nostrum generally compounded with n large
admixture of mercury convulses the bowels
into an abnormal state Of activity, and gratifes
the patient by the evacuation of large amount
of matter owing its alarming appearance to
the very effect Of the unnatural remedy Even
during the direct operation of the nostrum,
the patient can hardly Halter himself with the
impression of having been benefited by an
increase in his feeling of general comfort. lie
feels uneasy and restless and often finds tho
VpSEdtloH vi tNt uEUR accompanied OY an ugly
gripping pain IN the region OF the smaller intes-
tines. But the worst about it is, that in the
long run that drug proves much worse than no
artificial remedy at all. After their violent
reaction against the effects Of the nostrunl, the
digestive organs manifest their exhaustion by
refusing 10 act till their vitality has been re-
stored by considerable period of rest In
other words, the constipation. breaking drug
has resulted in bringing on a spell of much
more unmaDageable constipation. Twice or
thrice that spell can be broken by repetition
OF the nostrum.dose in larger quantities but
with such effects of abdominal distress that the
patient is apt to be scared into a discontinaance
OF tho sham-cnrc, which. indeed, would other
wise involve the risk OF dsordering the organ
ism 10 degree amounting to 4 chronic paraly-
sis OF the digestive apparatus Persons of
means, in such cases. viii probably try the
effect of n watering place cure, and, thanks TO
exercise and change of diet. may really ex-
perienee the desired relief. which, however
might have been obtained at home and ut a
considerable reduction of expense. For the
truth H. that the laxative effect of many
mineral waters is hardly less Injurious than
that OF drastic drugs, and equally apt 10 lead
TO an ultimate aggravation of the trouble.
The bowels become dependent upon the alb.
normal stimulus of the sulphur. water, which
before long has to be swallowed in larger aud
larger quantities to produce any effect at ALL
Till at last nothing but resort to the most
desperate drugs will momentariiy relieve the
torpor Of the abused organs
Drug treatment of the opposite affection
may lead 20 an equally unexpected result In
sultTy weather sudden attack of diarrhea
means often nothing worse but that portion
of the undigesied food has undergone process
of premature fermentation, and that nature is
endeavoring TO remedy the trouble by the
shortest aud easiest way. A single day,
often even slight reduction in the usual guam
tum OF food for "A meal or two. would set every
thing Alright. Often. too. "A little more careful
attention TO the selection of fruits and viands
and 10 the regular ventilation of workshops
and bedrooms would remedy the trouble by a
direct removal OF the cause. The attempt to
bully nature into submission by the use of
lethargizing drugs may lead to the ugliest sort
of chronic howel-cOmplaints, and has burdened
our hospitals with some of the most ncurable
OF afflicted human beings. There are patients
whose digestive apparatus seems TO have been
permanently untitled for the normal perform
ance of its functions and TO know no medium
between watery, gripping stools and the equally
unnatural torpor resulting from the frequent
use OF opiates.
Troops on the march in moderately healthy
country are often more free from eRteric disor-
dcrs, as physicians call all affections of the di-
gestve organs, than during their confinement
IN stutly, crowded barracks That result is
partly, no doubt to be ascribed TO the braeing
effect of fresh air, but partly too, to the bowel
regulating influence of pedestrian exercise.
Mail-carriers, errand-boys, sportsmen and
mountain tourists enjoy remarkable immu-
nifty from the trouble of summer conf laints,
and few hours walk in the cool of the morn.
ing may often save not only the expenses of n
resort TO medication, but the additional ex-
pense and much moro serious trouble of trying
to remedy the effects of the drug.
Ito be coItinucdl