The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-07-22
HYGIENE FOR HOME.
Institutions to Treat Morphine
Fiends as Insane.
WATER is THE BEST DRINK.
Poison in the Human Breath-How to
Cure Prickly Heat-Ingrowing Nails
A Girls Toilet Case.

Recent statistics show that a good half
of those addicted to the morphine habit
are medical men and chemists, and that
the others are divided among people en-
gagged in pursuits which naturally excite
the nervous system. The prevalence of
the habit among physicians and chemists
is probably largely due to the ease with
which they can secure the drug. A
knowledge of the evil effects of the drug,
instead of warning one from its use, seems
to increase the fascination for it. At one
time the use of cocaine was thought to
prove sure antidote for the depraved
habit, but the reverse has generally been
the case. Victims are carried on beyond
the power of self-control, and suicide gen.
orally terminates their life. In France the
poor victims are more numerous than else
where, and suicide has increased rapidly
there since the introduction of the habit.
Morphinomaniacs are more common than
insane people, and yet there has been no
treatment for them which would tend to
cure them of their disease. Efforts and
suggestions have been made in Paris
to establish institutions for the
treatment of morphine victims,
for it is only under the strictest
compulsory treatment that they can be re-
lieved. 1t is very seldom that the will of
patient is sufficiently strong to keep him
from the use of the drug, but through
good course of treatment, extending over
years, it is possible to cure one of this
habit as thoroughly as of any other dis
ease. Lately the cocaine habit has been
associated with the morphine habit, and
the effects of the two has been such as to
produce peculiarly suicidal tendency of
the mind. One drug is almost as much to
be feared as the other, and the two used
together are something fatal. After one
becomes victim forced restraint from
drugs is the only one possible cure.
THE USE OF WATER.
American people are growing more and
more to discard water from their tables,
and TO substitute some other liquid as
drink. Old people especial prefer tea,
coffee, brandy or some other drink to pure,
cold water. Through prejudice or mis-
Judgment they get into the way of think
ing that water does not agree with them,
and frequently the expression is heard
that they have not drank quart of water
in months or years. Water has bene-
fetal action upon the system which moth
ing else can approach to, and when 1t is
discarded as a drink one of natures
Many get into the way of not drinking
water through their love for more palat-
able drinks, it may be, or owing to the
impurity of the drinking water in their
locality; but whatever may be the cause,
the habit should not be cultivated. Warm
water is one of the best medicines that
the physician has at hand; hot water Is
the great indigestion cure. and ice-cold
water is indispensable. These remarks
apply to the outside and inward use of
water. Water increases the tissue changes
in the body, and renews the whole
system, multiplying the waste products,
but greatly adding to the building
petite, and adds nutriment to the body In
this way. If water is not used the waste
products form so much faster than they
are carried away that an obstruction is
formed, and disease is induced. This may
be seen from the fact that many people
little used to water feel weak and languid
upon rising in the morning. This could
be avoided by drinking glass of water
just before retiring, which would carry off
the waste products in the night and leave
the tissues strong and fresh for another
days work. When water is abandoned as
beverage the health of people will be
lowered one long degree.
THE HUMAN BREATH.
Professor Brown-Sequard made expert
ments to determine whether the human
breath was capable of producing any pols-
onous effects. From the condensed wa
terry vapor of the expired air he obtained
poisonous liquid, which, when injected
under the skin of rabbits, caused almost
immediate death. This poison was not
| microbe, but an alkaloid. The rabbits thus
| injected died without commissions, the heart
and large blood vessels being engorged
| with blood. The distinguished pro-
| fessor considers from these exper-
iments that it is fully proved
| that the expired air, both of man and
animals, contains volatile POISONOUS
| than carbolic acid. The effect of poor
ventilation of sleeping room, or pub
| lie hall, is thus made clear. The prisoners
| in the terrible "Black Hole of Calcutta"
| died of this volatile poisonous principle,
| and the same process OF poisoning is
| going on in hundreds of homes, which,
| if allowed to go far enough, would re-
| suit as fatally. Sickness, WEAKNESS,
| faintness and similar signs OF this
| poison in the system emphasizes the cry
| for better yentilation-for less crowd
| ing in home and church, and hall and
| school-room. In the summer time many
| weak, sickly people build up and grow
| strong simply because they live most of
| the time out of doors and get fresh, pure
| AIR. Hot weather is eneryating, while cold
| weather Ia inyigorating, and it would seem
| that people ought to build up in the winter
| and run down IN the summer. This would
| be the case if rooms were better ventilated
| in cold weather, and more fresh air was
| breathed into the lungs. Hot weather
forces MS into the open air, and this is the
| one redeeming feature about summer.
| PRICKLY HEAT.
pr;cklv heat is very disagreeable skin
| eomnIaint in hot weather, and if allowed
| to continue its irritating influence it may
nroduce more lasting skin diseases. The
ernntion all over the face, besides giving
| Siscomfort is very dishguring and I'M
,,iea.ant to the sight. Generally it is
| cransed by the corrosive action of the
| acid perspiration, and anything to
| counteract this will relieve il. If
| clothing is allowed to rub against it,
| the effect is bad, and the same is true of
| rubbing or scratching of it. Those who
| pricklv heat than others, and very delicate
| remedies must be applied so as not to in
| lure the skin permanently. Soap gener-
| aIIy has sufficient alkaline in it to neutra-
| lize the acid of perspiration. The very
! finest SOAP should be used, and if thick
| lather of it is applied and allowed to dry
| in, the corroding effect of the acid of the
| perspiration will generally be stopped.
INGRowING TOE NAILS.
Corns and bunions are bad enough, but
| ingrowing toe nails are more to be dreaded
| than either one. severe case of ingrow-
| ing toe nails is difficult to treat, but very
often the simple method OF packing
| answers better than cutting off the nail,
| together with the matrix or bed of the
| nail This method should be adopted by