The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1895-08-03
ABOUT THE TONGUE.
q Ii an Indicator of the State of Tia
Health.

q Ii an Indicator of the State of tn
Health.
The tongue is of great diaynostio
value, and by close observation it will
give us valuable aid in determining the
character of disease. The tongue tells
of the condition of the blood, the CON.
dition of the nervous system, and the
functions of nutrition and excretion.
As these are important things to know,
In fact, just Whist we want to know,
we will make the tongue talk as plain
ty as possible. We find the expression
of disease in its form, its condition Of
dryness or moisture, its coatings and
colors. Change In form is expressive
of disease. The elongated and pointed
tongue indicates = condition of irrita-
ton and determination of blood to the
stomach and bowels, and it is safe to
give it full weight and be careful in
the administration of remedies.
As it is associated with excitation of
the nerve centers this evidence is valu-
able with rcference to the stomach and
bowels. If we serve this change of
form at first, we not only anticipate
the unpleasant gastric irritation dur
ms, the sickness, but it puts us on our
guard against using anything that will
irritate the stomach and bowels. The
full tongue, broad and thick, is evil
dencc of atony, want of action in the
digestive tract. Then the stomach
will bear cathartics in mild form with
out danger. The dry, pinched tongue
expresses a want of functional activity
IN the digestive organs. 1t is the
tongue of acute disease, and is usually
associated with dryness. While it is
one of the indications for food, we
must be careful in its selection, giving
small quantities at time, and in
warm liquid form.
The assured tongue in chronic dis
eases indicates infammatory action
of the kidneys. The assured tongue
in advanced stages of acute diseases
refers us to LESSONS of the kidneys, or
Irritation of the nerve centers. In
many cases we find a wrong in the Sc
cretion of urine. 1t deserves close at
tention and means to put the skin in
better condition, ind ailay irritation of
the nerve centers. Dryness and moist
dition of the digestive organs. If tho
tongue is dry, we are sure the stomach
and intestines can DO but little diges-
tive work. IL is absurd to employ
cathartics in such cases, unless the OBJ
Ject Is simply to remove irritating mat
ter In acute disease, with dryness of
tongue, when we find it becoming
moist, we are confident of improve
ment, and it is nearly always looked on
as favorable symptom.
The thin, transparent coating of the
tongue gives evidence of enfeebled di-
gcstion, frequently from Incorporate
eating and drinking.
A hcavily-loaded tongue at the base
calls attention to accumulations in the
stomach, and suggests the use of an
emetic. The broad, pallid tongue
gives evidence of want of the alkaline
elements of the blood. 1t may DE the
basis of the entirety of the disease,
which will fade away as soon as the
proper alkali is given, or it may be but
a portion of the wrong, and the aka
line salt prepares the way and facili-
tates the action of other remedies.
The deep red tongue, generally dry,
indicates an acid. A dirty white OF
dirty gray tongue means antiseptics
While dryness always indicates cx
element of the nerve centers and calls
for sedatives, too much moisture and
relaxation is evidence of the opposite
condition. of Health.