The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-03-24

pill. following if with an infusion of SIENNA
leaves, one-fourth ounce infused in a tea
cupful or hot water, but not boiled. When
the system has thus been cleared out trust
TO food rather than to a repetition of medi-
cine, making coarse cereals, such as oat-
meal, wheat or brown bread a part of every
meal, or at least of the morning meal,
these articles of food having a certain
amount of waste material which stimu-
lates the intestines to normal action.
II IN spite or these precautions an at
tack of biliOusness occurs, blue pill is the
"auld lang syne' remedy. a one-grain pill
at bedtime, one the next morning and one
the next night. The sick stomach will
doubtless yield to a teaspoonful of mag
nesia, thoroughly mixed with a glassful
OF water, or in a tablespoonful of spiced
syrup of rhubarb. a glassful of strong
lemonade will often relieve the symptoms,
temporarily at least, probably by acting
upon the kidneys through which a per-
ton of the deleterious material is elimi-
mated when the liver fails to do it's work.
A cup of strong tea without any milk. but
with a slice of lemon in ii, or a teaspoon
full OF lime juice will often be of value.
and is a palatable remedy well known to
the ladies who suffer from sick headache,
doubtless owing TO its stimulating action.
There is another form of biliousness due
TO disorder of the stomach and torpidity of
the liver, not necessarily due to excess of
food, but, possibly, TO an insufficiency or
food, In which the symptoms are the same
as already enumerated, but in which men,
tai depression is very marked. The home
treatment is the same as above, with the
addition of bitter tonics. and if the stom-
ach is weak a teaspoOnful of tincture of
columbia may be taken night and morning.
If there is general debility a grain of quiz
nine may be taken twice a day In half a
glass of sherry wine.
Daily exercise to the extent of slight
fatigue, relaxation from business, cheerful
company, early hours and attention to the
state of the skin, by means of tepid or
sponge baths, are all valuable aids in pre-
venting attacks of ~biliousness, but are OF
no avail II the bowels are not kept open.
In dieting, however, the direrence be-
tween the two forms of biliousness should
ever be kept in mind. In the former, due to
excess of food, reduction of diet is ration
ally the preventive: in the latter, a regula-
ton of the diet is indicated, and, incident
ally, such exercise as will stimulate the
torpid liver and tone up the nervous sys-
tenn which governs the functions Of that
and other organs.
In either form the acute manifestations
may be relieved in many cases by soaking
the feet in hot water and applying a mus
tard leaf or a hot water bag to the nape
of the neck, If the face is flushed and the
head throbs. The first thing to be done in
all such cases is to give a saline cathartic
lepsom salts. etc. at once. not that these
have any marked action upon the secretion
of bile. but that the fluid washes out the
noxious matter in the bowels and thus pre-
vent their absorption into the blood. If the
skin is hot and dry, the eyesight dim and
the pulse rapid, opium may be cautiously
given in small doses. If the pulse is slow
and full. the pressure in the arteries ex-
~cessive. and there is a throbbing. frontal
headache, aconite may be cautiously used
in small doses. II nervousness and irrita-
bility are marked the bromides may be
given.
Caffeine, which is of value in many forms
of headache. is worse than useless in bilious
headache. as 1t aggravates the pain. es-
pecialy If the headache. as is often the
case. is due TO overindulgence in coffee.
In fact, a cup of coffee will often cause a
bilious headache. probably due to its oily
nature, as well as to the stimulating effect
or the caffeine upon the heart, as well az
TO the milk. many persons being unable to
take milk or eggs in any form, owing to an
inability TO digest them.
There are a number of drugs called chola-
| gogues, which are believed TO have a special
action upon the liver as bile drivers"
among which are podophyllin in one-sixth-
grain doses. euonymin. laptandrin and
iridin, and one of these may be given at
night where there is a tendency 10 bilious
ness. These stimulate q torpid liver. but
should always be followed by a saline
cathartic or a dose of castor oil in the
morning to wash out the effete material.
for. while these may excite the secretion
or flow of bile, they have no special cathar-
tic effect upon the general Intestinal Sc
erection.
Greens. too. are OF great value, and salads
have a good influence upon the liver and
Intestinal tract, partly from elements con-
tanned In them and partly from the large
proportion OF waste which excites the in
testinai action: Among green's dandelions
and also a direct action upon the liver. AS
a medicine, infusion of the root is the bet
ter preparation IL is best made from fresh
roots, carefully cleansed and cut In slices
about a quarter OF an inch thick. q handful
Of these being allowed to steep in . pint