The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-07-13
HINTS AS TO DlARRHOEA
DISEASE MAY COME FROM THREE
DISTINCT CAUSES
1t May Come From Nervous Shock
or From External or Internal InfIu-
ences-choIera Bands Worthy of
Adoption in This Variable Climate
Some of the Best Emulsions.


1t is hardly necessary to give def
milton of diarrhoea, but it is not every
one who knows that there are many
varieties. The causes may be broadly
oVloed INTO nervous, external inf1u-
ence, and Internal influence, and in
ternal irritation Of the bowels. Emo
ions OF a widely variant character
may cause temporary diarrhoea A
thunderstorm, for example, NAV cause
1t, but by far the most common form
Is mat allied to stage fright, in which
emotional fear, inducing form of ner-
vous collapse or lack Of control. This
form, incurable by drugs, is so common
tnat there is often an epidemic of it.
among school children when they are
called upon to speak their parts" at
the annual school exhibition, and
among public speakers it is so common
Inat II mas sometimes been called
clergymen's diarrhoea, and has even
compelled otherwise able men to re-
nounce their ambition and take an
number callings in private life, where
the PUBIC gaze will not alright them
Some people cannot take a Journey
or enter upon any unaccustomed re-
laXatlon or task without this dis
agreeable accompaniment, but as a
| rule the dlfhculty wears off as one be-
comes accustomed to the cause There
is no other remedy that is safe. Opium,
| coca, brandy and other nerve dead
| eners, may give relief, but the very
! fact that the trouble is due TO an
oversensitive and irritable nervous
! system makes this preventive doubly
dangerous, and the drug habit is sure
| TO follow in such cases. For the relief
of the temporary condition no medicine
IS necessary; it is self-curative.
Cold Feet May Cause 1t.
Among the external causes cold feet
is one OF the most potent. The simple
accident of cold feet may lead to di-
arrhoea, and many persons cannot
take salt water bath if the water is
| IN any degree cool. A cool night fol-
lowing an excessively warm day will
| often cause diarrhoea to such an ex-
tent that 1T may seem epidemic and be
| attributed to anything but the right
cause. But by far the most common
| effect OF cold is upon the stomach or
| rather abdomen. For this reason the
cholera band, almost universally worn
| Dy those who live in hot~climates, is
worthy of adoption in our own variable
climate. This is nothing but a wide
| strip of soft flannel worn around the
waist under the clothing, the purpose
| being to keep the abdomen warm and
| to absorb the perspiration which would
| otherwise chill the skin in drying off,
4
men or other parts is driving Of the
| blood to inner parts or organs, and di-
| arrhoea results because this congestion
| is seated in the bowels. The treatment
| is similar to that of the third form
| with the caution not to use irritating
| medicine which would increase the
| congestion and Inflammation.
Caused by lndigested Food.
The third form is commonly met
with during the summer, but it is not
essentially Summer complaint" IT
may occur at any season of the year.
The cause is indigestion or und gested
food, and metimeS, too, constipation
l the result being irritation of the bow
| els which causes them to weep" that
| is, exude an abnormal amount of fluid
| so that an actual catarrh of the bow
| els results. Improperly cooked vege-
! tables and unripe -ruit are common
| causes, but not the only ones. The
| skins Of beans and peas and the fiber
| of other vegetables which are "stringy"
! often remain unvoided and cause a
teasing diarrhoea," which can be
cured only by first giving a laxative.
| In fact, the first remedy indicated in
| most of these conditions is caster oil,
| Whlc-- is the best all-round evacuant
! of the bowels, the purpose of giving it
| in diarrhoea being to flush out the
| bowels so that all irritating matter
Inlay De removed.
| Hold the Nose; Take Castor oil.
There is a great antirathy to castor
| oil, but some of it is affected. 1t is after
all a matter of taste, and the Chinese
| have such a perverted taste according
to our ideas that they employ. it in cook
| cry Children will usually take it with
| out much objection. hut as the child
| grows to be a man his taste for castor
| oil is affected, and some method of dis
! suising it is necessary. Some physicians
| gaining wisdom by experience, will not
| recommend castor oil by name, but write
for oeum ricini which is simply a dis
| tinction without a difference. The nause-
ating taste is due almost entirely to it's
| odor, and If the nose is held while swal-
| lowing 1t, it may be taken more readily.
An easy way to take 1t is by floating the
| dose on a little brandy, following it with
| another small dose of the liquor which
not only masks the taste of the oil. but
| fact. brandy, or still better, cherry rum
or blackberry brandy or cordial, are good
remedies in slight disrrhoea with pain,
where an aStringent is needed but the
| remedy is so palatable that the medicine
| is often turned into a beverage, with evil
results to body. and mind. Castor oil may
also be taken in barley water or in pep
! permint or any other aromatic water, by
/ floating it q wineglassful of the wa
| spoonful each of peppermint water and
4 brandy. the mixture being such that the
| oil neither sinks or swims in it. Hot tea
| or coffee, Cruel and the like also mask
I the taste, the heat getting rid of the feel
| ing of oily consistency. The same end
is gained by taking tablespoonful of
/ cream and thoroughly rinsirg the mouth
| with it before taking the OIL Even chew
| ing bit of orange or lemon peel or a few
| roasted coffee berries before and after
| taking may suffice to mask the taste.
| Some Of the EmuIsIons.
| Emulsions are sold which are agreeable
forms for administering OIL A home
made one is: Six teaspoonfuls Of castor
| oil and the yolk of one egg thoroughly
beaten together In bowl to which is
added sufficient water to make twelve
| tablespoonful. 1t is still better If a few
| drops of oil of cinnamon are added before
\ the water This makes an emulsion
| about as thick as custard, of which the
/ dose is two tablespoonfuls. Another way
! for an extemporaneous mixture is to mix
| q little sugar and cinnamon, in powder
i with milk, and let 1t simmer until it is
| favored. Then add the oil and shake tho
| whole we'll in a bottle. Still another ysEy
is castor oil omelette by which COM
| parativeiy large doses may be given The
oil is put into an agate ware saucepan.