Chapter XIII

DYSPEPSIA, CONSTIPATION, GENERAL DEBILITY, SLEEPLESSNESS.

Dyspepsia, Acute.—Acute dyspepsia is usually caused by some improper diet, as the eating of an unusual article of food or of a larger amount than necessary. Such articles of diet as cucumbers, unripe or overripe fruit, an excessive amount of sweets, rich salads, heavy puddings, etc., may so irritate the stomach that an acute attack of dyspepsia follows.

Nature Often Cures.—Nature often makes a prompt cure in these cases by causing a sharp attack of vomiting or diarrhœa. If a cure is not made in this way, then we can imitate nature by giving an emetic, or by taking a laxative, in order to rid the body of the indigestible material as soon as possible.

Treatment.—If there is much pain in the stomach, a mustard plaster should be placed directly over the pit of the stomach, or cloths wrung out in hot water. For the next day following the attack the diet should be restricted to milk, or poached eggs on toast, or something of this kind.

Chronic Dyspepsia.—It is chronic dyspepsia, however, which is so annoying because of its persistence. It has been called "The American Disease" because so many people are troubled with it.

Symptoms.—Persons suffering from chronic dyspepsia complain of a bad taste in the mouth, dry throat, nausea, and a feeling of great weight in the stomach for an hour or two after each meal.

Frequently there is no appetite whatever, or it may be even more ravenous than natural because of the irritation and inflammation in the stomach. When the latter is the case, food does not satisfy, and it becomes necessary to eat every two or three hours in order to quiet the gnawing and empty feeling in the stomach. The chronic dyspeptic suffers greatly from nervousness and depression of spirits; indeed, it seems almost impossible to maintain the usual cheerfulness.

Thought to be the Heart.—Many persons go to their family physician thinking they have a serious form of heart disease, when the whole trouble is with the stomach, the violent beating of the heart being simply a nervous manifestation caused by the irritable condition of the stomach.

Two Diseases Closely Associated.—Chronic dyspepsia is almost invariably associated with the diseases of women. Indeed, the two seem almost inseparable, for whenever you find a woman complaining of soreness across the lower part of the bowels, irregular menstruation, ovarian irritation, inflammation of the bladder, leucorrhœa, etc., you will find a confirmed dyspeptic. The blood is thin and watery, the bowels are constipated, and the whole nervous system seems to be upset.

Which Disease Is the Cause?—The question comes whether the disease in the pelvis causes the difficulty with the stomach, or whether the stomach produces the inflammation in the uterus and surrounding parts. Probably one is true at one time and another at another time. The fact is that both conditions need correcting, and there is one remedy which answers perfectly in each case.

Both Must Be Cured.—The digestion certainly cannot be perfect while there is this inflammation in the pelvic organs; while the latter can hardly maintain a healthy condition if the stomach fails to do its work.

Both May Be Cured.—By paying attention to a few rules of diet, and by taking Lydia E. Pinkham's Vegetable Compound for a short time, I believe every case will promptly yield to treatment.

Cures Dyspepsia of Men.—Indeed, strange as it may seem, a great many men who have taken Lydia E. Pinkham's Compound because they have seen its good action on the stomach in cases of other members of the family have written reporting good results. It certainly has a most soothing and strengthening power on this organ, while its gently stimulating effect on the whole alimentary canal brings about the most desirable changes.

Regular Action of the Bowels.—I would recommend that Lydia E. Pinkham's Liver Pills be taken each night in just sufficient doses to cause a regular action of the bowels each day. Then if Lydia E. Pinkham's Vegetable Compound be taken, it will not only allay all inflammation in the stomach and impart great strength, but it will at the same time remove the soreness and pain in the pelvic organs.

A Simple but Valuable Aid.—All such persons will obtain relief by drinking a cupful of hot water at least half an hour before breakfast each morning; and if the case is very bad, then the hot water may be repeated before each meal. The water should be as hot as can be comfortably taken.

Useful Hints.—I would strongly urge the necessity of thoroughly chewing the food and eating slowly. If this rule alone were observed there would be far less dyspeptics in the country. Drink should be used sparingly at meal-time, also, for while the body requires a great deal of liquid during the day, yet this should be taken between meals rather than during meals.

The stomach should certainly have time to rest from its work of digesting the food, hence nothing should be eaten between meals. The habit so many girls have of eating before retiring is very injurious to the health, and should be corrected at once. Meals should be taken at regular intervals and not at any time when most convenient.

Diet for Dyspeptics.—The chronic dyspeptic should use soups sparingly, for, as a rule, they are quite difficult of digestion, while they do not contain much nourishment. Plain mutton and beef soup without much fat are the least harmful. Such fish as pickerel, trout, shad, and white fish may be used moderately; while oysters, especially when raw, are easily digested. The best kinds of meat are roasted or broiled beef, lamb chops, and some fowl, as chicken.

Eggs are easily digested, and are exceedingly valuable as an article of diet for the dyspeptic. They may be cooked in almost any form except hard-boiled. They are highly nourishing, can be prepared in many delicate ways, and are, as I have said, as valuable an article of diet as the dyspeptic can have.

Persons with chronic dyspepsia do not digest vegetables well, as a rule, although such green vegetables as lettuce, green peas, asparagus, celery, and spinach may be used. Potatoes often ferment in the stomach, producing gases, and should be used sparingly.

Toast is always well borne, but should never be buttered while hot. Bread should not be used until it is at least a day old. Rolled oats, cracked wheat, etc., may be taken, although with many they cause fermentation. Nearly all cooked fruits are well borne by the stomach, and so are nearly all ripe fruits. Puddings made from rice and custard are easily digested.

Milk is valuable at all times, and if the chronic dyspeptic bears it well, this diet alone will frequently make a marked cure. If it rests heavy on the stomach, a little lime water may be added to it in the proportion of a tablespoonful of lime water to a cupful of milk.

Forbidden Diet.—There are certain articles of diet which the dyspeptic should not use under any circumstances. Among such are fried foods of all kinds, pork, liver, veal, rich soups, turkey, goose, duck, mackerel, lobster, cucumbers, cabbage, turnips, parsnips, string beans, pies and cakes, cheese and nuts.

Constipation.—As we have already stated, constipation is productive of the most serious evils. When the lower bowel is distended, pressure is made upon the surrounding blood-vessels, and thus the circulation seriously interfered with.

Causes Inflammation of Uterus.—As a result, there is congestion in the blood-vessels of the ovaries and uterus, and inflammation of these organs is likely to follow with its long train of ailments.

Constipation also seriously interferes with the general health, producing nausea, indigestion, headache, backache, nervousness, general debility, etc.

Daily Movements Necessary.—Nature intended that the alimentary canal should be relieved of its contents at least once every twenty-four hours, and if this is not done, then certain poisons are absorbed into the blood which produce the most undesirable effects.

To Cure Constipation.—For constipation I strongly recommend Lydia E. Pinkham's Liver Pills. I know they give the most prompt and satisfactory relief. I have received letters from hundreds of women who have been cured of the most distressing ailments of the uterus and bladder simply by using these Liver Pills, and all because constipation was cured and in this way the cause of the suffering removed.

Diarrhœa.—Diarrhœa, as a rule, is an effort of nature to get rid of some offensive material. While this may be the first reason for its existence, yet if it is allowed to go on, it produces such an irritation in the bowels that serious results may easily follow.

Treatment.—If the person is conscious of having eaten something indigestible, as unripe or overripe fruit, then it is best to aid nature by taking some gentle laxative, as a laxative dose of Lydia E. Pinkham's Liver Pills, thus hastening the removal of the indigestible substance. If, however, there have been a number of movements of the bowels, until the offending material is probably all removed, then the following plan is all that will be necessary to make a cure:

Let the person rest at full length upon a couch or bed, remaining as quiet as possible. For the diet nothing should be taken but hot milk. A glass of hot milk can be slowly sipped once every three hours, and nothing else whatever should be taken into the stomach for a day, at least, or until the diarrhœa is checked.

If the pain is quite severe in the stomach or bowels, then a mustard plaster may be placed over the most painful part, or cloths wrung from hot water; or a poultice of linseed meal or slippery elm may be applied. I have seen the good results of this treatment of "rest and hot milk" in so many cases, and it is so exceedingly simple, that I earnestly recommend its trial.

General Debility, Exhaustion, Anæmia.—Many women go about suffering from great debility, being hardly able to drag themselves through the day. When night comes they are too tired to sleep, and when morning comes it seems they are more tired than they were at night. All parts of the body partake of this general weakness.

There are great discomfort and suffering through the lower part of the body, difficulty in passing the urine, constipation of the bowels, leucorrhœa, and all other affections which naturally come from an impoverished condition of the blood.

May Be Promptly Cured.—To all women who are suffering from this general debility, exhaustion, and nervous prostration I earnestly recommend Lydia E. Pinkham's Blood Purifier. If the inflammation in the uterus and surrounding organs is quite marked at the same time, then the Blood Purifier may be taken before meals and the Vegetable Compound after. If the female generative organs are not much involved, then the Blood Purifier may be used alone.

A Grand Medicine.—This grand medicine has done great good, and I am confident it will build up the system, purify the blood, and greatly improve the general health.

Persons suffering from general debility of this kind do not prosper well on a milk diet alone. They need more hearty food, such as rare beefsteak, rare roast beef, lamb chops, and eggs.

Sleeplessness.—Sleeplessness is frequently the result of a too liberal use of tea or coffee. Many persons cannot take a cup of coffee at any time during the evening without lying awake many hours to pay for it. It is a strong stimulant to those who have a sensitive nervous system, and should be used only sparingly at all times and never after the midday meal.

Strong tea acts in this way upon a great many, and if any of my readers are troubled with sleeplessness, and yet at the same time use tea and coffee freely, I would suggest that they try, first of all, to do without these drinks and note the effect.

Treatment.—A warm (not hot) foot-bath taken just before retiring will often cause a good night's rest, as it draws the blood from the head, makes the circulation more evenly distributed, and in this way induces sleep. Frequently a baby or young child may be made to sleep all through the night if a warm bath be given just before retiring.

When the sleeplessness is due to nerve exhaustion, as is frequently the case, the very best results will follow the use of Lydia E. Pinkham's Vegetable Compound, because of its great nerve tonic properties.

A Hard Cold.—Whenever any one has taken a hard cold, it can often be speedily and completely broken up in the following manner: Take a hot foot-bath for at least half an hour. While the feet are still in the hot water throw a blanket completely about the limbs and body, in order to retain all the heat possible. At the same time drink one or two cupfuls of hot lemonade, or hot ginger tea. Then retire to bed, having the bed previously well warmed, if during the wintertime. Put on plenty of covering, keeping a hot flat-iron or a hot water-bottle at the feet, and in every way try to induce free perspiration.

After an hour or two, gradually remove the extra clothing. Be careful about going out the next morning, for the body will be especially susceptible to the cold. In this way it is possible to break up a hard cold at once. If there is any tendency to cough, or any tightness or soreness in the chest, place a mustard plaster directly over the chest, and allow it to remain on until the skin is quite red.

Sore Throat.—An old-fashioned remedy for sore throat, and a very good one, too, is to bind on each side of the throat a piece of salt pork. The surface of the pork may be slightly covered with black pepper, in order to increase its drawing power. This is allowed to remain on all night, but should be taken off in the morning. During the day a flannel is worn about the neck.

A gargle for sore throat may be made by dissolving half a teaspoonful of chlorate of potash in a cupful of warm water. Gargle the throat with this every hour or two during the day, but do not swallow the mixture. After this has been used for a day or two, then a solution may be made by adding a teaspoonful of pulverized alum to a cupful of warm water; this is applied to the inflamed sides of the throat by means of a swab. Gargling the throat with a solution of ordinary extract of witch hazel, one part, and water two parts, also very useful.

Croup.—As a rule, croup may be quickly cured by the use of either hot or cold water. Immediately the child begins to breathe hard and cough with a dry, hollow, barking cough, wring out a towel from cold water and apply around the throat, covering this with a dry towel. The wet towel should be changed in a few minutes, just as soon as it becomes a little warm. Often before the second cloth is removed the spasm will be broken, and the danger passed. Cool water will not answer; it must be cold. If the spasm does not break, and the breathing does not become easy within fifteen or twenty minutes, then change to hot water. Wring out the cloth from water as hot as can be borne and apply about the neck, changing in a few moments, and so on.

How to Lose Flesh.—I have often been asked whether it were possible to have the flesh reduced without in any way affecting the general health. If the person be only slightly heavier than usual, and is in the best of health, it certainly seems wrong to experiment in any way to reduce the weight, especially when this is done only to better follow the dictates of fashion.

If, however, the excess of flesh is becoming so great as to be uncomfortable, to interfere with the regular work, or to cause weak action of the heart, etc., then something should be done. There are a few rules which a person may follow to advantage in such cases, although the change should be made gradually.

So long as a person continues to gain in flesh, it is positive evidence that more food is being taken than necessary. Therefore the first rule is that the quantity of food should be gradually diminished.

The second rule is that exercise should be taken regularly. This will keep up the general health, while it will cause the fat to be more evenly distributed over the body. Another rule is to keep the bowels well open, so that there may be at least two movements daily. For this special purpose the mineral laxative waters are best.

Diet for Reducing the Flesh.—Fatty foods should be avoided, and so should all drinks in excess. Foods containing sugar or starch should be taken sparingly, as oatmeal, potatoes, rice, cakes, sweetened tea and coffee. Milk is very fattening to many, hence should not be used. The eminent Dr. Mitchell, of Philadelphia, instituted a course of treatment for reducing the weight, which is quite rigid, but nevertheless effective. The regular diet should be changed gradually until it meets Dr. Mitchell's demands.

He prescribes outdoor exercise, and a diet of one cupful of milk and one egg every three hours when awake. No other food or drink is allowed for twenty days, when the list of foods is gradually extended. There are a number of anti-fat remedies upon the market, but many of them depend for a cure upon their power to disturb digestion, and thus interfere with the general health.

How to Gain Flesh.—When it is natural for persons to be thin, it is quite impossible for them to gain in weight under any kind of diet or treatment. Many persons, however, are thin simply because some of the digestive organs do not perform their work properly; or because the diet is not the right kind.

Thin persons need good meats and some vegetables. If the digestion is all right, then such meats as mutton, chicken, broiled bacon, broiled ham, etc., may be used; also rare broiled steak, rare roast beef, etc. Eggs may be used in any way except hard-boiled. Good bread, oatmeal, cracked wheat, hominy, etc., are good.

Such indigestible foods as pork and veal, thin soups, cabbage, turnips, pickles, pies, and pastries of all kinds should not be used.

Often a good preparation of cod-liver oil will increase the weight; and this is also true of many of the extracts of malt. It is useless, however, to try to increase the weight by using a generous diet, unless the digestion is in good order. When the digestion is weak, the person should take Lydia E. Pinkham's Vegetable Compound because of its power to strengthen the digestion and enable the system to obtain all the good possible from the food.

Pimples, Rashes, Eruptions.—Many persons, especially young girls, are afflicted with pimples on the face, rashes, blackheads, etc. To cure this condition it is necessary that the bowels be made to act regularly each day, which is easily done by the use of Lydia E. Pinkham's Liver Pills.

Then a good course of treatment should be taken with Lydia E. Pinkham's Blood Purifier in order to make the blood perfectly pure in every way. Attention should also be paid to the diet, and such indigestible articles as pork, pickles, rich pies and cakes, and rich sauces, sweetmeats and nuts should be avoided.

For local treatment, the face should be washed each day in warm, soapy water, using the best Castile soap. Then with a sponge or wash cloth wash off this water with as hot water as can be borne. It is best to keep up this sponging with the hot water for at least five minutes in order that the face may become thoroughly steamed.

The face should then be wiped dry and rubbed briskly for a few minutes.

Burns.—Burns are likely to occur at any time in the household, and one should always know what to do promptly. The best treatment is to add a teaspoonful of ordinary baking-soda to a cupful of water. Saturate some cloths in this solution and lay them over or loosely bind them about the burned part. This will take out the pain and sting at once. As the cloths become dry, more of the solution should be poured over them, and they should not be removed from the burned parts. After a few hours, these wet cloths may be replaced by cloths well covered with vaseline. If you do not understand your ailments write to Mrs Pinkham. Her advice is free and always helpful. Such letters are strictly confidential; they are never shown without the writer's express permission; women only assist in answering them.