Illness The Root Of
Sources: Papers On HealthIn treating any trouble it is well to get to the
root of it. On one occasion a patient complained that the doctor never
struck at the root of his illness. The doctor lifted his
walking-stick and smashed the brandy bottle which stood on the table,
remarking that his patient would not have to say that again. This will
illustrate what we mean. Liquor drinking must be given up: it is the
root of multitudinous ills; so must
one of the most insidious of poisons in its effects on the nerves, and
is to be absolutely given up if a cure is expected in nervous cases.
Chloral, laudanum, and opium in other forms, may give temporary relief;
but they are deadly poisons, paralysing the nerves and ultimately
completely wrecking the system. The continued use of digitalis for
heart disease is a dreadful danger. We mention these by name as most
common, to illustrate the truth that it is vain to treat a patient
while the cause of his illness is allowed to act. If any evil habit
of indulgence has given rise to trouble, that habit must be given up; a
hard fight may have to be fought, but the victory is sure to those who
persevere. Often dangerous symptoms appear, but these must be faced: to
relieve them by a return to drugs is to fasten the chains more surely
on the patient. It is better to suffer a little than to be all one's
life a slave.
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Hay Fever
A most effective preventive and cure for this is the inhaling through the nostrils the vapour of strong acetic acid. The acid may be on a sponge enclosed in a smelling bottle, and its vapour may be freely inhaled. Sponge all over each night with hot a... Head Baths
See Baths for Head. ... Head Massaging The
This is so important in many cases of neuralgia, headache, and eye troubles, that we here describe it. The brow is first gently stroked upward from behind, with the palm of the hand, while the back of the patient's head rests against the chair or othe... Head Skin Of The
The nerves of sensibility are very largely supplied to the skin of the head, and many large nerves pass under it. It is therefore an important matter that it be kept in a right condition. In various troubles it becomes hard and dry, and even contracts... Head Soaping
Have a piece of M'Clinton's soap, a good shaving brush, and a bowl of warm water. Rub the wet brush on the soap, and work the lather up in the hollow of the left hand, taking more soap and water in the brush as necessary, until the left hand is full o... Head Sounds In
As the result and accompaniment of deafness these are sometimes most distressing, even preventing the patient from sleeping. They are often caused by chill producing some inflammation of the ear, and stoppage of the internal or external air passages. ... Headache
There is a vast variety of ailments associated with what is called headache. In itself, it is just more or less pain in the head. When there is such pain, it means that some of the nerves in the head are in a wrong state, probably in nearly all cases ... Headache Sick
The stomach and head affect each other powerfully, and a disordered stomach causes severe headache, known as sick headache. In many cases a few tablespoonfuls of hot water, taken at intervals of five minutes, will effect a cure. He is himself "simple"... Health And Money
It will be noticed that the remedies we recommend are in almost every case very cheap--even, like hot water, costing nothing, as they are in every house. This very simplicity and commonness has turned many against our treatment. We know, indeed, of o... Hearing
We have had so much success in helping the deaf that we feel warranted in seeking to spread the knowledge of our methods as widely as possible. Deafness is caused in many ways--very often by exposure of the head to a chill, especially in infancy. W... Heartburn
See Acidity in Stomach. ... Heat And Weakness
We have over and over again shown in these papers how heat passes into vital action, and gives strength to failing organs and nerves. But the heat supplied to these organs must be at a certain temperature. All experience goes to show that gentle heati... Heat Internal
There is a usual (normal) temperature in all the blood and tissues of the body. If the body be either warmer or colder than this point (98.4 deg. Fahr.), its health is interfered with. A "clinical thermometer" is used to ascertain whether the bodily ... Heel Sprained
Often in sprains all attention is given to the bruised and torn muscles, while similarly bruised and torn nerves are overlooked; yet upon the nerves the perfect healing of the muscles depends. Hence, in a sprain of the heel we must be careful not to ... Hiccup
Though often but slight, disappearing in a few minutes by some simple device, such as holding the breath, when long continued this becomes most serious. Very often it is an added distress in trouble which is itself incurable; but while the patient's l... Hip-joint Disease
Thorough heating, with moist heat is the best treatment for this trouble. This implies time, work, and patience; but all these are well spent. Let a strong fomentation be given twice a day to the hip joint, with oiling before and after, each applicati... Hives
See Rash. ... Hoarseness
This trouble we may consider in three ways:--First, as the effect of overstrain in using the voice; in this case rest must be taken from speaking or other such work. Remedies which restore the voice without rest are very likely to do permanent injury.... Hooping Cough
See Whooping Cough. ... Hope And Healing
The mind has always an influence on the body. Life rises and falls under the influences of ideas, so as to prove that these are a matter of life and death to man. To give an invalid hope is, then, to help mightily in healing the disease, whereas to te... Hot Flushings
See Flushings. ... Hot-water Bags
The flat rubber bags of various shapes, to be had from all rubber shops, make excellent substitutes for poultice or fomentation; but care must be taken to have two or more ply of moist flannel between the bag and the skin of the patient. This ensures ... Housemaid's Knee
To cure a swelling on the knee-joint is, as a rule, easy. Rest is a first and paramount necessity. Bathing with hot water, not too hot for comfort, for at least an hour each day is usually sufficient. If the knee has been blistered, or leeched, it is ... Hydrocele
See Dropsy. ... Hysteria
This is usually brought on by some excessive strain upon the brain nerves, and may show itself either in the violent or in the fainting form; it may even pass from the one to the other, fainting alternating with violent movements and cries. It may oft... Illness The Root Of
In treating any trouble it is well to get to the root of it. On one occasion a patient complained that the doctor never struck at the root of his illness. The doctor lifted his walking-stick and smashed the brandy bottle which stood on the table, rem... Imaginary Troubles
These are of two kinds, the one purely imaginary, the other where bodily trouble is mixed with the imagined. In the first case the patient is in agony with a pain, when nothing wrong can be discovered in the part, or even elsewhere, to account for it.... Indigestion
(See also Digestion; Assimilation.) This subject leads naturally to a consideration of food in relation to it. The trouble usually is that food easily enough digested by others causes distress to the patient. Here we at once see that cooking plays a m... Infant Nursing
A mother who has had strength to bear a child is, as a rule, quite strong enough to nurse it. Suckling is natural, and usually most beneficial to health. Many women have better health and appetite at such a time than at any other. Every mother ought, ... Infants' Food
For infants who cannot be nursed at the breast, cows' milk in the "bottle" is the best substitute. But all milk used from the cow should be sterilised and cooled before use. That is unless it is found on trial that the child thrives better on unsteril... Infants' Sleep
See Children's Sleep. ... Infection
Few things have so great and distressing effect as the fear of infection in disease. As a rule this fear is not justified by the facts, where ordinary precautions are taken. These precautions, too, need not be costly, and involve in many cases little ... Inflammation Deep-seated
Often inflammation occurs in the centre of, or beneath, a mass of muscle, as the hip or thigh. We refer not to the formation of an ABSCESS (see), but to the violent, hot inflammatory action that often issues in an abscess. For this the treatment shoul... Inflammation Of The Bowels
See Bowels. ... Inflammation Of The Brain
See Brain. See also Knee; Limbs, Inflamed; Lungs, etc. ... Inflammatory Outbreaks
Sometimes a severe out-break and eruption will occur in and around the nostrils or lips, and spread over the face. (If of the nature of erysipelas, treat as under that head.) In ordinary cases, there is need for more than local treatment, as it is pro... Internal Relaxation
Pain is often felt in parts of the back or sides which will yield to no medicine such as usually relieves. This most probably arises from relaxation and swelling of some internal part of the body, so that there is more or less constant pressure on som... Itch
See Rash. ... Jaundice
This disease, or its approach, may be known by several signs: a more or less yellow colour of the skin where otherwise white; a yellowness of the whites of the eyes, and failure of the bowels to act sufficiently, with lack of appetite. It may come on ... Kidney Complaints
See Urinary Troubles. ... Knee Swelling Of Or Pain In
For ordinary slight injuries, complete rest, and rubbing with spirit lotion, should be sufficient. But where there is previous weakness, or constitutional tendency, even slight pain and stiffness, caused by wet or some blow or wrench, the joint must ... Lacing Tight
This produces such serious deformity, and in many ways so interferes with the health of women, that we are constrained to write upon the subject. We find in cases which come before us that lacing, both of the feet and the waist, as practised by our wo... Lancing Swellings
See Abscess. ... Lather How To Make
One of the most powerful soothing influences which can be had, is found in the lather of M'Clinton's soap, so often recommended in these pages. Applied to the skin over a stomach which has been rejecting all food, and even retching on emptiness, for h... Laudanum
There is intense drowsiness and contraction of pupils of eye. Give an emetic and plenty of strong coffee. Walk patient up and down. On no account allow him to give way to the desire for sleep. ... Legs Pricking Pains In
Sometimes curious pricking pains are felt in the legs, becoming so severe as even to confine a patient to bed. Nothing can be seen on the skin, and no swelling or other visible sign of trouble is present. Evidently this requires treatment more partic... Limb Saving A
The proper growth of the body in any part depends on the power furnished by the nervous system and the cells of that part. This power enables these cells to use the nutritive substance in the blood for the formation of new tissue. By this process, gro... Limbs Disjointed Or Sprained
In the case of an overstretch, or sprain, which has resulted in a hardened, swollen, and painful state of the muscles of the arm, bathe the arm in hot water, using plenty of SOAP (see). While the arm lies in this bath, gently squeeze it with both han... Limbs Drawn-up
We have had many cases of contracted limbs, arising from various causes. Some of these have been completely cured, even when the tendons or cords which were contracted were going to be cut by medical advice. In one case, however, of which we knew, the... Limbs Fractured
It is not always easy to say definitely whether a bone is broken or not. In general, however, the following are signs of fracture:--(1) Loss of power in the limb; (2) Swelling or pain at the injured spot; (3) Distortion of the limb, usually shorter th...