200 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



one of the three legumens beans, peas, and lentils is pretty sure 

 to suit every constitution, and as bowel-regulators their value can 

 hardly be overrated. Taken like medicine at regular intervals of eight 

 hours, and in doses of about a pint and a half, the third or fourth meal 

 of pea-soup (boiled in soft water and flavored with butter and a pinch 

 of chopped onions) will prove as effective as a moderate medicinal 

 aperient ; but, while the effect even of a mild cathartic is followed by 

 an astringent reaction, the relief obtained by an aperient regimen is 

 permanent, unless that effect is persistently counteracted by the origi- 

 nal cause of the disorder. Fruit, fresh or stewed, ripe grapes, or tam- 

 arind-jelly, and frequent draughts of pure cold water, will insure the 

 efficacy of the remedy. 



Besides an astringent diet, the chief predisposing causes of consti- 

 pation are : warm weather, overheated rooms, want of exercise, seden- 

 tary occupations, tight garments, the after-effects of drastic drugs, of 

 malarial fevers, and sometimes of self abuse. Parturition is frequently 

 followed by a protracted period of close stools. In the most obstinate 

 cases of constipation clysters are preferable to cathartics, for the reason 

 that the former reach the special seat of the disease, viz., the lower 

 part of the rectum, while the latter begin their work by convulsing the 

 stomach, and, by irritating its sensitive membrane, disqualify it for the 

 proper performance of its function. But injections, even of the simplest 

 kind, should be used only as the last resort, after all the following 

 remedies have proved ineffective : 



Mastication. Thoroughly masticate and insalivate each morsel of 

 solid food. Eat slowly ; do not soak your bread, etc., to facilitate deg- 

 lutition, but let the saliva perform that business. The stomach of 

 bilious dyspeptics often rejects a stirabout of bread and milk, but 

 accepts the ingredients in a separate form. 



Passive Exercise. Kneading the abdomen, or riding on horseback 

 or in a jolting cart, often affords relief by dislodging the obdurated 

 obstructions of the lower intestines. 



Cold sponge-baths excite a peristaltic movement of the colon, a,nd 

 often induce a direct evacuation. 



Air-baths have an analogous effect, and in summer the bed should 

 be removed to the airiest room in the house. After the stools have 

 become more regular, exhausting fatigues (in warm weather especially) 

 should be carefully avoided. The advent of winter greatly lessens 

 the danger of a relapse. Frost is a peptic stimulant, and after Octo- 

 ber the cold ablutions can be gradually discontinued. Fresh air, an 

 occasional sleigh-ride, or an excursion on a rumbling freight-train, will 

 do the rest ; and the cure is complete if, during the next warm season, 

 the digestive organs perform their proper functions without the aid of 

 artificial stimulants. The remedies for bilious constipation have been 

 mentioned in the chapter on " Dyspepsia," but I will here repeat the 

 chief rule for the cure of chronic indigestion : " Never eat till you 



