CHAMBERS'S INFORMATION FOR THE PEOPLE. 



more enlightened views, the scientific physician 

 now regards disease as a disturbance of healthy 

 functions; and he tries to conduct the case to- i 

 wards recovery by removing causes of disturbance, 

 not only by the skilful use of medicinal agents 

 which have been proved to have definite actions 

 on the body, but also by careful dieting and 

 nursing. 



Diseases may be grouped in various ways, but 

 we will adopt a classification founded on the 

 physiological systems. All diseases will not be re- 

 ferred to, but only those common amongst us, and 

 which may be recognised and treated in at least 

 their earlier stages by an unprofessional person. 



I. DISEASES AFFECTING THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM. 



1. The Tongue -In individuals who have suf- j 

 fered from long-continued disorder of the digestive ; 

 organs, the tongue is often ulcerated superficially, j 

 and is raw and tender to touch. Change of diet, 

 the extraction of decayed teeth, and small doses 

 of Gregory's powder, will usually be followed by 

 recovery. If the symptoms remain after this treat- 

 ment, medical advice must be taken. Occasion- 

 ally, the tongue is covered, near its tip, with rugged 

 cracks, which are exquisitely painful The appli- 

 cation of borax and honey will give relief. The 

 practice of smoking with short clay pipes produces 

 irritation of the textures of the tongue, which may 

 lead to a form of cancer. The presence of a hard, 

 painful swelling, frequently with salivation, renders 

 medical advice necessary without loss of time. 



2. The Mouth. Inflammation of the lining 

 membrane of the mouth is not uncommon in 

 children. The usual appearance is that of -small 

 white spots, or patches, scattered over the tongue 

 and cheeks, constituting what is known by mothers 

 as the thrush. These spots are readily removed 

 by the application of a lotion, consisting of 120 

 grains of borax dissolved in i ounce of water. 

 The mouth of the child and the nipple of the 

 mother should be wiped after suckling. The dis- 

 ease known as the mumps is an inflammation of 

 the parotid gland, the largest of the salivary glands. 

 There is fever, and a hard swelling from beneath 

 the ear to the chin. Usually, this disease passes 

 off in a few days, without any treatment except a 

 dose of laxative medicine, and the application of 

 hot fomentations or flannel to the throat. 



3. The Throat. The most common affection of 

 the throat is quinsy, which is an inflammation 

 of the tonsils, two glands, one being placed in a 

 recess on each side of the opening of the throat, 

 Quinsy is caused, usually, by cold. There is fever, 

 pain in the throat, and difficulty in swallowing 

 and in speech. The tongue is foul. The throat, 

 when examined internally, is red, and the swollen 

 tonsil or tonsils may be seen. The inflammation 

 may subside in a few days, or it may pass into 

 suppuration that is, matter or pus may form in 

 the gland, and ultimately escape. The treatment 

 is the application of hot poultices to the throat, 

 the inhalation of steam from a basin of warm 

 water, a dose or two of a saline purgative (No. i),* 

 and a milk-diet. If the tonsil suppurates, the 

 abscess may require to be opened. This can only 

 be done by a medical man. 



4. The Stomach. When we consider the great 



770 



* See prescriptions at end of this article. 



variety in the articles of food consumed, anc 

 the heedlessness with which many eat indigestibl 

 substances, and drink fluids, such as raw spirit 

 which affect the coats of the stomach, it is not 

 surprising that this organ should be frequently 

 in a diseased state. The mucous lining of the 

 stomach is the part commonly affected. Acute 

 inflammation of this organ is usually the result of 

 the swallowing of hot or irritating liquids, such as 

 boiling water or acids, and is, consequently, rare ; 

 but chronic forms of inflammation, giving rise 

 what is called dyspepsia, are extremely common. 

 There are at least two distinct kinds of this dis- 

 ease namely, that in which there is an excessive 

 secretion of gastric juice, the fluid which digests 

 the food, and that in which there is a deficient 

 supply of this fluid. The general symptoms are 

 similar in both cases namely, a feeling of un- 

 easiness after meals, referable to the pit of the 

 stomach ; flatulence, from the accumulation of 

 gas in the stomach or bowel ; costiveness ; furred 

 tongue, foul breath ; palpitation, headache, irrita- 

 bility of temper, and tendency to melancholy. 

 When there is an excessive secretion of fluid, the 

 sensation at the stomach is hot and burning, and 

 is attended by eructations of quantities of acid or 

 watery fluid, called familiarly the water-brash. In 

 the other form of the disease, the sensation is that 

 of a heavy weight at the stomach, often oppressing 

 the breathing. No fluid is brought up. Dys- 

 pepsia is a disease difficult to cure, chiefly because 

 it is impossible to give the stomach entire rest in 

 ordinary circumstances. The chief point to attend 

 to is diet. The plainest food should be taken. 

 Where there is much irritability, milk mixed with 

 lime-water is useful. Fish or fowl is preferable 

 to meat. Bread consumed should be old or 

 toasted. As a rule, vegetables do harm. All 

 fruit, pastry, preserves, cheese, beer, and spirits 

 should be forbidden. With regard to medicines, 

 much will depend on symptoms. To relieve that 

 form attended by water-brash, bismuth and mag- 

 nesia are useful (No. 2). The other form of dys- 

 pepsia may be beneficially treated by mineral 

 acids (No. 3), which increase the gastric secretion. 

 The bowels should be kept regular. The patient 

 ' should take exercise in the open air as much as 

 he can bear, and, as far as possible, he should be 

 freed from anxiety and worry. 



5. The Intestines. Inflammation of the bowels 

 is a very serious disease. It is characterised by 

 shiverings, hot skin, and a quick pulse. There 

 is pain around the navel, which is increased on 

 pressure, and the sufferer lies on his back with 

 the knees drawn up. There is obstinate constipa- 

 tion, and frequently nausea and vomiting. Such 

 a case demands medical skill, which should be 

 summoned without delay. In the meantime, 

 relief may be obtained by hot fomentations, or 

 large poultices placed over the abdomen. Dysen- 

 tery is a specific inflammation of the mucous 

 lining of the lower part of the bowel. True acute 

 dysentery is not common in the British Islands. 

 The symptoms are similar to those of severe diar- 

 rhoea, but the evacuations are frequently bloody, 

 and contain sloughs or shreds of mucous mem- 

 brane. The treatment now adopted in India is 

 to administer 30 to 60 grains of ipecacus 

 powder. The general strength must be sv 

 ported by milk, raw eggs, soups, &c. Ordir 

 diarrhoea, or looseness of the bowels, may 



