PILES. 449 



PILES. 



If the piles become strangulated that is, if the bowel cannot 

 be returned into the rectum a cold hip-bath should be taken, so 

 that the tumor may be reduced. Cold compresses are also useful. 



Half a pint of cold water, injected into the rectum twice or 

 thrice a day, and retained as long as possible, is a most effectual 

 remedy. 



SLEEPLESSNESS. 



Sleeplessness is produced by either too much or not enough 

 blood in the vessels of the brain. Tea, coffee, and other nervous 

 stimulants when drunk late in the evening, and in some cases when 

 used at all, tend to this disorder. 



Before bedtime everything of a disturbing character should be 

 dismissed from the mind, and when able, to walk in the open air 

 before retiring will almost surely secure a good night's rest, provided 

 the sleeping room is well ventilated. 



If the sleeplessness is caused by a plethora of the blood vessels 

 of the brain, a rubber bag containing ice may be hung at the head 

 of the bed. This will keep the head cool without chilling the per- 

 son if it is not placed too close to the head, and will thereby induce 

 sleep; if on the contrary, aenemia of the brain, or too little blood in 

 that organ is the cause, the head should be lowered as much as 

 possible to favor the circulation in that direction. Should the 

 patient feel uncomfortable without a pillow, the feet may be raised 

 higher than the head by placing 'something under the foot of 

 the bedstead. According to a recent writer in a medical journal most 

 cases of sleeplessness will be relieved by this latter procedure. It 

 certainly deserves a trial. 



Insulation of the bedstead, which may be done by placing a 

 small piece of glass under the foot of each post, the bed to stand 

 with its head to the north, has been found an admirable cure for 

 sleeplessness. 



SEA-SICKNESS. 



I say to all, drink water freely from the first when you are sea- 

 sick. Both man and animals can live more than twice as long with 

 water as they can without it. Besides, it makes the vomiting easier. 

 After one has had a little experience, he can tell well enough when 

 the trouble is coming. If, then, when the qualmishness begins to 

 affect him, he drinks two, three or more tumblerfuls of water and 

 blood-warm is best, though cold is useful till he vomits, the effort 

 is not only rendered much easier, but greater relief is obtained, and 

 in a shorter time. The periods between vomiting will also be thus 

 lengthened. 



This water vomiting, then, I recommend as a great help in sea- 

 sickness. To treat vomiting by vomiting, might seem paradoxical, 



