GENERAL HEALTH HINTS 711 



only as an emergency method. When habitually em- 

 ployed, it not infrequently becomes ineffectual, so that 

 a daily movement cannot be secured, even by its aid, 

 the difficulty being as great as before this means was 

 used. This is one of the difficulties which arise from 

 the abuse of this simple measure of treatment. Pa- 

 tients suffering from habitual headache, especially 

 nervous headache or sick headache, are often living 

 in a state of constant poisoning, as the result of the 

 absorption of toxic substances from retained fecal mat- 

 ters. For such cases, the enema is a measure of great 

 value. It should be administered in such cases two or 

 three times a week, and should be taken thoroughly. 

 For an ordinary enema, one or two pints of water 

 at a temperature of about 80° is sufficient; but in cases 

 in which the colon has become greatly distended, and 

 in which there is a tendency to the accumulation of 

 fecal matters, a large enema taken in a peculiar fash- 

 ion, and which we have termed, for convenience, a 

 coloclyster, is preferable. For the coloclyster, two, or 

 in some instances even three, quarts of water are re- 

 quired. The patient should lie upon the right side, 

 so that the water may be led by gravity to enter the 

 first, or ascending, portion of the colon. In some cases 

 it is better to have the patient take the knee-chest posi- 

 tion. To assume this position, the patient first kneels, 

 then inclines the body forward until the thighs are 

 perpendicular, and the upper part of the chest in con- 

 tact with the couch. In this position the entrance of 

 the water into the colon is facilitated, and a larger 

 quantity can be received while the water is flowing into 

 the colon. Gentle manipulation of the bowels with 

 one hand will aid in filling the colon, and in loosening 

 and softening hardened masses. 



