2BEATMENT OF DISEASES. 47 



often causes constipation. For the degree of heat and manner of taking, see 

 " Hot Water for Dyspepsia." 



2. Constipation or Costiveness— Newer Remedies.— For a few 

 years past the fl. ex. of cascara sagrada has been much extolled, and also found 

 quite satisfactory in relieving the difficulty, and if properly combined with other 

 remedies, has cured very many cases, I have been very successful with the fol 

 lowing combination: 



I. Fl. ex. cascara sagrada, 1 oz.; tincts. nux vomica and belladonna, each 

 2 drs. ; with syrup of Tolu, or syrup of wild cheny, 2% ozs. ; mix. Dose — A 

 tea-spoonful 3 times a day till the bowels become easy; then only at bed-time, 

 till cured. 



Remarks. —I have succeeded with this when other things, by other physi- 

 cians, have failed. 



II. I see that some physicians prefer the following prescription for const! 

 pation: Fl. ex. cascara sagrada, fl. ex. berberis aquifolium and simple syrup, 

 each 1 oz. ; tinct. nux vomica, 25 drops, and tinct. digitalis, 1 dr. Dose — A 

 tea-spoonful 3 times daily, till the bowels become easy, then drop off morning, 

 then noon dose, and finally all, using only occasionally, for a while, till a healthy 

 daily action is established. This would be the most valuable in female cases, 

 as the berberis is claimed to be a "female regulator," uterine tonic, etc. But 

 supposing there is no constipation, although the liver may be inactive in the 

 secretion of bile, the stools, or passages, being light, or clay-colored, Ihen I 

 would use: 



III. Fl. ex. of fringe tree, 1 oz. ; fl. ex. of berberis, 1 oz. ; adding also, 

 as a stomach tonic, fl. ex. wahoo, J^ oz. ; syrup of wild cherry, or Tolu, 1 oz. ; 

 and the tincts. of nux vomica and belladonna, each 2 drs., as in No. 1, above. 

 Dose and management the same as in No. 1, till the stools assume their healthy 

 color again. 



3. Constipation, More Becent Remedy .—My attention was re 

 cently called to the following, and having a case of constipation on hand, and 

 in which the liver did not give the usual amount of bile, giving a tendency tc 

 jaundice, I at once tried it with the happiest results — entire relief in both difll- 

 culties. The remedy was: Tinct. nux vomica, 1 oz. ; podophyllin, 1 gr. ; the 

 podophyllin to be rubbed in a little of the tincture to insure it thorough mix 

 ing. Dose— Take 5 drops only, before each meal, till the bowels become easy, 

 then only 3 drops, or even 2, as required to keep them easy, for a few daysj 

 after which take occasionally, if needed, bj the reappearance of the clay-col- 

 ored stools. 



Remarks. — ^The tincture of nux vomica In the small doses above given, is 

 not only safe, but a very valuable medicine, still if left where children can get 

 hold of it and drink the whole bottle, or considerable of it, it is poisonous; 

 and hence I give in the next item the treatment for such a mishap, as follows^ 



Poisoning by Nux Vomica or Strychnine— Remedy.— Should 

 erer poisoning occur by the careless taking of over-doses of tincture of nux, or 



