TREATMENT OF DISEASES. 285 



Treatmekt. — The patient must be laid on the back, the head Iotv, and the 

 buttocks raised; while in this position the gut must be returned by a gentle 

 pressure, if it does not fall back of itself. After it is returned, a piece of 

 sticking-plaster may be applied over the part, and a truss, or bandage, worn for 

 a length of time. If it has been forced down with great violence, or happens 

 from any cau^e to become inflamed, it is often very difficult to return it, and 

 sometimes impracticable, without an operation, a description of which is 

 foreign to our purpose, but in those cases, until some assistance can be ob- 

 tained, act as follows: foment with warm fomentations; give clysters; then, 

 when the bowels have emptied, the operator must press and guide the gut back 

 through the aperture, if possible to do so. An adult, after being ruptured, 

 should never neglect wearing the proper truss. 



HAY FEVER.— This disease is so called on account of its occurring 

 during hay time, or summer, and is thought to be caused by the odor of new- 

 mown hay; but it may be caused by other strong odors. It does not differ 

 very much from the ordinary asthma, except perhaps there is not so much 

 difficulty of breathing, and the attacks last longer in the hay-asthma; the 

 lining membrane of the nose is also much more inflamed and the throat 

 irritated in the latter disease. 



The best thing to do is to remain within doors and keep quiet for a few 

 days; take a few doses of Rochelle salts or rhubarb, also a lea-spoonful of 

 paregoric at bed-time for two or three nights, and live on light diet. A dose 

 or two of quinine (1 gr.) may be beneficial, night and morning. 



Remarks. — Thousands of people go to Northern Michigan annually for 

 this disease, and I have never heard of one that did not get relief — Northern 

 Michigan is the surest cure in the world for Hay Fever. 



VARICOSE VEINS OR ENLARGED VEINS.— The veins 

 which lie near the surface, especially those of the legs, are apt, by exhausting 

 labor upon the feet, and by strains, to get weakened, so that their valves lose 

 their tone, and their sides stretch and give way in certain places, letting the 

 blood bulge out, and form purple bunches. These bags of blood, lying along 

 upon the surface of the limb, form knotty tumors, looking like blood boils. 

 They occasion a kind of distress, but no sharp pain. 



Persons of weak, soft, and relaxed muscles and blood vessels are par- 

 ticularly liable to this complaint. It often attacks women in the family way. 



Treatment. — Where only a few veins are affected, it may be sufficient, 

 in some cases, to apply firmly over them a few strips of leather, spread with 

 soap plaster. But generally it is better to support the whole limb with a good 

 cotton bandage, or with a laced stocking, which should be applied in the 

 morning before the patient is up. It is generally also well to use friction with 

 some liniment or iodine ointment. Lead water or alum water, or an infusion 

 of white oak bark, may be used with advantage. Burdock and plantain 

 leaves, bound upon the skin, and removed before they are dry, are useful 

 Showering with cold water strengthens the veins. 



