TREATMENT OF DISEASES. 275 



BemarJcs. — I have only had an opportunity to test this in one case, wMch 

 began to improve by the third day. The poultice should be warm, and if the 

 castor-bean leaf can be got (many people raise them as an ornamental plant in 

 the garden), they, too, should be put on as hot as can well be borne. The 

 poultice or the leaves used in connection with the electricity make it more 

 likely to succeed. 



II. It is well, also, in suppression of the milk which occurs most gener- 

 ally, if at all, when the child is only a few weeks old, to give acetate of potash, 

 1 oz., in water, 8ozs. ; adding a little tinct. ess. or fl. ex. of sassafras to flavor. 

 Give in doses of 1 to 2 tea-spoonfuls, in a little more water, 3 times daily, to 

 act on the kidneys, which are generally at fault, governing the dose by this 

 action, not to make too free a flow of urine. As this also helps to relax the 

 secretory functions of the breasts as well as the kidneys, weak coffee with 

 plenty of milk and loaf sugar, and the old-fashioned chocolate, with milk and 

 sugar plenty, drank alternately with the coffee, through the day, is also excel- 

 lent, says an old doctor who has had large experience; and also rub upon the 

 breasts freely, Trask's ointment, or what he thinks better, the bitter-sweet 

 ointment, given below, all that will be absorbed. 



6. Sore Nipples, Breasts, etc.— To Avoid and Cure.— Sore 

 nipples are sometimes caused by wearing the dress or corsets too tight, but 

 m«st generally by neglecting to wash them with cool water, and properly dry- 

 ing with a soft towel, after every nursing. When there is the least tendency 

 to soreness of the nipples, dust on a little powdered magnesia or starch, kept 

 generally as a baby powder, to prevent soreness in the groins or other folds of 

 the skin. A very little mutton tallow, or, better still, lamb tallow, which is 

 much softer, will prevent chafing when applied to any part liable to chafe. 

 But if they become sore and irritable, make the following: 



I. Bittersweet Ointment. — Bark of the root, with the outside scraped off a 

 little, }i lb.; mutton tallow or lamb tallow, i^ lb.; stewed carefully together; 

 then strain while hot, and box or bottle for use. Apply a little after washing 

 and drying the nipples as above at each nursing. 



II. Smartweed Ointment.— In places where the bittersweet can not be 

 obtained, take smartweed and tallow, the same amount, and make the same 

 way, and use in the same manner as the Bittersweet Ointment. 



[The bittersweet makes a most valuable ointment for all healing purposes, 

 and I know of only one thing at all comparable with it for similar purposes, 

 and that is an ointment made with Balm of Gilead buds, same amount, and 

 made the same as the bittersweet. (See also Tinct. of Balm of Gilead Buds 

 for Cuts, Bruises, Wounds, etc.) But the smartweed ointment is considered 

 much the best to prevent breasts from inflaming and going on to suppuration.] 

 So if there is danger of this, use the smartweed, if obtainable, or the following: 



7o Sore Breasts, to Prevent Breaking, etc. — As soon as there is 

 inflammation and swelling of the breast, indicating any danger that suppura- 

 tion will take place, send to the druggist and obtain fl. ex. (remember, fl. stands 

 for fluid and ex. for extract,) of poke root, 4 ozs., and apply to the breast by 



