BRIGHT'S DISEASE. 149 



mixture (Pr. 31) should be taken every niglit at bed-time. Such medicines as iron, 

 quinine, quassia, and gentian, should be taken occasionally, with the view of main- 

 taining the gent-nil condition of the health. Mixtures Prs. 1, 2, 3, 6, 9, 11, and 15 

 will be found useful for this purpose. Phosphorus and the hypophosphites (Prs. 

 53, 54, ;u especially indicated. Parrish's Chemical Food often does good. 



Softening of the brain most frequently occurs in those whose health has been for 

 some time below the average, or in people who are the subjects of some chronic and 

 rxluiusting disease. It occurs most commonly in those over the age of fifty. Usually 

 there is more or less severe and persistent pain in the head, with attacks of giddiness 

 coming on suddenly and soon passing off. There is a diminution of intellectual 

 power, an embarrassment in answering questions, depression of spirits, and an 

 inclination to shed tears on the slightest provocation. There are commonly prickings 

 mid twitchings of the limbs, and sometimes pain or numbness. There is often a 

 tendency to stupor, especially after meals ; and, more or less, impairment of vision or 

 hearing is not uncommon. Softening of the brain is a complaint in which the 

 attendance of a doctor is absolutely necessary. In any case in which a tendency to 

 softening is suspected, attention to the following points will prove of value: 

 1. The body should be maintained at an even temperature ; the feet and hands 

 when chilly and blue should be put in hot water, or wrapped in and rubbed with 

 warm flannels ; and the head should lie low. 2. Long intervals between the meals 

 should be avoided; food easy of digestion should be given frequently; and the 

 patient, if old, should not be allowed to pass the night without nourishment 

 3. When there is a tendency to faintness, some gentle stimulus, such as a glass 

 of wine or a little sal volatile, should be given. 4. The mind should be easily 

 and pleasantly occupied lazy inaction being avoided on the one hand, and violent 

 excitement on the other. 5. The bowels should be carefully attended to; con- 

 stipation and straining at stool should be avoided, and so should the production 

 by medicines of anything like active purgption. 



In cases where there is paralysis, convulsions, insensibility, delirium, or any of 

 the more serious symptoms of brain disorder, it will of course be necessary to obtain 

 medical aid. In many brain diseases, iodide of potassium given in large doses, 

 gradually increasing from five grains up to ten, twenty, or even thirty, three times a 

 day, will do good even when everything else has failed ; but this is a point on which 

 you must be guided by your doctor. The iodide of potassium mixture (Pr. 32) 

 contains five grains in the ounce ; but when it is desired to give a larger dose, the 

 solution can be made twice or three times as strong. It is in cases in which there 

 is reason to suspect a syphilitic taint that iodide of potassium proves so eminently 

 serviceable. 



BRIGHT'S DISEASE. 



This disease, which was named after the eminent physician who in 1837 first 

 described it, is regarded by some as a disease of the kidneys, and by others as 

 a general constitutional disease in which the kidney is affected. What should be 

 its exact place in the classification of diseases is a matter which in reality concerns 

 us but little. We can consider its symptoms and discuss its treatment equally well 



