CONSTIPATION. 191 



of the womb, &c. Many mental diseases, more especially 



imndriaMs aiul melancholy, may be traced to the same cause. Moreover, the 

 :r vumulation of f;rr.-s in the lower bowel may give rise to much local trouble, and 

 l>e the cause of piles, falling of the bowel, itching about the anus, and other 

 bie 



In the general treatment of disease, it often happens that medicines fail to 

 tin ir | it vuliar and speriiie action when the bowels are obstinately confined. 

 Under these cimimstanees the preparations of iron frequently disagree, and we may 

 look in vain for tin- narcotic influence of opium. 



We have, \ve think, said enough to show that constipation is not a thing to 



be desired. As we have said, it has been laid down as a rule that every robust, 



:iv pci-son, should have a motion once in the twenty-four hours, but to this there 



are many exceptions. Some people have habitually two or three evacuations daily, 



others only every second or third day. These peculiarities should be respected. The 



: requent action of the bowels in particular individuals is not properly a state of 

 constipation, the dejections being of a healthy character, and not having undergone 

 those changes of dryness and hardness which usually occur when so long retained. 

 It is obvious that it would be unwise and oflicious to interfere, seeing that 

 not only no inconvenience, but absolute benefit, results from the habit. This 

 refers only to cases where the motions are copious, free, and natural in colour and 

 consistence. 



What is the treatment of habitual constipation 1 Purgatives 1 No, certainly not ! 

 Purgatives may do very well for accidental constipation constipation, that is, occur- 

 ring once in the way; but for habitual constipation they not only do no good, but often, 

 if continued, prove extremely prejudicial. What we want is not to give remedies 

 which merely act upon the bowels, but to employ means to correct the derangement 

 upon which the constipation depends. 



Early rising favours the natural action of the bowels. By early rising we mean 



rather the avoiding a second sleep in the morning than getting up at any specified 



hour. From the difference of habit in different classes, and of those who reside in 



town or country, the hour which is early to one may be late to another, and vice 



-. It is the lingering in bed, the going to sleep a second time after having 



enjoyed a good night's rest, that does the mischief. A person awakes refreshed, light, 



and cheerful, but if instead of at once getting up he dozes off to sleep again, he after- 



vanl.s rises with unwillingness, and finds his head heavy, his spirits dull, and his 



bowels indisposed to act. 



A very important point in the treatment of constipation is the habit of regularly 

 , r a visit to the closet at the same time every day. Immediately after break- 

 fast usually affords the most favourable opportunity. You are then in less of a hurry 

 :-.:id bustle, and can afford to devote more time and consideration to the subject. Get 

 up directly you wake, turn into your bath, and have a good sponge, then dress no 

 sitting about in your dressing-gown have your breakfast, take your paper, and your 

 pipe if you like, and retire for a good ten minutes or a quarter of an hour. It may 

 be that you feel assured that your visit will be unproductive, nevertheless go. You 

 may be unsuccessful to-day, and perhaps to-morrow, but in time you will succeed. 



