CONSTIPATION. 193 



or coffee. It is also recommended for persons who take too little exercise, and for 

 students and literary men. 



Trousseau, the eminent French physician, recommended the use of belladonna in 

 constipation. In one of his lectures he says : " I give it in the form of pills, each pill 

 containing a centigramme (equal to about J of a grain) and as much of the powder of 

 belladonna ; one of these pills is taken daily, fasting, by preference in the morning 

 on an empty stomach rather than in the evening ; the number of pills may be in- 

 creased from one daily to two daily within the first five or six days : they ought 

 seldom to exceed four or five in the course of the twenty-four hours. Whatever number 

 of pills are taken they ought always to be taken at one time. As soon as the stools 

 become regular, the belladonna must be discontinued, and the organs be allowed to 

 act without assistance." Any intelligent chemist would be able to make these pills. 

 It has been found by English medical men that this treatment is useful in all forms 

 of constipation co-existing with indigestion, characterised by a thinly-furred tongue, 

 pain at the pit of the stomach, especially after food, and more or less headache. It en- 

 sures a natural evacuation daily, and must be continued for a fortnight or three 

 weeks. Trousseau, whilst recommending this treatment, adds : " By calling to mind 

 the similarity of the properties of belladonna and tobacco, you will see how it is that 

 many men cannot go to stool unless they smoke a pipe or cigar immediately after a 

 meal. Although, at least in our country, it is not considered very proper for women 

 to smoke, I almost every week advise ladies to try the effect of smoking a tobacco 

 cigarette, to aid in overcoming constipation which had proved inveterate under every 

 hygienic treatment." 



In many cases of constipation dependent on torpidity of the bowels relief may 

 be obtained by taking one grain, of powdered ipecacuanha every morning while 

 fasting. The same treatment will remove the indigestion frequently associated with 

 constipation, and characterised by depression of spirits, flatulence, coldness of the 

 extremities, and the food lying like a weight on the stomach. Sulphur taken in 

 the form of the confection (Pr. 59) is very useful, especially when the patient also 

 suffers from piles or skin diseases. Senna may do well, particularly if given with 

 gentian or some other bitter tonic (Pr. 16). Aloes in many cases prove highly 

 useful, especially when given in the form of the dinner pill (Pr. 65). 



In the treatment of the constipation of old people, drop or half-drop doses of 

 tincture of opium (laudanum), given every quarter of an hour for the first hour, 

 and then hourly for three hours, have been recommended. It must be remembered, 

 however, that daily evacuation, which is the rule in youth and middle life, is often an 

 excess in advanced years, when a motion three or four times a week usually proves 

 ample. Old people often trouble themselves needlessly on this point. Laudanum 

 is especially indicated when there is complete torpor of the bowels, when the 

 motions are hard and lumpy, and there is headache, drowsiness, or dizziness. 



In habitual constipation it is often necessary to resort to the use of some of 

 the natural waters, such as those of Carlsbad. The imported Carlsbad water acts 

 well. It should be warmed to a temperature of from 100 to 110. The patient 

 should begin with three tumblersful, and gradually increase the number to four, 

 five, or six, according to the action. It should be taken before breakfast. It 

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