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Diarrhea.Symptoms.-The disorder is so familiar that no detailed account of symptoms is necessary. It is, however, important to distinguish diarrhea from another disease characterized by frequent liquid stools-dysentery. In the latter affection there is an inflam mation of the mucous membrane lining the intestinal canal; and the discharges are usually mixed with blood and slime, and are attended with great pain. For convenience we may distinguish cases of diarrhea as acute and chronic. The acute diarrhea is familiar to us all as the result of errors and indiscretions in diet, being produced by exces sive indulgence in food as well as by eating certain indigestible articles. This diarrhea is usually transient and subsides spontane ously in a few days. In such cases there should be no meddling interference with the discharge, which is really nature's effort to rid the stomach and intestines of irritating material. If at the end of a day or two the discharge continue to be profuse and frequent, the following prescription may be given : Aromatic syrup of rhubarb, - Two ounces. Magnesia, ------- One drachm. Compound spirits of lavender, - - One drachm. Camphor, water, ----- Each one ounce. Mix, and take half a teaspoonful every half hour. Diarrhea sometimes results not from indigestion, but mental emotion, or from exposure to cold. In these cases, also, the affec tion is usually cured spontaneously within a few days. The chronic forms of diarrhea are by no means so simple nor so easily managed as the acute form. A chronic diarrhea is in most cases a symptom of some serious disease of the intestinal N canal ; and the physician's tact and knowledge are tested to the uttermost to detect the origin of the difficulty. Sometimes the cause is to be found in a tuberculous condition of the intestines ; sometimes the difficulty lies in obstinate indigestion or dyspepsia ; at other times the fault is to be found in disease of the liver, and still again cases occur in which inflammation of the kidney is re sponsible for the diarrhea. In fact a chronic diarrhea, notwith standing its apparent simplicity as a disease, is one of the most troublesome and often intricate affections which the physician is called upon to treat. It will be, therefore, out of place to attempt a detailed account of the means for recognizing the various causes of diarrhea in the individual cases. Yet certain general measures will be found advantageous in all cases of chronic diarrhea, and may be mentioned here. In every case the regulation of the diet is a matter of importance, for persons often acquire improper habits of eating, the avoidance of which suffices in itself to cure the diarrhea. It will be well to keep the patient upon animal food largely, avoiding fresh fruits and vegetables. Milk, eggs, and broth, reinforced by rare meat and old bread, will be found most suitable, especially if taken in small quantities and at shorter intervals than usual. Starchy food may be allowed when properly cooked, as well as a moderate indul gence in ripe fruits. In this disease, too, attention should be di rected to the teeth, since the difficulty may arise from imperfect mastication of the food. The medicines to be used vary extremely, according to the nature of the case ; some chronic cases of diarrhea, those espe cially which have originated during military life and are especially frequent among soldiers, have been cured by large doses of ipecac- twenty grains every four hours. This measure is not however to be adopted until milder ones have failed, since it causes profound nausea and vomiting. Various admixtures are found to be bene ficial in different cases, among them the following : Camphor, - - - - 20 grains. Ipecac, - - Opium, ----- Each six grains. Mix and make twelve pills. Take one every four hours; or Prepared chalk, - One drachm. Tincture of kino, - Three ounces. Laudanum, - One ounce. White sugar, - Gum arabic, - Each one drachm. Mix. Take a teaspoonful every three or four hours. In many cases the following combination will be effectual : Subnitrate of bismuth, - - Four drachms. Tannin, ----- Haifa drachm. Ipecac, ----- Fifteen grains. Mix and make eight powders. Take one every two hours, A prescription commonly known as Hope's mixture is often beneficial; it is made as follows: Nitric acid, - Four drops. Laudanum, - One drachm. Camphor water, - _ - Four ounces. Take a tablespoonful every two or three hours. In all cases of chronic diarrhea the patient should be extremely careful to protect himself against sudden changes of temperature, against wetting the feet, etc. He will find it advisable to be warmly clothed, even during the summer, and so long as the diarrhea is severe, to avoid unnecessary physical effort. But first, if you want to come back to this web site again, just add it to your bookmarks or favorites now! Then you'll find it easy! Also, please consider sharing our helpful website with your online friends.
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