The people's common sense medical adviser in plain English; or, medicine simplified / by R.V. Pierce.

  • Pierce, R. V. (Ray Vaughn), 1840-1914.
Date:
1891
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The people's common sense medical adviser in plain English; or, medicine simplified / by R.V. Pierce. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Woodruff Health Sciences Center Library at Emory University, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Woodruff Health Sciences Center Library, Emory University.

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    difficulty of breathing, and a salty taste in the mouth. Although it very rarely destroys life, it often occasions alarm. Common table salt, given in one-fourth to one-half teaspoonful doses, re- peated every ten or fifteen minutes, is generally sufficient to control it. Ligatures applied to the thighs and arms, sufficiently tight to ?rrest the circulation of blood in the veins, but not tight enough to impede it in the arteries, is a useful proceeding. Ergot, in teaspoonful doses of the fluid extract, hamamelis, and gallic acid, all are valuable for this purpose. Night-sweats can only be regarded as a symptom of weakness, and are to be remedied by an improvement of the general health. Bathing in salt water is sometimes attended with good results. The practice of giving acids for this symptom can only be regarded as irrational. It may arrest the sweating, but it will do harm in other ways. Belladonna, given at bedtime, is an effectual remedy. Frequency of the pulse is generally a prominent symptom in this disease. It sometimes points to a condition of sufficient importance to require a remedy. Although the Discovery is combined to meet this condition, its value may be greatly en- hanced by adding one-half to one teaspoonful, according to the urgency of the case and the frequency of the pulse, of the fluid extract of veratrum to each bottle. The benefit of this, when persisted in, will be apparent in the amelioration of all the symptoms, and in the general improvement. Diarrhea is sometimes a troublesome symptom, and particu- larly so in the latter stages of the disease. It is generally due to acidity of the alimentary canal, to which the treatment must be directed. Great care should be taken in the selection of the diet to improve the quality and avoid everything which disa- grees with the patient. Improve digestion by every possible means. Carbonate of soda and rhubarb, in the form of a syrup, are sometimes excellent. The Compound Extract of Smart-weed, in small doses, will generally diminish the fre- quency of the discharges. Derangement of the Liver is often a complication requiring attention, and the timely relief of which goes very far in amel- iorating the general condition of the patient. The Golden Med- ical Discovery is generally sufficient to relieve this complication.