I was spending a few days with an old friend who was four months advanced in pregnancy. She had had no unpleasant symptoms. One day as we were on the street walking, she was suddenly seized with vomiting. Trying to investigate the cause, I asked her if she wore the dress she was accustomed to. “No,” she said; “I have not had this on for months, and it is too tight.” She loosened it under her cloak, when the symptom disappeared.
In the last months of pregnancy, vomiting is often caused by pressure of the enlarged uterus upon the stomach. This cannot occur where the natural figure has always been unquestionably preserved.
One potent cause of morning sickness is the habit of entering upon the sexual relation frequently during gestation. By this means a hyperæmia in the reproductive organs as well as exhaustion of the nerve supply is produced. By reflex action nausea is the result. Incalculable benefits would be derived if married people imitated the lessons of lower animals in this matter—thereby conserving all forces for the benefit of offspring.
Treatment for morning sickness.—If inflammation or ulceration of the uterus is chronic, one can not expect to overcome the nausea entirely in a short time (Chap. XXI.)
In the case of biliousness, a plain, light diet with plenty of acid fruits, avoiding fats and sweets, will ameliorate if not remove it. Don’t force the appetite. Let hunger demand food. In the morning the sensitiveness of the stomach may be relieved by taking before rising a cup of hot water, hot milk, hot lemonade, rice or barley water, selecting according to preference. For this purpose many find coffee made from browned wheat or corn the best drink. Depend for a time upon liquid food that can be taken up by absorbents.
The juice of lemons and other acid fruits is usually grateful, and assists in assimilating any excess in nutriment. These may be diluted according to taste. With many, an egg lemonade proves relishing and acceptable.
In biliousness, with or without nausea, hot fomentations in the region of the stomach and liver, for an hour once or twice a day, followed by tepid bathing and hand friction will be found invaluable.
Warm or hot enemas are exceedingly beneficial. In order to be effectual, follow minutely these directions. Place in a Fountain Syringe two or three quarts of soft water as warm as can be taken. A tablespoon of salt will make it more effective. Suspend the reservoir as high as the hose will allow. Lie upon the right side with knees flexed. Introduce the long rectal tube, or what is better for many, the vaginal tube far enough in the rectum to pass the internal sphincter muscle. It ought to enter three or four inches. Let the water pass into the bowels slowly, having them manipulated upward by an attendant, especially making passes up the right side.
This causes the water to pass through the ileocæcal valve from the large to the small intestines. Once in the latter, it is taken up by the capillaries of the portal vein, and more or less of it conveyed to the liver. This stimulates a secretion of bile and it is not unusual for five or six free evacuations to follow. It is quite as effectual as an active purgative without any poisonous results of the drug. This enema should be retained from twenty minutes to half an hour. It is also much more efficacious when preceded by the use of a hot fomentation over the liver. This injection is an exceedingly valuable remedial agent both in acute and chronic difficulties. By its use in sick headache, bilious colic, congestions in the stomach or abdominal viscera, the physician’s visit and fee will often be saved.
The exercises recommended in Chap. V, for constipation, are invaluable for biliousness.