It is well for the patient, a few days before the period, to take a warm hip bath or foot bath twice a day, and at night, when retiring, to apply cloths wet in warm water to the lower part of the abdomen.
The bowels should be kept open by some mild catharsis, as castor oil or a pill of aloes. If there is pain and fullness of the head during the discharge, or before it, use the following:
| Tincture of aconite leaves, | Two drams; |
| Tincture of belladonna, | One dram; |
| Tincture of cantharides, | One dram; |
| Morphia, | Three grains; |
| Simple syrup, | Quarter ounce. |
Mix. Dose: One teaspoonful three times a day. If the pain is severe it may be taken every two hours.
Between the monthly periods, if the system is weak, the following may be taken:
| Precip. carbonate of iron, | Five drams; |
| Extract of conium, | Two drams; |
| Balsam Peru, | One dram; |
| Alcohol, | Four ounces; |
| Oil wintergreen, | Twenty drops; |
| Simple syrup, | Eight ounces. |
Dose: Two teaspoonfuls three times a day. Shake the mixture before using.
CHLOROSIS, OR GREEN SICKNESS.
This disease generally occurs in young unmarried females who are weak and delicate. It manifests itself about the age of puberty, and is accompanied by feeble appetite and digestion. There is no menstrual discharge, or else it is very slight.
It is caused by innutritious food and residence in damp and ill-ventilated apartments. It may be hereditary, all the females of the family being liable to the same disease. Those who drink largely of tea, coffee, diluted acids, bad wines, and indulge in tight lacing; are predisposed to this disease. Among the exciting causes may be mentioned disturbing emotions, unrequited love, homesickness, depression of spirits, etc. When we take into consideration the fact that the cause of the disease is impoverishment of the blood, the treatment will not be difficult.