With reference to diet, it is wise to eat as little as possible, and let that be of dry toast, thoroughly masticated. It is important that no tea or coffee should be taken.
APPENDICITIS.
This complaint was formerly known as inflammation of the bowels, and may be caused by injury. It was generally believed to be due to the presence of foreign substances, such as grape seeds, etc., in the vermiform appendix, but this idea is exploded. It is an inflamed condition of the appendix, but the inflammation may have extended from the colon or from the peritoneum. The most frequent cause is the cæcum (the lower pouch of the colon) getting filled with hardened fæcal matter, in which case the ileo cæcal valve is obstructed, and the natural passages of the bowels stopped. With a clean colon appendicitis is practically an impossibility.
The accepted medical practice is to remove the appendix by operation, regardless of conditions; but the mortality in such cases is high. Others put the patient to sleep with tincture of opium, or veratrum viride, and let Nature right herself, if possible. If Nature can maintain herself against the doctor and his drugs from seven to nine days, the patient may get round, but not well.
TREATMENT.
Use the “Cascade” promptly on the first sign of an attack, injecting all the water possible (at a temperature of not less than 102 Fahr.), so as to reach the cæcum, where the trouble is located. If the attack is an acute one, use the “Cascade” every third hour until relieved. If the obstruction (which is usually present) does not give way, inject a pint of hot water and a pint of castor oil mixed; but before injecting it (with a bulb syringe) raise the patient’s hips several inches higher than his head; then turn the patient on his right side, and stroke the reverse way of the colon, applying a firm but gentle kneading movement in the region of the appendix. This injection should be retained at least half an hour—longer if necessary. If this does not break loose the obstruction, resume the use of the “Cascade.” Hot fomentations over the appendicular region are valuable. Give no medicine, it can do no good, but may do infinite mischief. After the bowel has been emptied let the patient have absolute rest, and if there is much pain and inflammation present, apply cracked ice, in a rubber bag, over the affected part. The diet should be absolutely liquid until all danger has passed. This is of the highest importance.
DISEASES OF THE LIVER.
Liver complaints are always closely related to other diseases of the digestive organs. The colon being clogged, the intestines are rendered sluggish, which in turn acts upon the duodenum, or second stomach, and prevents the food from properly passing out—then fermentation takes place. Bile is poured out on the accumulated food again and again, for the presence of anything in the duodenum is a demand for the secretion of bile. As a result too much bile is mixed with the food to be absorbed—the blood becomes tainted with biliary secretions—showing itself in a yellow skin, dizziness of the head, dull, sleepy condition and lack of ambition. This overtaxing of the organ results in what is known as acute congestion, the symptoms of which are tenderness to touch and a feeling of painful tension on right side just above the edge of the ribs, slight jaundice, furred tongue, loss of appetite and scanty high colored urine.