In many cases there is even a decided benefit from this state of things, particularly in those who are of a too full habit.
As long as the loss of appetite is merely of a sympathetic or nervous character it is not necessary nor advisable to resort to any special treatment. But when it arises from indigestion, or a foul stomach, it is necessary to attend to it. A mild emetic of ipecac or warm mustard and water, may be given, or a dose of Epsom Salts. This state will be recognized by a furred tongue, unpleasant breath, and uneasiness at the pit of the stomach; while in the purely nervous anorexia nothing of the kind is observed. Sometimes it may arise merely from debility of the stomach, and in that case a few of the Carbonate of Iron Pills will be of use. In general the patient is benefited rather than injured by this voluntary fasting.
Boulimia.—This state is the reverse of the former, meaning a ravenous appetite. Some females exhibit it in a most extraordinary degree, and will eat to excess of anything that comes in their way. Many injure themselves in this manner, by causing indigestion, flatulence, heartburn, vomiting, and even inflammation of the stomach. It is of no use reasoning with them, for the appetite is so strong that they will eat let them suffer ever so much.
All that can be done in such cases is, to drink freely of various nourishing liquids, such as soup, broth, rice milk, or chocolate; and by eating jelly, arrow-root, and eggs. These contain much nourishment in a small space, and satisfy the hunger without overloading the stomach. The appetite may also be deadened considerably by eating figs, dates, sugar, or chocolate; and by drinking soda water.
Capricious Appetite.—Sometimes a female is found to have an inordinate desire for some one particular article of diet, which she will eat to excess, but will not touch anything else; this is called malacia. Others will have a craving for some article not proper for food;—this is called Pica. They will devour chalk, cinders, earth, wood, flies, spiders, charcoal, and various other things, sometimes of the most disgusting kind, though ordinarily they may be quite fastidious in their diet. This unnatural desire is also frequently seen in hysteria and chlorosis, and in several uterine diseases.
It does not appear that a moderate indulgence of these unusual tastes is at all injurious, unless the article wished for be of a decidedly hurtful character. On the contrary, it is reasonably conjectured, by many physiologists, that they arise from a real want in the system of the very substances longed for. For instance, there may not be in the mother's blood sufficient lime to form the bones of the child, and this deficiency is intimated by her desire for chalk or plaster; nature having no other mode of making her wants known, or of causing them to be supplied. As a general rule, so long as the indulgence is not obviously improper, it should be allowed to a reasonable extent, both to gratify the patient and to answer to what are probably the demands of nature.
It is seldom that interference is needed in these cases, except when there is danger of the patient doing herself harm; we may then try to alter the condition of the stomach, and so change the taste. A gentle emetic will sometimes do this, or a saline purgative. If these fail use a few of the Carbonate of Iron Pills, or some good strong bitters, or teas, drunk freely, such as Cammomile, Boneset or Centaury.
PYROSIS.
This disease is more frequently called water brash and sometimes heart burn. It is characterized by the raising of a hot acrid fluid into the throat, causing a sensation of burning from the stomach upward, even to the mouth. It is a very frequent attendant upon many forms of dyspepsia, and is generally experienced more or less by most pregnant females, arising either from improper diet or from mere sympathetic derangement. If it arises only from errors of diet, a reform in that particular is all that is needed, but if it is merely sympathetic nothing can be done beyond palliating it, to give temporary relief. For this purpose the patient must take a spoonful of lime water, in half a tumbler of milk two or three times a day, or some carbonate of soda, or magnesia, with a few drops of laudanum if there be any pain. In those cases which resist such remedies a little of the compound iron mixture may be of service, such as can be obtained at the druggists. A nourishing diet should also be observed, and plenty of exercise should be taken in the open air.