Advice to a wife and mother in two parts

by Pye Henry Chavasse

Take of—Best picked Alexandria Senna, one ounce;

Best Figs, two ounces;

Best Raisins (stoned), two ounces:

All chopped very fine. The size of a nutmeg or two to be occasionally eaten.

Or, one or two teaspoonfuls of compound confection of senna (lenitive electuary) may occasionally, early in the morning, be taken. Or, for a change, a teaspoonful of Henry’s magnesia, in half a tumblerful of warm water. If this should not be sufficiently active, a teaspoonful of Epsom salts should be given with the magnesia. A Seidlitz powder forms another safe and mild aperient; or one or two compound rhubarb pills may be given at bedtime. The following prescription for a pill, where an aperient is absolutely necessary, is a mild, gentle, and effective one for the purpose:

Take of—Extract of Socotrine Aloes, eight grains;

Compound Extract of Colocynth, forty-eight grains:

Hard Soap, twenty-four grains;

Treacle, a sufficient quantity:

To make twenty-four Pills. One or two to be taken at bedtime occasionally.