Advice to a wife and mother in two parts

by Pye Henry Chavasse

Simple Syrup, a sufficient quantity:

To make an electuary. One or two teaspoonfuls to be taken early every morning.

314. Magnesia and milk of sulphur is an excellent remedy for piles:

Take of—Carbonate of Magnesia,

Milk of sulphur, of each, three drachms;

Mix.—To make nine powders. One to be taken early every, or every other morning, mixed in half a teaspoonful of new milk.

315. Remember, in these cases, it is necessary to keep the motions in a softened state, as hard lumps of stool would, in passing, give intense pain.

316. If the confection of senna and the other remedies do not act sufficiently, it may be well to give, once or twice a week, a teaspoonful or a dessertspoonful of castor oil.

317. In piles, if they are not much inflamed, and provided there be constipation, a pint of tepid water, administered early every morning as an enema, will be found serviceable. Care and gentleness ought, of course, to be observed in introducing the enema pipe (but which only requires ordinary care), in order not to press unduly on the surrounding piles.

318. The patient ought to lie down frequently in the day. She will derive great comfort from sitting either on an air-cushion or on a water-cushion about half filled with water, placed on the chair; for sometimes she is unable to sit on an ordinary seat.