4. Take four ounces of stramonium leaves and strip from the stems, rubbing between the hands to partly pulverize. To this add one ounce of saltpetre, finely powdered. Dose.—Place a half teaspoonful upon a very hot shovel. Inhale the rising smoke. If the first few inspirations cause coughing, the smoke should not be evaded as the coughing incites deeper inspiration.
5. Stramonium and saltpetre as in No. 4. Dampen with water and make into balls or cones. These are more easily handled and are fired in the same way as the powder and used in the same way.
6. Take of sunflower leaves, stramonium leaves, mullein leaves, one ounce each; of lobelia leaves, half an ounce; of powdered nitre, one ounce; and benzoic acid, two drams. Mix thoroughly. Dose.—A pipeful, to be smoked the same as tobacco.
7. A cup of hot coffee or several of hot water. This is especially effective in cases arising from checked perspiration, from rheumatism, etc.
These recipes are given to the public as being the principal agents employed by the medical profession throughout the world. It must be distinctly understood that they are not curative but merely palliative, and used to relieve paroxysms. We object to them wholly and unqualifiedly because they contain NARCOTICS. It is a fundamental principle in our treatment not to use this class of remedies. They stupefy the brain, debilitate the nervous system, and have, in not a few instances, formed an unfortunate appetite and habit, most difficult to overcome. We are of the opinion that one of the chief reasons why this malady has been considered incurable is the fact that physicians have almost universally relied upon narcotic drugs. With such medication a cure is the exception. A cure can only be effected under such circumstances when the powers of nature are sufficient to overcome both the NARCOTIC and the DISEASE. That they will relieve we do not deny, but they will never cure. It reminds us of an old country doctor who advised a lady to smoke tobacco to cure acid dyspepsia. She followed the prescription for over thirty years and at last accounts was not cured yet. In all seriousness we ask would any other remedy except a narcotic or stimulant be used with such persistency for anything like this length of time? Is it not apparent that such agents form a habit which is often worse than the disease, and yet fail to effect a cure? We appreciate the necessity for relief, and do not blame sufferers for availing themselves of any means for this purpose. But they should not be satisfied with relief only, but should look about for such a system of medication as will rid them of the disease completely and permanently. If a week's or a month's exemption is a "foretaste of heaven," how incomparable are the comforts and happiness to be derived from a life-time immunity?
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS
are annually spent upon the advice of physicians, in traveling expenses, and hotel bills, by sufferers from asthma, or phthisic, in seeking a change of climate that will be advantageous. It is the last expedient of the doctor who is annoyed by the continued complaint of his unrelieved patient, and can only be made available by the wealthy. In some instances the change is beneficial, but to be effectually so a permanent change of residence is required. Most patients are unable or unwilling to do this. In some cases change only affords temporary relief, the attacks returning after a few months. Even the wealthy dislike to take such chances. The less opulent cannot think of such methods, and hence are compelled to bear their sufferings as best they can. In the majority of instances the "change of climate" is only an illusion, or only temporarily beneficial at best. We can tell them a better way, and if they are wise they will follow it.
HAY ASTHMA, OR HAY FEVER.
This affection, known also as Hay Catarrh, Hay Fever, or Rose Cold differs but little in its manifestations, from coryza, or cold in the head, save in its inciting cause, and in its element of periodicity. In this latitude there are persons who, during summer or early fall, are invariably attacked with acute congestion or inflammation of the upper air-passages, giving rise to sneezing, watery discharges from the nose and eyes, difficult respiration, fever, and general prostration. These symptoms are supposed to be induced by the inhalation of pollen or odors from grasses or flowers, which at that time are supposed to give off certain exhalations of an Irritating character. Unless arrested by medical treatment, the disease lasts until cool weather, or the occurrence of a hard frost rids the atmosphere of the exciting influence.