CHAP. XIII.Against sharp humours.
The first sign of sharp humours, in the bodies of old persons, usually is an uneasiness at the stomach; then comes on a want of appetite, with sour belchings, wind, purgings, and defluxions; and last, thirst, and a feverish disposition.
The fault lies originally in the stomach; and generally an irregular diet has been the cause; particularly high sauces, bad wines, and spicy foods. The first step to a cure is to abstain from all these; and life depends upon it. For to aggravate those symptoms is to destroy the constitution utterly. Incurable fevers; or fatal purgings, follow.
The best beginning is by a vomit; and after this the diet should be all of the mild and cooling kind. Every morning let the person take two spoonfuls of syrup of snails, made by bruising them with sugar, and hanging them up in a flannel bag till the juice runs out. At meals, let his drink be a tea, made of marshmallow and liquorice-root, with one third part milk, drank just warm. If the skin growyellow, or the white of the eyes appear of that colour, a dose of rhubarb once in three days will be needful. The best method of taking it is by chewing.
This is as much physic as we would have an aged man use in such a case: the rest must be done by a proper regimen.
First let him regulate his passions. Violent anger will increase this disorder more than the most improper foods. Let him also banish fear: if he thinks himself in danger; he will bring it on.
He must never overload his stomach; nor must never suffer it to be empty. Once in two hours he should constantly swallow something. Jellies of hartshorn, truly made, are excellent; but they must be prepared at home: for cheating is so easy, and the method with hartshorn only is so tedious; that few who make them for sale will do it honestly.
Often this mischief rises from a stoppage of perspiration in some part; particularly in the feet. Then the business is to bring that evacuation on again by additional warmth: by flannel socks and yarn stockings. This will in many cases alone perform the cure; and in all others, where such a stoppageof perspiration has been a part of the cause, it will assist the other methods.
The pulse, which was at first too quick, will grow moderate as these methods of relief take place; and this promises a cure. To complete it, the patient must go to bed in time: and use moderate exercise in the best hours of the day. He must eat no fat meats, drink little wine; and avoid care and uneasiness of mind.
If he do not sleep well, he must take a small dose of syrup of diacodium every night.
This method will probably restore him to health; and it must be preserved with a due care afterwards; else relapses in this case are frequent. A vomit once in six weeks, and a dose of rhubarb every ten days, with a careful diet, will usually make this a very healthy constitution.
The great care is taking the defect in time; for new disorders are easily conquered; but long established ones are too obstinate for such weak bodies.