Mucilage of Acacia       1/2 ounce
Spirits of Turpentine     10 drops

This should be administered high up in the bowel.

Astringent Enemata.  To check diarrhea.—­They should be given slowly and injected high up, and they should be retained as long as possible.

Starch and Laudanum.—­Boil the starch as if to be used in the laundry and dilute with luke-warm water, until it is thin enough to pass through a tube.  Take of this three ounces.  This can be given alone in mild cases; but if there is much pain and straining add ten to fifteen drops of laudanum to the starch water or thirty to forty drops of paregoric.  This dose is for an adult.

Stimulating Enemata. 1.  Black coffee.—­One-half to one pint of strong coffee, injected as hot as possible.  It should be strained before using.  This is frequently given in poison cases.

2.  Salt Enemata.—­Two teaspoonfuls to one quart of hot water is mildly stimulating; one-half to one ounce of brandy or whisky may be added.

Douches.—­By this term is generally meant a jet of fluid directed with a certain amount of force upon a limited external or internal surface, for cleansing, stimulating purposes and to relieve inflammation.  Three common douches are the ear (aural), the vaginal and the rectal.

The Vaginal Douche.  For cleansing.—­A one per cent solution of carbolic acid is often used in one to three quarts of water.

To allay inflammation.—­A hot solution of the temperature of 105 degrees to 115 degrees is given, and three or six quarts may be used.  Allow the stream to flow before the nozzle is inserted so as to have the warm temperature instead of cold at the start, and the nozzle should be introduced up towards the posterior vaginal wall.  The fountain syringe bag should not be raised more than six to twelve inches above the patient who is lying down with her hips raised on pillows and her knees drawn up.  Medicines can be used in all the douches.

Rectal douche.—­This is to relieve piles and reduce inflammation.  Hot or cold as needed.  A rectal tube or fountain syringe is used.

Ear (aural) douche.—­This is used for earache and inflammation.  Salt or boric acid is generally used in the warm water.  It should be allowed to flow in slowly and gently.

How to use a bed pan.—­When you are placing the pan, you should slip one hand under the buttocks and then place the flat end of the pan under the buttocks.  It should always be warm.  Raise the patient in the same way before attempting to remove it.  Do not pull it out.

[642 Mothers’ remedies]