Diarrhea

Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)

Important: Safety Warning This page presents medical treatment from an era before modern medicine. The remedies described are ineffective against the conditions named, and some of the ingredients or doses are harmful. Do not use them to treat any illness; consult a qualified medical professional. This information has been left in for historical purposes but should not be acted upon. a common disease, which consists in an increased discharge from the alimentary canal, the evacuations being but little affected, except in their assuming a more liquid consistence. This is generally preceded or accompanied by flatulence and a griping pain in the bowels, and frequently by nausea and vomiting. Most cases of diarrhœa are caused by the eating of indigestible food, especially unripe or overripe fruit, by overloading the stomach, by cold attacking the bowels or even the feet, by sudden arrest of perspiration, by drinking water, and also by impressions unwholesome on the nervous system. It is often also the symptom of some other disease. It is noticed that where drainage is imperfect and drinking water impure, diarrheal diseases are specially apt to occur (see CHOLERA); the classes of the population most apt to be affected being those who occupy low levels or who are otherwise exposed to the influence of this aqueous or gaseous poison. Infants are especially apt to suffer from diarrhœa, and a large number of the infantile deaths is caused either directly or indirectly by this diease. Besides these epidemic diarrhœas, isolated cases of simpler and more obvious origin are very frequent. In some persons diarrhea is the usual result of catching colds, i. e., they suffer from catarrh of the digestive, instead of, as is most usual, the respiratory organs; but far more fresome or indigestible food or drink, or from excessive indulgence even in what would otherwise not be hurtful. In all such cases the diarrhea is to be regarded as beneficial; in fact, it is the natural effort of the intestines to rid themselves of their objectionable contents, and till this is accomplished should be encouraged rather than arrested. Treatment. In the treatment of diarrhœa all irritating contents of the intestinal canal should first be removed by a gentle laxative, such as castor oil. This simple remedy is safe and efficient, and, when well mixed with an equal quantity of glycerine and a few drops of oil of checkerberry, can be taken very easily even by children. One teaspoonful of such a mixture is often quite sufficient in itself to effect a cure. Castor oil and aromatic syrup of rhubarb in equal parts can be given to infants in teaspoonful doses at the outset of an attack of diarrhœa with advantage. A teaspoonful or two of Epsom salts taken in plain soda is also very useful in adults for this purpose. In all attacks of diarrhea quiet and rest in a horizontal position is very desirable, with warmth to the feet and also to the abdomen. The simplest possible diet is desirable. Warm milk sterilized or boiled and perhaps thickened with flour, with stale bread toasted, is usually the best diet till the diarrhea is entirely well. Other gruels made with milk, like arrowroot or barley, may be safely used.