Page:The American improved family physician, or home doctor.djvu/276

270 been perseveringly prescribed for it by "old-school" doctors, but without the slightest benefit in the great majority of cases. The wet bandage and hip-bath are the better remedies.

Difficulty of breathing frequently affects the patient more or less toward the completion of the term; in some cases it is attended with severe cough. Indolence or over-exertion are alike to be regarded in the treatment. Great fatigue of body or mind should be avoided. Lifting heavy articles, running up stairs, walking too fast, are among the excesses against which the patient should be cautioned.

When Hemorrhage occurs, it is to be regarded as a premonition of abortion, and treated accordingly.

Diarrhoea is among the unusual occurrences. The treatment is hip-baths, the abdominal bandage, cold injections, and a strict dietary.

Difficult Urination sometimes proves very annoying. When it amounts to actual retention, the catheter may have to be employed; this, however, is extremely seldom. Cold hip-baths and bandages are usually sufficient. Foot-baths are also useful; and in severe cases the warm hip-bath, immediately followed by the cold, will often relieve.

Varicose Veins, with a swelling and knotty appearance of the lower extremities, sometimes result from the obstructed circulation occasioned by the pressure of the uterine tumor on the adjacent blood-vessels. Attention to the general health, and a judicious regulation of the amount of exercise—neither too much nor too little, and at regular hours—are all the therapeutic indications in this case.

Hysteria is named among the "diseases of pregnancy" by authors. I have never known it to occur in females whose hygienic habits were reasonably correct; and the affection is probably always attributable to novel reading, exciting company or parties, stimulating drinks, irritating food, cathartic and opiate medicines, &c. The treatment is wholly negative an avoidance of these causes.

Convulsions are less frequent occurrences than hysterical paroxysms, but are produced by the Scame general causes, and can be prevented or cured by their avoidance or by removal.