Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 1, 1802).djvu/29

Rh habits. Yet the strictest observance of dietetic rules will not be attended with die desired effect, unless the person who is desirous of becoming a mother, have sufficient resolution to abstain from an immoderate indulgence in sensual pleasures. These, indeed, cannot be too much guarded against in a married state; as the contrary practice seldom fails to be attended with the most melancholy consequences. Hence we find, that, in certain families where temperance and prudence are strictly observed, a miscarriage is a rare event.

There are, however, cases in which mothers are constitutionally liable to abortion, and where the combined efforts of art and nature cannot prevent a misfortune, which not only in a remarkable degree debilitates the constitution, but has also a tendency to return on a future occasion. The most critical periods at which abortion may occur, are those of the third, fourth, and fifth months of pregnancy; though it may happen sooner or later. If, therefore, a woman be affected with a violent shooting pain in the back, extending to the uterus, together with the symptoms already described, it will be necessary, either to bleed her, if she be of a full and vigorous habit, or to adopt such a treatment as may be best calculated to obviate the portending danger. This consists in a very moderate, and chiefly liquid, nourishment, excluding whatever may rouse and irritate the system; and a calm and composed state of body and mind; so that to prevent a relapse of painful symptoms, she must sometimes keep her bed for several weeks or months together. Cataplasms applied to the pit of the stomach, and opiates, may occasionally become necessary; but the latter ought never to be resorted to, without proper medical advice; for there can be no doubt, that tampering with laudanum, or similar medicines, has often been productive of irreparable mischief. According to the uniform experience of professional men, however, the last-mentioned remedy may with more safety, and greater advantage, be employed in the form of clysters. Thus, we may confidently say, that an injection composed of six ounces, or a tea-cup full of cold chamomile-tea, and fifty drops of laudanum, every other night, or, according to circumstances, more or less frequently, has been attended with the happiest effects, especially if, in the intermediate days, when necessary, an emollient clyster were administered, with a view to relieve costiveness. We cannot, at the same time, too seriously deprecate the custom of tampering with laxatives taken by the mouth; a custom very prevalent among the vulgar, who are not aware of the injury thereby inflicted upon their disordered constitutions.

With respect to the concomitant affections of pregnancy, we must be very concise.—The pain in the head, and tooth-ach, may, in general, be relieved by a cool regimen; an emollient diet, chiefly consisting of mucilaginous and subacid vegetables, such as fruit boiled in milk, artichokes, asparagus, parsnips, spinage, &c. aided by diluent drinks made of rice, barley, sago, the arrow-root, and similar vegetables; keeping the legs and feet sufficiently warm, and occasionally soaking them in tepid water; shaving the head, and washing it with diluted vinegar. If these simple means do not prove successful, bleeding with