Foods Allowed.--Potatoes, carrots, spinach, asparagus, and even salads, since they stimulate intestinal action and thus aid in keeping the stool soft. Stewed fruits, including grapes, oranges, pears, and apples. Water is the best to drink. Meats: tender broiled, boiled or baked beef--do not eat the inside part to any great amount. Other meats, but no pork or ham, fresh fish, chicken. The foods should not be too highly seasoned; vinegar is not to be used to any extent and this excludes pickles, etc.
PERIPROCt.i.tIS. Abscess Around the a.n.u.s and r.e.c.t.u.m. (Ano-rectal) (Ischio- rectal Abscess).--This is an inflammation of the tissues around the r.e.c.t.u.m which usually terminates in the above named abscess. It occurs mostly in middle-aged people. Men are affected more often than women.
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Causes.--Sitting in cold, damp hard seats; horseback riding, foreign bodies in the r.e.c.t.u.m such as pins, fish-hooks, etc., blows on the part, kicks, tubercular const.i.tution, etc.
Symptoms.--Inflammation of the skin, like that of a big boil, some fever, throbbing pain, swelling of the part, heat and fullness in the r.e.c.t.u.m, these symptoms increase until the pus finds an outlet into the r.e.c.t.u.m.
PHYSICIANS" TREATMENT for Periproct.i.tis.--Little can be done in a palliative way. It generally terminates in an abscess. Make the patient as comfortable as possible, by applying cold or hot things to the part, rest in bed, mild laxatives to keep the bowels open. Cut it open as soon as possible, and it should be laid wide open, so that every part is broken up. Then it should be thoroughly washed and sc.r.a.ped out. Sometimes it is necessary to use pure carbolic acid to burn out the interior. The dressing should be as usual for such wounds and removed when soiled and the wound washed out with boiled water and then gauze loosely placed in the bottom and in every corner of the wound. The dressing should be continued until all has been healed from inside out. Be sure to leave no cotton in to heal over it. Such patients should be built up with nourishing foods, and should remain quietly in bed. Cod liver oil is good for some patients.
Iron, etc., for others. Keep the bowels regular. Outdoor life and exercise. If treated right it should not return.
FISTULA IN a.n.u.s.--This usually follows the abscess. It has two openings, one upon the surface of the body near the a.n.u.s, and the other in the r.e.c.t.u.m. There are a great many varieties of fistula, but it is unnecessary to name them. What can be done for them?
PHYSICIANS" TREATMENT.--If the general health is good an operation is the best thing to do, but patients in the last stage of consumption, nephritis, diabetes, or organic heart disease, are not apt to receive much benefit from an operation. The patient in poor condition should be given the treatment suitable to his condition, according to the advice of a trusted physician.
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DISEASES OF THE KIDNEYS AND BLADDER.
KIDNEYS.--The kidneys are deeply placed and cannot be felt or distinctly identified when normal. They are most accessible to pressure just below the last rib, behind. The right kidney usually lies lower than does the left, but even then, the lower part of this kidney is an inch above the upper part of the hip bone, or an inch above a line drawn around the body parallel with the navel. The kidney is about four inches long. The long axis of the kidneys corresponds to that of the twelfth rib; on an average the left kidney lies one-half inch higher than the right.
[Ill.u.s.tration: Kidneys, Ureters and Bladder.]
As stated before, each kidney is four inches long, two to two and one-half in breadth, and more than one inch thick. The left is somewhat longer, though narrower, than the right. The kidney is covered with what is called a capsule. This can be easily stripped off. The structure of the kidney is quite intricate. At the inner border of each kidney there is an opening called the pelvis of the kidney, and leading from this, small tubes penetrate the structure of the kidney in all directions. These tubes are lined with special cells. Through these tubes go the excretions (urine) from the body of the kidneys, to the pelvis, and from the pelvis through the ureters, sixteen inches long, to the bladder.
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KIDNEY TROUBLE. MOTHERS" REMEDIES.--1. Kidney Trouble and Inflammation of the Bladder, Cornsilk for.--"Get cornsilk and make a good strong tea of it by steeping slowly, and take one ounce three or four times a day. This acts well on the kidneys, and is a harmless remedy to use."
2. Kidney Trouble, Flaxseed and Lemons for.--"Make a tea by placing the flaxseed in a muslin or linen bag, and suspend it in a dish of water, in the proportion of about four teaspoonfuls for each quart of water. After allowing the seeds to soak for several hours remove the same and tea will be ready for use. The addition of a little lemon juice will improve the flavor. Give in quant.i.ties as may be found necessary."
3. Kidney Trouble, Temporary Relief for.--"Rub witchhazel on stomach and back; use freely." This is an old-time remedy, and can be relied upon to at least give temporary relief. The witch hazel has a very soothing effect upon the parts affected.
4. Kidney and Bladder Trouble, Buchu Leaves for.--"Get five cents" worth of buchu leaves at any drug store, and make a good strong tea of it by steeping. This acts nicely on the kidneys. This remedy is easily prepared, and is not expensive."
5. Kidney Trouble, Common Rush Root for.--"Take a handful of the root of common rush in one and one-half pints of water, boil down to one pint.
Dose:--One tablespoonful every two or three hours. For a child ten years, give one teaspoonful four times a day. For a child of four to six years, one-half teaspoonful four times a day."
6. Kidney Trouble, Effective and Easy Cure for.--
"Fluid Extract of Cascara Sagrada 1 ounce Fluid Extract of Buchu 2 ounces Fluid Extract of Uva Ursi 2 ounces Tincture Gentian Comp 1 ounce Simple Syrup 1 pint
Mix the above ingredients and give a teaspoonful four times a day. This is a very good remedy, as the cascara sagrada acts on the bowels and the buchu and uva ursi acts on the kidneys, carrying off all the impurities that would otherwise be retained in the system and cause trouble."
7. Kidney Trouble, Sheep-Sorrel Excellent for.--"Make a decoction of sheep sorrel, one ounce to pint of water; boil, strain and cool. Give winegla.s.sful, three or four times a day. If necessary apply the spinal ice bag to kidneys." The sheep sorrel is a good kidney remedy, and the ice bag by continuous application will relieve the congestion.
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MOVABLE KIDNEY. (Floating Kidney. Nephroptosis).--Causes.--This condition is usually acquired. It is more common in women than in men, possibly due to lacing and the relaxations of the muscles of the abdomen from pregnancy. It may come from wounds, lifting too heavy articles, emaciation.
Symptoms.--They are often absent. There may be pain or dragging sensation in the loins, or intercostal neuralgia; hysteria, nervousness, nervous dyspepsia and constipation are common. The kidney can be felt. A dull pain is caused by firm pressure. Sometimes there are attacks of severe abdominal pain, with chill, fever, nausea, vomiting and collapse. The kidney becomes large and tender. The urine shows a reddish deposit and sometimes there is blood and pus in the urine.
Treatment.--If the symptoms are not present, it is best for the patient not to know the true condition, as nervous troubles frequently follow a knowledge of its presence. If the symptoms are present, replace the kidney while the patient is lying down and retain it by a suitable belt. Also treat the nervous condition. If the symptoms are of the severe kind an operation may be needed to fasten the kidney in its proper condition. This is quite generally successful, and does away with much suffering and pain.
The pain may be so severe at times as to require morphine. Sometimes the pain is due to uric acid or oxalates in the urine. For this regulate the diet.
Diet for Movable Kidney.--The diet should be such as to produce fat. Milk is excellent where it is well borne; if not well borne give easily digested meats, such as chicken, roast beef, broiled steak and lamb chop; fish of various kinds and vegetables, such as spinach, carrots, asparagus and cauliflower; of fats, b.u.t.ter, cream, and chocolate; for constipation, cider, b.u.t.termilk, grape-juice, fruits and honey.
ACUTE CONGESTION OR HYPEREMIA OF THE KIDNEYS.--This occurs at the beginning of acute nephritis; in acute infectious diseases, after taking turpentine, chlorate of potash, cantharides, carbolic acid, alcohol, etc.; after one kidney has been removed.
Kidney.--The kidney is enlarged, dark red, while the covering is very tight (tense). The urine is scanty, and there is increased specific gravity (normal is 1015 to 1020) and contains alb.u.min and a few casts.
Treatment.--The cause should always be removed if possible. Rest in bed, and as a diet use only milk; if the congestion is bad, use dry cupping over the kidneys and inject large quant.i.ties of hot normal salt solution in the bowels. Hot fomentations of wormwood or smartweed are of benefit.
If you can get the patient into a sweat the congestion will be somewhat relieved by it.
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CHRONIC CONGESTION OF THE KIDNEYS. Causes.--Diseases of other organs and obstruction to the return of the circulation in the veins. Cirrhosis of the liver causes it. The kidney is enlarged dark red, the urine is diminished, with alb.u.min and casts and sometimes blood.
Treatment.--Remove the cause if possible. Fluid diet, like milk, broths, etc. Dry cupping or sweating materials can be used. Rest in bed if possible. The bowels should be kept open, and the kidneys should rest.
BLOOD IN THE URINE. (Haematuria). Causes.--The congestion of the kidneys, pernicious malaria, etc., nephritis, tuberculosis, kidney stones. The urine looks smoky and dark, or bright red.
Treatment.--This depends upon the cause. The patient must rest in bed and the kidneys should not be stimulated. Cold applications to the loins. Hot applications would injure.
URAEMIC TOXAEMIA.--This means poison in the blood occurring in acute and chronic nephritis (inflammation of the kidneys). The cause is unknown. The disease is acute and chronic.
ACUTE URAEMIA. Symptoms.--The onset may be sudden or gradual. The headache is severe, usually on the back top of head (occipital) and extending to the neck; there is persistent vomiting with nausea and diarrhea attending it. This may be due to inflammation of the colon. Difficulty in breathing, which may be constant or comes in spells. This is worse at night, when it may resemble asthma; fever if persistent, is usually slight until just before death. General convulsions may occur. There may be some twitching of the muscles of the face and of other muscles. The convulsions may occur frequently. The patient becomes abnormally sleepy, before the attack, and remains so. One-sided paralysis may occur. Sudden temporary blindness occurs sometimes. There may be noisy delirium or suicidal mania. Coma (deep sleep) may develop either with or without convulsions or delirium, and is usually soon followed by them; sometimes by chronic uraemia or recovery.
CHRONIC URAEMIA.--This develops most often in cases of Arterio-sclerosis or chronic interst.i.tial nephritis, (one kind of Bright"s disease). The symptoms are less severe than those of acute uraemia, but similar, and of gradual onset, sometimes with symptoms of the acute attack. There is often constant headache and difficult breathing; the tongue is brown and dry, sometimes there is nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, sleeplessness, cramps of the legs and much itching may be present. It may last for years. Death may occur when the patient is in coma (deep sleep). There may have been mania, muscular twitchings or convulsions before death.
Treatment.--Found under "Chronic Interst.i.tial Nephritis."
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ACUTE BRIGHT"S DISEASE. (Acute Inflammation of the Kidneys. Acute Nephritis).--This occurs chiefly in young people and among grown men.
Exciting causes are exposure to cold, wet, burns, extensive skin tears (lesions), scarlet fever, diphtheria, typhoid fever, measles and acute tuberculosis, poisons; and pregnancy is one cause when it occurs in women.
Symptoms.--After exposure or scarlet fever the onset may be sudden, sometimes with chills or chilliness, variable fever, pain in the loins, watery swelling of the face and extremities, then of other portions of the body like the abdomen, then general dropsy. Sometimes there is nausea, vomiting, headache, delirium, or very deep sleep. The urine is scanty, dark colored, of increased "specific gravity" and contains alb.u.min, cells and casts. Anemia is marked. After some fever disease, the onset is gradual with anemia, swelling of the eyelids, face and extremities; scanty thickish urine containing casts, then headache, nausea, vomiting, little or no fever, dry skin. In these cases there may be gradual recovery, attack of uraemia, or they may end in chronic nephritis.
Diagnosis.--Examine the urine often in pregnancy, scarlet fever, etc., and especially when watery swelling is noticed.