Your ShelfYour Projects

GOOD HEALTH

3%

Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Dec 5, 1878

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 4, No. 46.

Read the full edition

GOOD HEALTH.

Dyspepsia.

BATH--CONCLUDED.

5. Be careful to thoroughly dry the patient after his bath, rubbing vigorously to prevent chilling.
6. The most favorable time for taking a bath is between the hours of ten and twelve in the forenoon.
7. The temperature of the room should be at about 80° or 85°.
The following are brief descriptions of the more important baths applicable in the home treatment of dyspepsia:--
SPONGE-BATH.--This bath consists in rubbing the whole body with a sponge or towel wet in water of an agreeable temperature. It is most useful for a general ablution.
SITZ BATH.--A tub made especially for the purpose, or a common wash-tub, may be employed. Place in the vessel sufficient water to cover the hips and lower part of the abdomen. The patient or an attendant should rub and knead the abdomen during the bath. The water should be of a temperature ranging from 85° to 98°, according to the condition of the patient. Cover the patient during the bath.
FOOT-BATH.--Prepare vessels of water, one containing that as hot as can be well borne, and the other containing quite cool or cold water. Place the feet in the warm bath for from five to ten minutes, and then remove them quickly to the cold bath, returning them to the warm bath after a few minutes, and thus alternating three or four times, concluding by dipping the feet in the cool water and then wiping them dry.
WET SHEET-PACK.--Spread two or three comfortables upon a bed or mattress. Spread over the whole a woolen sheet. Wring out of water of the desired temperature, a linen or cotton sheet. Spread it quickly upon the bed, and let the patient immediately lie down in the middle. Then quickly envelop him in the wet sheet, wrapping him snugly from head to foot. Then cover him with the comfortables, and let him remain quiet as long as required. Elevate the head a little, and use care to have the feet warm. Half-packs may be taken in a similar manner, confining the application to the trunk of the body.
CHEST-WRAPPER.--The wrapper should be made of coarse cloth, and should be shaped so as to fit the chest. Apply it after wringing just sufficiently to prevent dripping. Cover with a light, dry flannel wrapper. Change three or four times a day.
HALF-BATH.--For this bath is required a vessel of sufficient size to allow the patient to sit upright with his limbs extended. Enough water to cover the limbs, thighs, and lower part of the abdomen, is necessary. During the bath, the attendant should rub vigorously the limbs, back, chest, and abdomen, of the patient.
PAIL-DOUCHE.--This consists in pouring water over the shoulders of the patient. It is often employed to tone up the surface after a hot bath.
FOMENTATIONS.--Wring out of water as hot as can well be borne, a folded flannel cloth, and apply it quickly to the part to be treated. Cover with a dry cloth or piece of oiled silk, and change in a few minutes.
COMPRESSES.--Apply wet cloths in the same manner as in fomentations, wetting them in either cool, cool, or tepid water, according to the effect desired.
RUBBING-WET-SHEET.--This bath consists in enveloping the patient in a wet sheet, and rubbing him briskly with the hand outside the sheet.
ENEMAS.--An enema is a small portion of water thown into the rectum by means of a syringe. The water may be either cool, tepid, or warm, as occasion may require.

MOVEMENTS.

Active and passive movements are among the most important remedial agents which can be brought to bear in the treatment of dyspepsia. Kneading and percussing the abdomen are perhaps the most directly beneficial of the various useful agents which may be thus employed. Many dyspeptics have been entirely cured by the simple practice of daily percussion, which consists in striking the abdomen with the open hand, gently at first, but with daily increasing force as the abdominal muscles acquire tone and elasticity. When an individual is suffering from an undigested meal, his pain may often be quickly and effectually relieved by continuous kneading for a half hour, the stomach being thus aided in the work of digestion.
Kneading and percussion are sovereign remedies for torpidity of the bowels.
Another excellent form of movements is friction of the whole surface of the body by rubbing the skin with the dry hand. This may be practiced upon rising each morning, and again upon retiring at night, with the excellent result of keeping the skin active and free from impurities. The rubbing may be done over a dry sheet when desirable, as in the rubbing-wet-sheet.
Percussion, kneading, and rubbing, of various parts of the body, are useful in many cases, together with other movement processes, a description of which cannot be given here.

DIETARY.

While a correct dietary is one of the very best preventives of indigestion, it is still more important as a curative agent in the treatment of the disease. As a general rule, dyspeptics may make use of the same food which is perfectly healthful for people not suffering from the disease. In aggravated cases, the following suggestions will be found to be conducive to easy and prompt digestion:--
1. Avoid the frequent use of liquid food, as soups and gruels. Mushes are also rather objectionable, unless eaten with graham crackers or cracknels. Dry food, requiring thorough mastication, is the most preferable.
2. Avoid eating fruits and vegetables at the same meal.
3. Do not use very sour fruits, as lemons, limes, currents, and cranberries. Also avoid such acrid, pungent vegetables as onions and radishes.
4. Eat but few kinds of a meal, and let the food be prepared in as simple a manner as possible. Do not overeat.
Flesh-meats are not so good food as vegetables; but if animal food must be employed, as in some cases seems to be necessary, for a time at least--use only lean meat slightly cooked, or soft-boiled eggs.
Good bread is very essential for the dyspeptic. Fermented bread, and that "raised" with soda or saleratus, are poor articles of food, being the occasion of indigestion. The following is a recipe for making perfectly wholesome bread:--
Make a stiff batter with cold water and the best graham flour; work in as much flour as will knead well, and then knead for twenty minutes or half an hour. Make into rolls one-half inch thick and bake in a hot oven, moderating the heat a little after four or five minutes. Several kinds of flour may be mixed together. Oatmeal, corn meal, and rye meal may be made into good bread in the same way.