The Cherokee Physician - Section 3



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PART THREE

CHAPTER I.
DISEASES PECULIAR TO THE UNIMPREGNATED STATE.
   Previous to the age of puberty, the female is scarcely subject to any 
disease not common to both sexes, but when that period arrives, they are 
not only liable to all the ordinary diseases to which men are exposed, but 
in consequence of their sexual organization, they are also subject to many 
diseases peculiar to themselves. The organic machine in women is more 
complex than in men. and the functions performed by these organs are 
easily deranged, from which diseases of an inveterate and dangerous 
character often arise. Woman is liable to painful irregularities in her 
menstrual discharges, which may not produce ill health at the time, but 
lays the foundation of lasting and dangerous diseases. These 
irregularities must be early and properly treated, or they will involve 
the general health, rain the constitution, and bring on dropsy, 
consumption, or some other fatal disease. After puberty, almost every 
stage of female existence is subject to some complaints peculiar to 
itself, as well as to those diseases common to all. These will be treated 
of under their proper heads.

SECTION I. 
MENSTRUATION.
   Menstruation is that periodical discharge which takes place from the 
womb, commonly called menses or courses. The term Menses is derived from 
the Latin word mensis, which signifies a month, because in healthy women, 
who are neither pregnant nor giving suck, this discharge generally flows 
regularly at intervals of a lunar month, or about twenty eight days. With 
some, the intervals are a day or two longer, whilst with others, it is a 
day or two shorter.

   The period at which Menstruation commences, depends very much upon the 
climate, constitution, and mode of life. In warm climates, the menses 
often appear at eight or nine years of age. In temperate climates, they 
generally make their appearance at from twelve to fourteen, and in cold 
climates, they do not appear until the eighteenth or twentieth year, and 
even twenty-fifth year.-- 

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There will also be a difference even in the same-climate as to the time of 
Menstruation, which depend upon the constitution and passions. Those who 
have a rapid growth of body and development of the organs, with warm 
passions, will have an earlier discharge of the Menses than those who are 
different in these respects.

   The time required for the Menstrual purgation, at each periodical 
return, is from three to six days. The Menstrual fluid appears to be a 
regular secretion from the womb, which in its appearance very much 
resembles blood, and its regular discharge, at the proper intervals, are 
important to the health of a woman, from the time of its appearance until 
the age at which it should entirely cease, except during pregnancy, and 
during the period of giving suck.

   The period during which the menses continue, until they cease entirely, 
varies according to the time of their commencement,--the time being 
generally about double that which elapse previous to their commencement. 
Whenever the menstrual discharge makes its first appearance, it announces 
puberty, and not maturity of the generative organs, which renders them 
capable of performing the functions for which they were created; and when 
this discharge ceases, or leaves off entirely, it announces the inability 
of the generative organs to perform their peculiar functions. Both these 
periods are critical with women, and much depends upon the precautions in 
avoiding exposure to cold and wet, or overstraining in lifting, working, 
&c. Many girls have their discharges without inconvenience, while others 
suffer considerably when the period is about to come on; such as great 
restlessness, slight fever, head-ache, heavy dull pain in the small of the 
back and lower part of the abdomen, swelled and hardened breasts, &c. The 
appetite becomes delicate, the limbs tremble and feel weak, the face 
becomes pale, and there is a peculiar dark streak or shade under the eyes. 
When these symptoms and feelings occur, every possible care should be 
taken to avoid cold, damp, &c., and everything should be done which would 
assist nature in bringing forward this discharge. This is a critical 
period of life, and much indeed depends upon the result. The greatest 
possible precautions should be used to prevent the girl from taking cold 
at this time, because by very slight exposure, 

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nature may be prevented from performing this very important office; by the 
failure of which, some of the most fatal female diseases are produced. 
Exercise should be taken on horseback, or indeed any exercise that will 
give free circulation to the blood. The emotions and passions of the mind, 
ought to be particularly attended to; a cheerful disposition should be 
produced and kept up; and every effort should be made to banish grief, 
despondency, or any of the depressing passions, which if indulged in, will 
not fail to have a powerful effect in preventing the due discharge of the 
menses, or courses. About this time of life, girls should not be allowed 
to get wet, wear damp clothes, sleep on damp beds, walk in grass wet with 
dew or rain, nor walk bare foot on cold or wet ground. You should also 
avoid everything that will have a tendency to injure the digestive powers, 
and particularly costiveness, or being bound in the bowels, loss of sleep, 
exposure of any kind, tight lacing, &c. When the first symptoms of menses 
make their appearance on young girls, they should use all mild and gentle 
methods of courting nature to the performance of her office, by sitting 
over the steam of warm herbs, bathing their feet and legs in warm water as 
high as the knees, and drinking of warm pennyroal tea. These means should 
be used immediately before going to bed, so that a gentle moisture or 
sweat may be produced on the skin, which generally causes the menses to 
flow. A little care and attention on the part of the parent at this 
period, may be of lasting benefit.

   The menstrual discharges on their first appearance, are generally in 
very small quantities and somewhat irregular as to time, but by attending 
to the simple course which I have laid down, they will gradually increase 
and flow monthly.

SECTION II. 
RETENTION OF THE MENSES. 
(Tsa-his-lee-ah-nah-tah-gah-ta-gee.)
   By retention of the Menses, is meant the retaining or keeping of the 
menstrual fluid, after the period of life has arrived when this discharge 
should take place.

   When girls arrive at the age of puberty, the menstrual 

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purgation is essential to their health, and if it does not take place, 
there will be headache, loss of appetite, weakness of the limbs, a 
peculiar paleness of the face, accompanied with a sinking of the spirits, 
hysterical affections and other derangements of the general health. When 
girls have arrived at the age when this discharge should appear, nature 
generally gives an indication of the by-pains in the back, hips and loins, 
a sensation of weight, fullness and heat in the pelvis, attended with a 
forcing or heaving down. If no discharge takes place, these symptoms 
sometimes occur periodically, until continued bad health is produced, and 
will ultimately seat some fatal disease, if not counteracted by the aid of 
remedies and prudent management.

   TREATMENT.--The vegetable kingdom affords many valuable articles for 
this painful and extremely dangerous complaint, as is fully shown in 
Materia Medica. By referring to that part of this work, the reader will 
find a full description of many valuable roots and herbs for this disease.

   The patient should take exercise in the open air in fair weather, but 
she must carefully avoid damp air, night air, walking in dew, or going 
barefoot in cold or wet places; exercise on horseback would be best. She 
should keep the bowels regulated by the use of mild and cooling purges, 
bathe her feet frequently with warm water, and drink freely of some 
diaphoretic or sweating tea, just before going to bed. She should also 
drink daily of bitters, composed of ginger root, star root, rattle root, 
Sampson snake root, wild cucumber bark, or common tansy. The above roots 
and barks may be used alone, or several of them together in spirits, as 
the patient may prefer.

SECTION III. 
IMPERFORATION OF THE HYMEN.
   The Hymen is a thin membrane, found at the mouth of the vagina, and, in 
general, it partly closes the entrance of the vagina. Some instances have 
occurred, in which it entirely closed the vagina, and was so strong as not 
to give way at the proper time, for the commencement of the monthly 
courses or menses; in which case, it must produce, at no mature age, 
serious, and unless removed, fatal 

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consequences. An imperforation of the Hymen is attended with no 
inconvenience, until the monthly purgations should take place. If this 
membrane be imperforated, and the menstrual fluid being regularly 
secreted, must accumulate, both in the vagina and the womb, as it can find 
no outlet through the Hymen. In some intances the quantity accumulated has 
been so great as to subject the unfortunate sufferer to the suspicion of 
being pregnant. At each return of the menstrual period, considerable pain 
is experienced by the patient, and as these pains greatly resemble those 
of labor, in cases where the enlargement of the abdomen was considerable, 
they have been mistaken for labor. After these pains continue for some 
time, they cease, and do not recur until the return of another menstrual 
period.

   When the menstrual fluid has been contained, in consequence of the 
imperforate state of the hymen, it assumes a dark tarry appearance, and 
unless its evacuation be procured by opening a passage through the hymen, 
serious injury to the health will be sustained, or some fatal disease 
produced.

   The only means of removing the difficulty, is by making an artificial 
perforation or opening, through the membrane. This operation is quite 
simple, and may be performed by any sensible female friend, with a 
lancet.--Care should be taken not to cut any of the contiguous parts, and 
no particular danger is to be apprehended from the operation, nor is it 
attended with much pain, as the membrane does not possess great 
sensibility.

SECTION IV. 
SUPPRESSED OR OBSTRUCTED MENSES. 
(Tsa-yoh-tus-let-ah-nah-tah-gah-ta-gee.)
   When the menses have made their appearance, they are liable to be 
obstructed by cold, &c., this is called suppressed or obstructed menses, 
and is attended with greater or less misery according to the state of the 
system at the time this obstruction takes place, and more particularly if 
any other part of the body is laboring under disease.--The bad effects of 
taking cold do not always show themselves immediately, but they generally 
become manifest, 

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after the repeated return of the period at which the menstrual discharge 
should take place, if the obstructions be not removed. Women that are in 
good health, may not experience any inconvenience for some months, that 
is, until the periodical returns shall have passed several time without 
the necessary discharge.

   But such is the sympathy existing between the womb and other parts of 
the system, that the general health will be effected, and sometimes the 
most incurable diseases are firmly seated in the system, by neglecting to 
remove the obstructions at an early period. Hysterics, depression of 
spirits, sickness of the stomach, pains in the head, back and bowels, 
coldness of the hands and feet, flashes of heat over the body, spitting 
blood, bleeding at the nose, colics, a dry short cough, pains in the 
abdomen, a hard, quick pulse, a hot skin, and a burning sensation of the 
palms of the hands, and bottoms of the feet, are symptoms generally met 
with, when the menstrual discharge has been obstructed long enough to 
produce some disordered state of the womb. When the last above named 
symptoms occur, they indicate great danger from the consumption, and 
unless relief is immediately had, that fatal disease will be confirmed--
negligence at this critical period, will, in most cases, be followed by 
fatal consequences.

   TREATMENT.--As soon as it is discovered that the monthly purgation is 
obstructed, and it is believed that cold and not pregnancy is the cause, 
you should take measures to remove the obstruction, which is much more 
easily done in an early stage than at a more advanced period. About the 
time the menses should flow, the patient should drink freely of a tea of 
tansey, dittany, balm, rattle-root, penny-royal or some sweating tea. The 
feet should be well bathed before going to bead, and every mild and gentle 
means should be used to produce perspiration or sweat. If these remedies 
should fail, the patient should drink bitters, as directed for Retention 
of the menses. And at each periodical return when the menses should flow 
she should drink sweating teas and bathe her feet as above directed. She 
should also sit over a steam of young pine tops, cedar tops or spruce pine 
tops; while over the steam she should take a strong decoction of seneka 
snake-root and pleurisy root in table spoonful doses every ten minutes. 
When the patient leaves the steam, she should cover up warm in bed, 

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and continue drinking some sweating tea for a length of time, in order to 
keep up a free perspiration. Great care must be taken to cool off by 
degrees after the above course, as there is danger to be apprehended from 
taking cold in case of neglect. The treatment for suppressed or obstructed 
menses, and retention of the menses, is nearly or quite the same--what is 
good in one case is also good in the other, and either of these complaints 
may be overcome by mild and gentle means, in ninety-nine cases out of a 
hundred, if taken in due time and perseveringly attended; on the other 
hand, neglect is invariably followed by serious, and sometimes fatal 
consequences. Where there is irritation of the nerves, some of the 
articles in the class of anti-spasmodics may be combined with the bitters 
and teas, such as the moccasin-flower root, ginseng, asafoetida. &c.

SECTION V. 
PAINFUL MENSTRUATION.
   THIS painful malady is often met with in our climate, and is often not 
only accompanied with great sufferings but is frequently obstinate to 
cure. The causes of this complaint are supposed to be taking cold during 
the flow of the menses, or shortly after abortion.

   The quantity of menstrual fluid discharged is generally small, and is 
accompanied with severe, bearing down pains, similar to those of labor, 
the pains come on at intevals, and continue until small clots of blood are 
discharged, after this discharge some ease is experienced until a fresh 
production of this substance is to be expelled when there is a return of 
the pains. Women afflicted with this complaint seldom bear children until 
cured.

   TREATMENT.--The patient should first take a dose of anti-bilious pills 
or some other cathartic to cleanse the bowels. About the time the 
menstrual discharge is expected, she should drink freely of tansey or some 
worm wood tea, and set over the steam of young cedar or pinetops; sweating 
teas should be drank freely just before going to bed; the patient should 
also make a daily use of some laxative tonic in bitters, or some of the 
preparations recommended under the head of bitter laxative tonics, in the 
dispensatory. In many instances, bitters of Columbo 

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root and Burdock root will answer admirably well. At the time of 
menstruation, when the pain is very severe, the patient may take a 
teaspoonful of paragoric or Bateman's drops in her tea. A tea of 
chamomile, either the herb or flower is very good; as is also a tea of the 
common garden marigold flower, or a tea of winter clover--one berry.

SECTION VI. 
GREEN SICKNESS.
   WHEN the menses or courses have been retained or stopped for any length 
of time, and the whole system becomes diseased from want of this discharge 
so necessary to the health of every female, it terminates or ends 
frequently in what is called chlorois or green sickness. In this disease 
the skin turns of a pale yellow or greenish hue, the lips become pale or 
of a purple color, the eyes have a dark or purple tinge around them, there 
is frequent sickness without knowing the cause, on making the least 
exertion the heart palpitates or beats, and the Knees tremble--the cheeks 
are frequently flushed as in consumption, the mind is feeble and the woman 
seems to lack the power to attend to her domestic affairs, the feet swell 
and the whole system seems to sink under great debility or weakness.

   TREATMENT.--In this disease the patient labors under extreme debility; 
therefore, tonics and strengthening medicines are required. If the bowels 
are costive, give some laxative until their condition is changed, as soon 
as the contents of the bowels have been evacuated by the use of laxatives, 
commence giving the chalybeate pill night and morning, say two small pills 
for a dose--if there pills cannot be conveniently had, give iron or steal 
dust in same way. The patient should also use the hepatic pill once a day, 
two for a dose, and drink bitters of star-root, columbo-root, wild cherry-
tree bark, rattle-root, or any of the bitters recommended for retention of 
the menses. The patient should bathe the feet, and drink some sweating 
tea, every night before going to bed. All exposure to cold, damp and wet, 
must be avoided. The patient should take moderate exercise, but avoid 
fatigue. The diet should be such as the stomach will easily digest, but 
let it be nourishing.

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SECTION VII. 
PROFUSE MENSTRUATION. 
[Oh-ne-ta-sha-ne-tsa-ne-yoh-oo-lah.]
   The menstrual discharge may be too profuse, either from its too 
frequent recurrence, or from the great quantity discharged, when recurring 
at the proper periods.

   The causes are too great a determination of blood to the womb, or in 
other words too great an action in its vessels. This over quantity, or 
large discharge, generally takes place in delicate women, particularly 
those who take but little exercise, or those who sit a great deal.

   TREATMENT.--The patient must be kept cool and quiet and spend as much 
of her time in bed as possible, with her head very low. A decoction of 
cumfrey root may be used to great advantage, it must be drank cool. A tea 
of princes feather queen of the meadow, and red root are all good. But if 
these remedies should fail, give a tea of a decoction of Oo-na-tah-cah-see-
le-shee. I have never known this article to fail. Any astringent tonic is 
good in profuse menstruation. After temporary relief is obtained, the 
Chalybeate pill or some strengthening medicine must be used to improve the 
general health.

SECTION VIII. 
CESSATION OF THE MENSES.
   Cessation of the menses or courses means an entire stoppage of this 
discharge, or a change of nature, when the female has arrived at that 
period, in life, when these organs become incapable of performing their 
peculiar functions. This change usually takes place between the forty 
second and forty seventh year, though in those of delicate constitution, 
it stops before that period, and in those of robust condition, it 
sometimes continues later--it is a critical and extremely dangerous period 
of a woman's life and notwithstanding thousands pass through it without 
experiencing any inconvenience; it is a period which requires particular 
care and attention. All exposure to cold and damp must be scrupulously 
avoided, and particularly wet feet, and remaining long on the damp ground. 
Sudden changes of dress and every thing that produces sudden revolutions 
in the bodily system from extremes of heat and 

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cold, and dampness. But not attending to the above precautions, you will 
be sure to lay the foundation of diseases of a multiplied and stubborn 
character, which will be sure to embitter and destroy the remainder of 
your days, let them be many or few.

   The cessation usually takes place gradually. They first diminish in 
quantity, and become more irregular, until they return no more. Strict 
attention to temperance and exercise, so as to preserve the general 
health, and promote the free exercise of all the other functions of the 
body, is necessary.

   If any disease should ensue, treat it according to the directions laid 
down under its proper head.

SECTION IX. 
WHITES AND FLOUR ALBUS.--(Oo-na-yah.)
   Whites or Flour Albus is an unnatural and white colored discharge from 
the birth-place, and is produced from various causes, such, for instance, 
as the powers of the womb being impaired by severe labors, repeated 
miscarriages, getting out of bed too soon after child-birth, or by taking 
cold at this time, or any other time when the menses are about coming on; 
this disease is sometimes brought on by fatigue, or weakness produced by 
general bad health. Women of weakly and delicate constitutions, such as 
take but little exercise, and those who have had many children are much 
subject to flour albus or whites; in some instances this discharge makes 
its appearance monthly, instead of the natural menses or courses. This is 
generally the case where the woman is laboring under suppression of the 
menses or some derangement of the whole system. The most aggravated form 
of this disease, and the mildest form of clap in females bear a strong 
resemblance. Some writers on this subject say, that they may be 
distinguished by the discharge in clap producing a scalding and burning 
sensation, whereas no such feelings are produced by the discharge in Flour 
Albus or Whites--this, however, is not the case, for the discharge in 
Whites often produces itching, uneasiness, great heat and scalding of the 
parts. In clap, there is a swelling of the parts and the scalding 
sensations increase in severity much faster than in Flour Albus.

   The whites are called by this name, because the discharge 

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resembles the white of an egg. There are several stages of the complaint, 
and between the mildest and severest form, if permitted to run on, it will 
entirely destroy the constitution and seat some incurable disease on the 
system. The complexion will change first to a pale sickly color, and if 
the disease is permitted to run on, it will at last assume a sickly, 
greenish hue, and the lips become purple; at this state seek for a remedy 
under the general head of green sickness.

   Whites and green sickness are sometimes produced by the falling of the 
womb. When either of these complaints is caused by the falling of the 
womb, look at page 200 for a remedy.

   TREATMENT.--The bowels should be emptied with antibilious pills, and 
costivenesss prevented by the occasional use of the same in small doses, 
or by the use of gulver's root, castor oil or cream of tartar. After the 
bowels have been emptied, give the chalybeate pill, night and morning, two 
common sized pills for a dose, and make a constant use of the tea of Oo-wa-
sco-you, called by the whites blue flag or gleet root, a pint of this tea 
should be drank each day tolerably strong. Particular attention should be 
paid to cleanliness of the parts. They should be washed frequently with 
warm water, and some astringent article injected up the birth-place, such 
as oak oose, brier root tea, wild alum root tea, &c.

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CHAPTER II. 
DISEASES OF THE PREGNANT STATE.
   Pregnancy, though not a disease, is often attended with diseases 
peculiar to that state which are very troublesome. The diseases commonly 
attendant on Pregnancy, are not of a very dangerous character; yet some of 
them produce the sorest ills that afflict the female race. "Many a female 
appears to have the curse pronounced upon Eve fully veryfied in her own 
case. Sorrow marks her for her own from the time gestation commences until 
the period of her deliverance." But this is not always the case: some 
women enjoy an unusual portion of health while in a state of pregnancy, 
"but these favorites of heaven are like angels visits, few and far 
between." The system during pregnancy experiences an increased 
susceptibility of disease.

SECTION I. 
SIGNS OF PREGNANCY.
   Young healthy women, whose monthly terms appear regular, may commonly 
know when they are pregnant by the terms or menses not returning at the 
proper period; there is often sickness and vomiting, particularly of a 
morning: it is frequently attended with heart-burn and sourness of the 
stomach, loss of appetite, craving for food which before was disliked, and 
often a particular dislike to diets as had previously been held in high 
esteem. The face becomes pale, the features sharp, the waist grows more 
slim and lank than usual and continues so for some time. The breasts 
become more full and the rose-colored ring around the nipple becomes 
darker. Toothache is frequently an indication of pregnancy. The rising of 
the naval so as to become flat and smooth with the belly, may be 
considered almost a certain sign of pregnancy.

   During pregnancy, some women become peevish dull, and gloomy, and 
others are more lively and agreeable than usual. The pulse during 
pregnancy, is considerably quicker than common, and there is frequently a 
dizziness or swimming in the head. Pregnancy never does exist without some 
or all of the above named symptoms, yet the 

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most of them may exist without pregnancy. There is but one certain sign of 
pregnancy, which is the motion of the child felt by the mother; between 
the end of the third month and the beginning of the fifth the motion of 
the child can be distinctly felt by the mother, which is called quickning, 
and when quickning is felt it is a certain sign of Pregnancy.

SECTION II 
SICKNESS OF THE STOMACH AND VOMITING.
   Very few females escape this distressing and common attendant at the 
earlier stages of pregnancy. If the vomiting is not severe, it will do no 
injury, but if it should be very severe and produce considerable debility, 
means should be used to lessen its severity or stop it entirely.

   TREATMENT.--The bowels should be kept regulated by the daily use of 
laxatives of a coolling nature, cream of tartar will answer well for this 
purpose. The gentian and columbo root taken together or alone are 
excellent, they may be taken in bitters if preferred, to which may be 
added the essence of peppermint--or they may be taken in tea or a 
decoction and the peppermint added; it should be permitted to get cold 
before it is drank, ginger may be put in the bitters or decoction, with 
advantage. If any particular kind of food be craved it should be procured, 
as the gratification of the capricious appetite seldom fails in 
diminishing the severity of the symptoms. A cup of ginger or mint tea will 
often give relief. The principle remedy however, and the one most to be 
relied on, is keeping the bowels open by cooling laxatives and clysters. 
More than halt the diseases which arise during pregnancy, are more or less 
occasioned by a costive state of the bowels, and every pregnant woman 
should bear in mind the vast necessity of keeping the bowels so regulated 
as to have a stool daily, whenever she falls short of this she endangers 
her health.

SECTION III. 
CRAMP.
   Cramp, with some, is an early attendant symptom of pregnency, but it 
generally comes on about the fourth month of pregnency, it is commonly 
most troublesome at 

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night while in bed. It attacks different parts of the body, and is 
generally most severe during the latter stages of pregnancy.

   TREATMENT.--When the Cramp comes on get out of bed immediately, stand a 
few minutes on the coldest rock that can be procured. This will give 
present relief. To prevent its return, keep the bowels in good order with 
purgatives or injections, and confine the flour of sulpher or powdered 
brimstone around the legs by means of a garter or belt. If the attacks are 
frequently and violent, in addition to the above, rub the parts with the 
essence of pepper, and if the patient be of full habit draw a little blood.

SECTION IV. 
PAIN IN THE HEAD AND DROWSINESS.
   Unpleasant sensations of this kind, very frequently occur during 
pregnency; they are in most instances occasioned by the blood vessels 
being too full; but sometimes in delicate, weakly women, they arrise from 
an opposite cause, such as a want of a due circulation of the blood which 
induces debility or weakness.

   TREATMENT.--If the woman thus afflicted be fleshy and strong, draw 
blood from the arm and keep the bowels open by the use of some laxative 
medicine, such as anti-bilious pills, castor oil, cream of tartar, 
rheubarb, &c. But if she be weakly and delicate, bleeding will be highly 
improper. She should take moderate exercise, but avoid fatigue by all 
means. The bowels should be regulated by the use of very mild laxatives or 
injections. She should drink freely of columbo and spikenard bitters, and 
bathe her temples frequently with spirits in which camphor has been 
dissolved. The warm bath is excellent in cases of this kind.

SECTION V. 
SWELLED LEGS.
   This swelling is produced by the weight of the womb pressing on the 
vessels which return the fluid from the lower parts of the body. The womb 
is greatly enlarged during pregnancy, and in the advanced stages of 
pregnancy these swellings frequently give great pain.

   TREATMENT.--Let the woman go to bed and remain as 

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quiet as possible, if she be stout let her loose a little blood, and 
regulate the bowels by the use of mild and cooling medicines, such as 
cream of tartar, rheubarb, &c. Women afflicted in this way should spend as 
much of their time in a lying posture as convenient. There need be no 
danger apprehended from thes swellings, although they often prove 
troublesome.

SECTION VI. 
HEART-BURN.
   Very few women escape this distressing complaint during pregnacy: it 
generally arises from acid in the stomach.

   TREATMENT.--If heart-burn is attended with sickness at the stomach and 
a constant hawking up of a tough phlegm, it will be necessary to cleanse 
the stomach with a gentle emetic, such as ipecac or indian physic. But if 
it is accompanied with a hot sour taste in the mouth, and a belching up of 
sour water, it may be relieved by the use of weak lye or lime water, or by 
a tea-spoonful of magnesia in a cup of cold water, or it may be eaten if 
preferred.--Ground ginger is also good for Heart-Burn; it may be taken in 
half tea-spoonful doses as often as necessary or the roots may be chewed 
at pleasure. Cinnamon bark is also good for the Heart-Burn. Slippery-elm 
bark powdered and taken in cold water, is an excellent article for this 
distressing complaint. Comfrey, either the gardeu or wild, will generally 
give speedy relief. The slippery-elm bark and comfrey will act as an 
aperient, and will probably afford the most permanent relief of any of the 
above named articles, for costiveness should be strictly avoided by 
persons afflicted with Heart-Burn.

SECTION VII. 
CONSTANT DESIRE TO MAKE WATER.
   This is generally most troublesome in the latter months of pregnency, 
but it is sometimes during the first months. It is owing to an iritable 
state of the womb after conception.

   TREATMENT.--Light and cooling purgatives, such as antiquilious pills, 
oil, senna, rheubarb, cream of tartar. &c.

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salts should never be taken in this complaint, as it has a tendency to 
increase the iratability of the parts; salts is by no means a good purge 
for pregnant females, it increases the excitement of the parts and leaves 
the bowels in a costive state. Warm clysters of slippery-elm tea, or new 
milk and water thrown up the fundament three or four times a day, will 
give great relief, and sitting over a pot or tub of water, every time she 
wants to make water, will enable her to pass off the urine with greater 
ease, it will also lessen the inflamatory condition of the womb. By 
pursuing the above course and avoiding violent exercise, this troublesome 
complaint may be mitigated and sometimes entirely relieved.

SECTION VIII. 
STOPPAGE OR SUPPRESSION OF URINE.
   Stoppage of the urine is not uncommon in the latter months of 
pregnancy. It is occasioned by the weight of the womb pressing on the neck 
of the water-bladder; this pressure prevents the water from flowing from 
the bladder at those periods when nature requires the evacuation.

   TREATMENT.--The contents of the bowels must be evacuated by means of 
warm injections of milk and water, or slippery-elm tea. Apply cloths wrung 
out of warm water, to the lowest part of the abdomen or belly. Let the 
woman stand upon her feet and support the weight of the child with her 
hands, and endeavor to raise or change the position of the child; this 
often gives speedy relief. But if all the above remedies should fail, 
resort must be had immediately to a cathetar. Instruments of this kind may 
generally be had at any of the doctor shops and not unfrequently at the 
stores. For a description of the cathetar and the mode of using it, look 
under that head.

SECTION IX. 
FLOODING.
   Flooding, when in a state of pregnancy, may always be considered as 
dangerous, and requiring the immediate aid of a skillful physician. No 
discharge of blood ever takes place from the womb in a sound state of 
pregnency, whenever such a discharge does take place it is proof that 
there is something wrong.

Page 155

   TREATMENT.--As soon as this dangerous complaint is discovered, put the 
woman in bed, keep her as cool as possible, and admit plenty of fresh air, 
give her nothing of a heating nature either to eat or drink. Give her a 
tea of Oo-na-stah-lah-cah-stee-le-skee to drink freely, if this cannot be 
had, turn to Materia Medica, there you will find many valuable astringent 
tonics fully described. Give any article of this class freely, without the 
apprehension of dangar from their use.

SECTION X. 
FALSE PAINS.
   Women are frequently troubled with pains which resemble labor in so 
many particulars as to give great uneasiness. False pains may be produced 
by costiveness, eating such articles of food as produce wind in the 
bowels, by fatigue, dysentary, &c. They may be relieved by regulating the 
diet, attending to the bowels, avoiding exposure and fatigue, and drinking 
freely of a tea of moccasin flower root, and the leaves of the English 
raspberry.

SECTION XI. 
ABORTION.
   Abortion may take place at any time during gestation after the first 
month, but it frequently occurs between the eighth and twentieth week. 
After a woman has once miscarried, she is much more liable to the same 
accident than before, and when a habit of miscarrying is once formed, it 
is a difficult matter to prevent it. Abortion is generally caused by 
sudden frights, violent fits of passion, external injuries, such as falls, 
blows, &e., violent puking or purging, oppressive exercise, excessive 
venery, or great uneasiness of mind. Abortion is generally preceeded by 
pains in the back, loins, and lower part of the abdomen, there will be a 
looseness or softness of the breasts, and a chilliness of the body. Slight 
discharges of blood will take place from the womb, which sometimes 
increases until it amounts to flooding.

   TREATMENT.--When symptoms of Abortion appear without a belief that the 
child is dead, every possible means must be used to prevent the loss of 
the child. If she has fever and is of full habit, blood should be drawn, 
but if 

Page 156

she be in a cold state which is generally the case, give stimulating and 
sweating teas. Let cayenne pepper be used freely, ginger and whiskey stew 
is an excellent article to warm the system. I forgot to tell you when 
speaking of flooding, that if the patient be in a cold state, warming 
teas, such as red pepper, ginger with spirits in it will be of great 
utility; but if the patient has fever and is flooding, cold applications 
should be used in their stead. The bowels should be well attended to and 
costiveness avoided by the use of injections, and mild purgatives. A tea 
of common hemp-seed may be used with great advantage, this tea alone often 
prevents abortion. Women who are liable to have discharges of blood from 
the womb during pregnency, should make constant use of spikenard and 
columbo-root bitters. After symptoms of miscarriage, the patient should 
remain in bed for several days, and as she values her own safety and the 
life of her child she is to avoid all the above named causes which tend to 
produce accidents of this kind.

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CHAPTER III.
SECTION I. 
LABOUR
   Labor means the interval of time between the period when the woman 
begins to be delivered of her child, and her final delivery. Although 
Labour is an operation purely natural, it is preceded by various symptoms 
which indicate its approach. A few days previous to delivery there is a 
shrinking of the waist, sometimes this does not take place until within a 
few hours of actual labor. Pains are next felt in the back, Ioins, and a 
slimy matter is discharged from the birth place, generally colored with 
blood.--The pains are at first short, and only return after considerable 
intervals; but they gradually increase in length and severity, and the 
intervals of ease are much shorter. There is often chillness, sickness and 
vomiting. To ascertain whether the woman is in actual Labour, the midwife 
is to introduce her finger to the mouth of the womb, (having first oiled 
it well,) if there is much pressure from above on the mouth of the womb, 
and if it appears to dilate or open during the continuance of a pain, the 
woman is in actual Labour. During the first stages of Labor, nothing is to 
be done by the midwife only to keep the mouth of the womb in its proper 
place; it is often turned so far back as to produce much unnecessary 
suffering, this is to be done with great tenderness on the part of the 
midwife. The contents of the bowels should be evacuated by injections or a 
dose of castor oil, the urine should be passed off whenever she feels the 
least desire to evacuate it. During the stage of Labor the woman is to be 
kept quiet, and all rational means employed to inspire courage, bear up 
the sinking spirits and prevent entire despondency. As the womb gradually 
becomes more and more dilated and the pains become more frequent and 
severe, the patient often becomes impatient and dissatisfied with every 
body about her, frequently demanding help from the midwife. This is a 
critical time and any force on the part of the midwife may do serious 
injury. She may lie in bed with a pillow placed between her knees so as to 
keep them sufficiently wide for the child to pass. When the pains become 
severe and bear down considerably, if she should desire to be placed in 
another position, her request should certainly 

Page 158

be granted. Most women prefer sitting on the knees of another and this is 
certainly the most natural and easy position. As the pains increase the 
child's head descends rapidly at every bearing down pain, and soon fills 
the basin or pelvis--this is called the second stage of Labour, and it is 
at this time that great support must be given by the midwife in pushing 
with the palm, or soft part of the hand against the perenium, which is 
that part between the birth-place and the fundament. This must be strictly 
attended to, for it is easily torn, and when torn it can never be 
remedied. The lacerating or tearing of this part connects the opening of 
the fundament and birth place, and leaves the poor innocent sufferer in a 
most unpleasant and miserable condition through life. The third stage of 
Labour commences at the time the child's head starts through the external 
part of the birth-place. In this stage you are to be very particular in 
supporting the perenium. When the pains come on with violence and rapidity 
you are to push gently against the perenium in a manner, rather to retard 
than to hasten Labour, especially if the child's head seems to advance too 
fast. If it should advance very slow at this stage, the midwife may assist 
the birth by taking hold of each side of the head with her hands when it 
is sufficiently advanced, and pulling gently during the continuance of a 
pain. When the head is born, the mother will generally have a little rest, 
which should be alowed her--she should be soothed and cheered by the 
midwife. The hand must still be pressed gently on the perenium, bearing it 
somewhat upwards, this pressure must be continued until the hips and 
thighs have passed the mouth of the birth-place. When the child is born, 
let it and the mother be perfectly quiet for a few minutes, taking the 
naval-string between the finger and thumb, and so soon as the pulsation in 
the cord has ceased, tie a string firmly about three inches from the 
naval, then apply another tie about two inches from the first, still 
nearer the placenta or after-birth, then cut the cord between the ties. 
The naval-cord must in no instance be cut until the breathing of the child 
is established. Generally the child cries immediately after it is born, 
but if it does not, its mouth should be cleared of every thing that is 
calculated to obstruct breathing.--Its body should be wet with spirits, 
and the naval cord stript between the thumb and finger from the mother to 
the child. If these means fail, so soon as the placenta or after-birth 

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is expelled, place the child in luke warm water and give an injection, in 
which put a portion of spirits. If all the above means should fail, take 
the child to a door or window immersed in warm water to the chin, and 
place the after-birth on a shovel of hot embers, stripping the cord from 
the after-birth to the child as above directed. When the child's head is 
born, the midwife should ascertain whether the naval cord is drawn about 
the neck of the child. If she finds it drawn around the neck of the child, 
she must gently draw it over from the back of the head to the face.

   After the woman is delivered of her child, the placenta or after-birth 
has yet to come away. This commonly takes place in from five to forty-five 
minutes after the birth of the child. But, if nature should not expel the 
after-birth in the course of fifteeen minutes, the operator should move 
the cord very gently, but do not pull it, the patient may blow gently in 
her hands and rub the abdomen to aid the contraction of the womb. If these 
means should not cause the womb to contract and expel the after-burthen in 
the course of an hour, you may take the cord in the left hand, and follow 
the cord with the fourfinger of the right hand up the birth-place, and if 
you readily feel the root of the cord, continue rubbing the lower part of 
the belly with the hands, and let her continue blowing in her hands, these 
means will generally throw out the after-birth. But, if you cannot reach 
the after-birth with your finger, and nature seems quiet on the subject, a 
further examination is necessary. If the after-birth seems fast to the 
womb, take a part of it softly into the fingers and press it gently, still 
using the above mild means. If this should fail to expel the after-birth, 
you may feel cautiously, and separate between the edges of the after-birth 
and the womb, any parts which may adhere as the womb gradually closes. 
When the after-birth is expelled and any great discharge ensues, treat if 
as directed under the head flooding. But let me here tell you that more 
dangerous floodings are produced by hastening the expulsion of the after-
burthen than in any other way. Many unskillful midwifes think the sooner 
they can expel the after-birth, after the birth of the child, the better. 
This is a very erroneous idea. and has caused the death of many a woman. 
As soon as convenient after delivery, the woman is to be placed in a clean 
dry bed, she may take some nourishment such as a cup of tea, coffee, or 
light penada. She should not encourage 

Page 160

conversation, but remain quiet, and if she feels disposed to sleep, she 
should indulge it; her room should be kept comfortable, if the weather be 
warm, give her plenty fresh air, if cold, make it comfortably warm, and do 
not annoy her with company.

   As soon as convenient, a broad bandage is to be placed round the 
abdomen, comfortably tight. This bandage is to be worn at least one month. 
This will prevent the woman from having an ill-shaped abdomen, after 
recovery.--The day following her delivery, she should take some mild 
purge, such as oil, cream of Tartar or rhubarb. If she is allowed to 
become costive, child bed fever may be expected. After having cut the 
naval-cord as above directed, you are to wash it clean with warm water and 
soap, and wipe it dry. The naval is to be dressed by burning a hole 
through a fine cloth of several folds, greasing the under side with tallow 
or oil, then drawing the naval cord through the hole, then apply a bandage 
round the belly comfortably tight. In four or five days, the cord will 
slough off; the naval should then be anointed with an ointment made by 
stewing heart-leaf root, or bearsfoot root in fresh butter. This ointment 
will soon remove the tenderness.

SECTION II. 
UNNATURAL PRESENTATIONS.
   A natural presentation is when the crown of the head presents, and the 
body follows in a straight line. When any other part of the child 
presents, it is unnatural, and will produce difficult labor. when the 
membrane containing the water has broke the midwife can easily ascertain 
what part of the child presents.

   When the feet present she should endeavor to get them both, and the 
labor may be suffered to progress in the natural way: the midwife may 
assist the birth by gently drawing the child during each pain. She should 
with both her hands, bring down the arms along with the child.--When the 
breast and arms are born so far as the shoulders if the face of the child 
be not downwards, it must be turned to that position, in order to prevent 
its being stopped by the chin over the share bone; having brought it to 
the shoulders, the operation is to pull the child forward during the next 
pain; so that the head may take the place of shoulders, 

Page 161

and not be stopped in the passage. The operator must be sure, that she has 
the feet of but one child, if there be two children, and she should get 
the left foot of one, and the right foot of the other, it would prove 
fatal both to the mother and children. To ascertain this, she is to slide 
her hand gently up the leg and thigh, until she finds them both joined to 
one body. When the breech presents, you should endeavor to bring it feet 
foremost as above directed. When the hands and feet present together, the 
hips of the woman should be raised a little higher than the head and 
shoulders; and when the mouth of the womb is sufficiently dilated, the 
hand is to be introduced far enough to reach the breast of the child, 
which is to be gently thrown back towards the bottom of the womb, leaving 
the feet in in the passage, after which the child is to be brought forth 
feet foremost as before directed. When the hand and shoulder presents, the 
operator should gently try to push back the part and keep it so, and in 
most instances if properly done, the pains will force the head into the 
pelvis, and bring the presentation to a natural one. But if these means 
should fail, the feet are to be searched for with great tenderness and 
caution. Having found and secured both feet, they are to be brought down 
by the child's face, for if brought down by its back, it will endanger the 
lives of both mother and child. If the woman is feeble and much exhausted, 
the delivery must be aided and hastened by the midwife.

SECTION III. 
TWINS.
   Twins are generally smaller than other children; and on this account, 
their birth is more rapid, and easy than that of single children. After 
the birth of the first child, it may be easily ascertained whether there 
is another child contained in the womb. When there is but one child the 
womb diminishes very much in size soon after the birth of the child, and 
the bowels which have been kept out of their natural situation, during the 
latter months of pregnency, immediately get forward to the fore part of 
the belly, and render it soft and yielding. But where a second child 
remains, the womb does not appear to diminish in size, and the fore part 
of the belly has the same hardness as before delivery. Sometimes the pains 
advance rapidly 

Page 162

and the infant comes soon after the first. In such cases, all the 
practitioner has to do, is to be assured that the child is in the proper 
position, and so conduct the extraction of the afterbirths, that no 
alarming discharges may follow.--When the pains cease, after the birth of 
the first child, the operator should not interfere, until the woman has 
measurably recovered from her fatigue. If the pains do not return for the 
expulsion of the second child, in the space of an hour, after the birth of 
the first child, give her a tea of red raspberry leaves, oneberry leaves, 
or white hazel leaves made pretty warm with red pepper. Rub the abdomen 
with the hand, and the womb will contract, and bring a return of the 
pains. The naval chord of the first is to be tied as directed for single 
children, securing the chord to prevent it from drawing back. The 
afterbirths, if there be two, will both be expelled at once, after the 
birth of the last child. When the first child presents natural, which is 
head foremost, the second may be expected to present feet foremost or in 
some worse position, it is to be treated as I have already directed for 
the different presentations.


CHAPTER IV.
SECTION I. 
DISEASES CONSEQUENT ON DELIVERY. 
AFTER PAINS.
   These pains, are occasioned by the contraction of the womb, in its 
exertions to expel the clots of blood and secretions which are contained 
in the womb after the birth.--When they are not too severe, and produce 
but little inconvenience, it will be best to let them alone. But when they 
become so severe as to weary and weaken the woman, they are to be relieved 
by the use of a tea of red raspberry leaves and moccasin-flower root, in 
which put a tea-spoonful of the anti-spasmodic tincture to each half tea-
cupful; the dose should be repeated as often as circumstances require it. 
This treatment will often relieve flooding after delivery.

SECTION II. 
SOCIAL DISCHARGES.
   The discharges, which take place from the womb and 

Page 163

birth-place, for several days after delivery, are termed Lochia, which in 
English, means cleansing. If these discharges do not flow so plentifully 
as may be expected or if they entirely stop, no regard need be paid to 
this circumstance, if the patient be otherwise as well as can be wished, 
for this evacuation is not only different in different women, but even in 
the same women in different lyings-in, from which she recovers equally 
well. But if they should become scant or stop, and produce ill feelings, 
they are to be increased by the use of warm stimulating teas, and sitting 
over the bitter herbs. The birth-place is to be washed once or twice a day 
with warm milk and water, and occasionally thrown up the birth-place. This 
will greatly facilitate her recovery, and in many instances it will 
prevent disease.

INFLAMED OR SWELLED BREASTS.
   Inflamed and sore breasts are caused by cold settling in them and 
obstructing the passage of the milk.

   Let the patient keep the bowels regular by the use of mild purgatives, 
minding not to use salts. She should drink some sweating teas to keep up a 
perspiration, and bathe the breast frequently in a strong decoction of 
beach leaves or bark, and apply a poultice made by thikening the above 
decoction with wheat brand. The face of the poultice should be smeared 
with fresh butter, hog's lard or some kind of oil, to prevent its 
sticking. A beeswax plaster made as directed for mumps, and applied to the 
breasts, is an excellent remedy. If you find the above means will not 
prevent it from coming to a head, boil sumac-root bark in sweet milk, 
thicken it with flour and it will draw it to a head as speedily as 
necessary: when it is perfectly ripe, and not before, have it opened, and 
continue the application of the poultice.

SECTION III. 
SORE NIPPLES.
   Take red-oak bark and boil it until you have a strong decoction, then 
strain and continue boiling until it is reduced to the consistency of 
thick molasses; apply this extract over the nipple in the form of a 
plaster, and it will cure almost any sore nipple.

Page 164

SECTION IV. 
MILK-FEVER.
   In a few days after delivery, the breasts become distended with milk. 
There is generally headache, thirst, hot, dry skin, quick pulse, &c. These 
feverish symptoms are occasioned by the change of the system after 
delivery, by the swelling and iritation of the breasts from the milk 
secreted in them. This fever may be relieved by taking a dose of cream of 
tartar to evacuate the contents of the bowels and cool the system, bathe 
the breasts with warm water or a tea of catnip. Drink mild teas, such as 
balm, sage, or hysop, and let the child suck frequently. Putting the child 
to the breast soon after it is born, and continuing to do so frequently, 
minding not to feed it, so as to prevent it from being desirous for the 
breast, will often prevent this fever entirely.

SECTION V. 
SWELLED LEG.
   This disorder may attack at any time, from the second to the fourth 
week after delivery. It is generally supposed to arise from some 
irritating matter being left in the womb. It is a complaint that seldom 
occurs where due caution and cleanliness are observed. The symptoms, 
dejected spirits, general uneasiness over the system; these are succeeded 
by a pain inside of the leg, extending from the heel to the groin--the 
slightest motion gives great pain. There is a slight pain about the womb, 
the discharges from the birth-place become very offensive. The pulse 
becomes quick, the skin hot, the tongue white, the urine thick. In a short 
time, the leg begins to swell and the skin turns of a pale glossy color, 
its peculiar appearance has given it the name of the White-Leg.

   TREATMENT.--When symptoms of this complaint appear, lose no time in 
injecting forcibly up the birth-place warm milk and water, for the purpose 
of cleansing the womb of any irritating matter that may be in it. If she 
be costive, let her use cream of tartar freely, or in sufficient 
quantities to regulate the bowels. Steam the leg over bitter herbs or 
bathe it in a strong tea of catnip, after which, bathe it with a decoction 
of pepper and vinegar, and keep it wrapped in flannel. This course is to 
be pursued until relief is obtained.

Page 165

SECTION VI. 
CHILD-BED-FEVER.
   This disease is technically termed puerperal fever, and it may be 
regarded as one of the most fatal diseases to which lying-in women are 
subject. It usually attacks in a few days after delivery, when it does 
occur. The symptoms are, chilliness, soreness about the womb, fever soon 
follows, and generally ceases in a profuse sweat, the sweat soon dries up 
and the skin becomes dry and burning, the face is flushed the thirst great 
and the tongue whitish. There is great pain in the head & back, sickness 
at the stomach, and sometimes vomiting. In a short time the belly swells, 
feels full and becomes very painful, so much so, that the lightest 
covering cannot be borne without giving pain. In some cases the bowels are 
quite loose, and in others much constipated or bound. The social 
discharges cease, the milk dries up and the breasts become flabby.--When 
this fever continues for a time, it is very apt to change to a typhus 
fever. This is marked by an abatement of the inflamatory symptoms, the 
tongue and teeth now become covered with a dark brown coat, small sores 
break out in the mouth and throat the breath smells badly, the stools are 
dark and very offensive.

   When Child-Bed Fever changes to the Typhus, refer to the head of 
Nervous Fever, where you find the proper treatment. The treatment in the 
first stage, or in Child-Bed Fever properly so called, is as follows:

   TREATMENT,--During the cold stage, warm applications to the feet will 
be of service, she may also drink warm teas, such as balm, sage, &c. When 
the hot stage comes on she is to be bled from the arm. After being bled 
she is to take a purge of cream of tartar, rheubarb, senna, or anti-
bilious pills. If there is sickness at the stomach it will be proper to 
empty the stomach with some mild emetic.--Apply a cloth wrung out of hot 
water to the belly, and inject warm milk and water up the birth place this 
will lessen the pains and inflamation, cloths wrung out of a strong tea of 
catnip is an excellent application over the belly. When the fever is on 
give ipecac every hour in small portions, so as to produce slight sickness 
at the stomach, and gentle moisture of the skin. Injections of slippery 
elm tea will he of service. After the stomach and bowels have been 
attended to as above directed, give a 

Page 166

sweat of senaka snake root tea, after which let the patient use mild teas 
to keep up a gentle perspiration. At the commencement of this disease the 
diet must be very light and cooling but as the disease advances, and she 
becomes weaker the nourishment should be increased.

   The spirits of turpentine taken in table-spoonful doses every morning, 
in a mucillage of peach tree gum, and followed by a table-spoonful of 
castor oil in the evening until the violence of these symptoms cease, is 
said to cure this dangerous disease, with much more certainty than blood-
letting. When the loss of strength is great, from purging, or from other 
causes or if the disease seems to be approaching the typhus or nervous 
fever it will be necessary to support her system, by the use of good wine 
or toddy-Equal quantities of wild cherry-tree bark, dog-wood bark and 
swamp-poplar bark, boiled together and the decoction perfectly cooled, 
taken in doses of a wine-glassful three or four times a day, given when 
the patient is clear of fever and weak, will be found an excellent 
strengthener of the system.


CHAPTER V. 
FALLING OF THE WOMB.
   This disease is common both to the pregnant and unpregnanted state. It 
is brought on by going about too soon after delivery or the monthly 
discharge, before the womb has gained its usual tone and strength. It may 
also be brought on by jumping, or some violent exertion during or soon 
after labor. The symptoms are: a sense of bearing down pains in the back, 
groins and privates, and if the complaint is suffered to progress, the 
urine is frequently stopped by the womb descending into the vagina and 
pressing on the neck of the bladder. In the worst stage of this disease, 
the womb protrudes beyond the mouth of the vagina a considerable distance.

   TREATMENT.--In the first stage of this dssease, or before it has 
protruded without the vagina, it may be relieved by bathing the small of 
the back and lower part of the abdomen in the essence of red-pepper. (See 
Dispensatory.) and applying a strengthening plaster to the back; she 
should bathe every twelve hours. To restore the general health, let her 
drink bitters of white sarsaparilla and wild 

Page 167

mercury in good whiskey. When it has protruded without the vagina and made 
its appearance, take five pounds of white-oak bark, boil it in two gallons 
of water, down to three pints, then strain the decoction and add three 
pints of honey, mix it well and simmer it a few moments over a slow fire. 
The womb must be washed with casteel soap, and then bathed in strong alum 
water, and then anointed with the white-oak syrup and honey. It is to be 
dressed in the above manner every twelve hours. After it has been washed 
and dressed as above directed it is to be supported by a bandage and 
cushion. There is to be a bandage worn around the body just above the 
hips, and the bandage which is to confine the cushion to the womb, is to 
be fastened to this belt or bandage before and behind. The cushion should 
be covered with a fine, soft cloth every time the womb is thus dressed. 
She is to drink the same bitters as directed in the first stage, and bathe 
the abdomen and back in the same manner, and also applying the 
strengthening plaster to the back. This course is to be regularly pursued 
until relief is obtained. The above remedies effected an entire cure where 
the womb had been protruded without the vagina seven years and the woman 
was rendered unable to go about.--The womb returned to its proper place 
and she recovered her health in a few months. The patient should confine 
herself as much as possible to lying and sitting; she should avoid violent 
exercise, and, above all, lifting and stooping.


CHAPTER VI. 
DISEASES OF CHILDREN.
   Many of the diseases that children in common with grown persons are 
subject to, I have described, and the general treatment laid down in the 
foregoing part of this work, it will therefore be unnecessary for me to 
enter into a minute detail of all the diseases to which childhood is 
exposed.--I will confine myself principally to the diseases of infants, 
and such complaints, among children as have not been previously treated on 
in this work.

SECTION I. 
RETENTION OF THE MECONIUM.
   All children at their birth have a dark colored matter in 

Page 168

their bowels called by phisicians Meconium. If this matter be not 
discharged in a reasonable time, it produces irritation and disease. 
Nature seems to have designed that the first milk drawn from the mother's 
breast, should so operate upon the bowels of the infant, as to evacuate 
the offensive matter by stool. This is amply sufficient reason, I think, 
why infants should be put to the mother's breast as early as possible 
after birth. If the milk should fail to operate on the bowels, it will be 
necessary to give some mild cathartic, sometimes a little molasses and 
water will answer; it should be given at intervals, until it operates. A 
tea of rose leaves is very good, or senna tea may be given: but if the 
above simple remedies should fail, give castor oil, or rhubarb; either of 
these will remove the meconium. Injections of cow's milk sweetened with 
molasses or sugar, will greatly aid the other remedies in cleansing the 
bowels.

SECTION II. 
RETENTION OF THE URINE. 
(Oo-ne-te-skay-ne-tsa-yoh-oo-lah.)
   New-born infants are not unfrequently afflicted with suppression of 
urine, and if the difficulty be not removed, it will in a short time 
produce great pain, and in many instances, convulsions which sometimes 
terminate fatally.-- Particular attention should be paid by the nurse, to 
see if the child discharges urine, in a reasonable time, and quantity, 
after its birth, and also that it continue to do so at proper intervals 
afterwards.

   TREATMENT.--Give a tea of pumpkin seeds, or water-melon seeds sweetened 
with sugar or molasses; it should be repeated frequently until relief is 
obtained. The abdomen should be bathed with warm water, and gently rubbed, 
a little spirits in which camphor has been dissolved, may be added to the 
water intended for the bath, with the happiest effects. Many valuable 
articles for suppression of the urine, is named and fully described in the 
materia medica, in the class of diuretics, and by turning to that part of 
this work, you will doubtless be enabled to administer relief to the 
little sufferer without delay.

SECTION III. 
SNUFFLES, OR STOPPED NOSE.
   This stoppage of the nose is quite common among young 

Page 169

children, and is occasioned by cold.

   Open the bowels with castor oil, or some other mild purge, grease the 
forehead, and across the nose with tallow or sweet oil, or bathe it with 
warm vinegar and water. If this does not give relief in addition to the 
above remedies, bathe it in warm water, and after the bowels have been 
opened, give it a little finely powdered sulphur, in some sweating tea, 
such as ground ivy, penny's worth or something similar. By this means, 
relief will be obtained, and in many instances, a severe attack of croup 
prevented.

SECTION IV. 
SORE EYES.--(Tsi-loh-nah-ka-wis-kah.)
   Keep the bowels open with rose-leaf tea, peach-flower tea, or any mild 
laxative, and wash the eyes with warm breast-milk, or water in which a 
little borax has been dissolved. Sore eyes are mostly caused by cold or 
derangement of the bowels, and by attending to the above prescription, and 
keeping the child from taking cold, there will be little or no trouble 
with the eyes.--Water, in which has been soaked the inner bark of 
sassafras or slippery-elm forms a good wash for sore eyes.

SECTION V. 
RED-GUM.
   In this disease small red or yellow pimples break out on the face, 
neck, and often over the body, containing a watery fluid. The child 
appears sore, and frequently screams as if pins were sticking in it, when 
it is handled.

   TREATMENT.--No outward application should be made to remove this 
eruption, for by so doing, you might suddenly drive it from the surface, 
that is, strike it in, and thereby destroy the life of the infant. The 
child, while afflicted with this complaint should be kept from fresh, damp 
or cold air. The bowels should be kept open by the use of castor oil, 
senna or rhubarb, and from half to a whole tea-spoonful of sulpher should 
be taken in sage or ground ivy tea The only danger in this disease is in 
driving it in, when it is driven in by cold, it produces great 
restlessness and misery and not unfrequently convulsions. Should the 
eruptions suddenly disappear and the child become sick, put it immediately 
into warm water to the neck and 

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give it some sweating tea, with a little sulpher in it. This should be 
repeated every hour or two until the eruptions again appear and a moisture 
is produced.

SECTION VI. 
YELLOW-GUM.
   This complaint in infants is similar to jaundice in adults. The skin 
becomes yellow, the eyes and urine are tinged with yellow, and the stools 
are clay-colored, and the bowels generally costive; in some infants this 
complaint takes place in a few days after their birth.

   TREATMENT.--Give a purge--rhuebarb, I think, is some the best, but the 
butternut and gulver syrup will answer. If these cannot conveniently be 
had, give castor oil, senna, or peach flower tea, until the bowels are 
cleansed. After the bowels have been cleansed, give a strong tea of wild 
cherry-tree bark or poplar bark, in tea-spoonful doses three or four times 
a day, still keeping the bowels open by the use of cathartics until a cure 
is effected. If the child should appear sick, it would be well to bathe it 
in warm water several times a day, until it appears relieved:

SECTION VII. 
THRUSH.--(Oo-hah-lah-go-huh-skee.)
   This is a very common complaint among infants or small children, and is 
caused by a foul stomach and bowels. It sometimes appears in small white 
specks resembling coagulated milk on the tongue, inside of the lips and 
corners of the mouth. At other times it makes its appearance in yellow 
blisters on the tongue, gums and inside of the mouth. In some instances 
when suffered to run on a long time, it extends down through the 
alimentary canal and shows itself at the fundament. Some children 
afflicted with Thrush are very costive, while others suffer greatly from 
bowel complaint.

   TREATMENT.--If the bowels are costive, the first step should be to 
evacuate their contents by the use of cathartics, such as rhuebarb, senna, 
castor oil, or butter nut and gulver syrup. If the bowels are distressed 
or laxative, give a tea of sweet-gum bark. The mouth should be frequently 
washed with water in which borax has been dissolved, 

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solved, and the child permitted to swallow some of the same; borax finely 
pulverized and put into the mouth and let it dissolve by degrees, is a 
very good mode of applying it. A mouth water made of persimmon bark and 
dirt out of a chimney, where fire has been kept for some length of time is 
very good; the bark and dirt should be boiled, the decoction strained and 
sweetened to a syrup. Hens oil will often cure Thrush, the mouth and gums 
being frequently greased with it. The child should always swallow a 
portion of the mouth water, as the stomach is always more or less 
affected. Any stringent tea will be found good for Thrush, and by turning 
to the Index, you will be referred to various kinds of this class of 
astringents. In the Dispeusatory you will find several valuable recipes 
for mouth-water, used in the cure of this disease.

SECTION IX. 
CHOLIC IN INFANTS.--[Tsu-ne-yah-low-tis-scoh.]
   This is a very common and troublesome complaint among young children 
and is easily known by the child suddenly screaming and crying, at the 
same time drawing up its legs; the complaint is sometimes so severe that 
the child cannot make water. This complaint is not unfrequently produced 
by over-feeding and suckling small children, by costive bowels, and by 
taking them out of warm rooms into cold or fresh air, or by putting damp 
or cold clothes on them.

   TREATMENT.--If cholic arises from flatulence, give a tea of peppermint, 
ginseng, angelica, calimus, or all-spice, to which you may add a few drops 
of paragoric, Bateman's drops, or laudanum; if the laudanum is used, do 
not give more than from one two drops. The essence of peppermint or 
pennyroyal will be found most valuable remedies in flatulent Cholic among 
infants. Bathe the infant's belly before the fire, and rub it with spirits 
in which camphor has been dissolved, a few drops of laudanum may be added 
to the bath, if the child appears very much distressed.

   When cholic arises from acidity, it may be known by the bowels not 
being bound and the stools of a green color and sour smell. In addition to 
the above remedies, give the child, occasionally, a dose of magnesia or 
the infusion of rheubarb in small doses to regulate the stomach and 
bowels. However easily the Cholic may be relieved 

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very desirable that we do something to prevent its attacks, for let the 
cure be as speedy and as easy as it may, the preventative is always 
preferable. To prevent cholic in infants, let the mother drink daily of 
spirits, into which has been put asafoetida or garlic, and some of the 
same may be given to the infant occasionally; the chidren of women who 
make constant use of either of these articles while suckling, have very 
little if any use for laudanum, paragoric, Bateman's drops, &c., &c.

SECTION X. 
CROUP.
   Children of both sexes and all countries, from infancy, up to ten or 
twelve years, and even older, are liable to this complaint. It is a very 
dangerous disease, and the rapidity with which it proceeds, requires 
immediate and prompt attention. The head of every family should be 
acquainted with the symptoms and treatment of Croup, for of all diseases 
to which children are liable, it is certainly the most dangerous, and in 
many instances it makes its advances with such amazing rapidity that 
suffocation takes place before medical aid can be procured. The most fat, 
gross children are most liable to it, and next to them, the extremely 
puny. It often seems to run in families, and is thought by some to be 
hereditary.

   SYMPTOMS.--It very often attacks suddenly, with a short dry cough, 
hoarseness, wheezing, and great difficulty of breathing. The face looks 
flushed and swelled, the child throws its head back, its mouth open, and 
its eyes and neck veins look like they would burst. Sometimes a cold, 
clammy sweat breaks out. At other times this complaint comes on very slow, 
either with hoarseness and symptoms of a common cold, or else with 
looseness of the bowels, as if from cold, every symptom gradually becomes 
more and more violent, until a spasm attacks.

   TREATMENT.--On the first appearance of Croup, give onion syrup, and 
apply a poultice of onions or garlic to the throat and breast. It the 
bowels are costive, lose no time in evacuating their contents by 
injections of warm milk and water, with a little lard and salt in it, 
repeat the injection until the bowels are cleansed. If the attack be 
violent, put the child in warm water up to the chin, give it a puke of the 
tincture of lobelia and Indian physic, if the 

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puke should be slow in operating, wet tobacco leaves in warm water and 
vinegar, and apply it over the breast and throat. If the child is so far 
spent as to be unable to swallow, the emetic or puke may be given by 
injection, at the same time, applying the tobacco externally as above 
directed. In children of full habit, where the attack is violent, blood 
should be taken, either from a vein or by cupping; for several days after 
the spasm, the bowels should be kept open by the use of sulpher taken in 
some sweating tea, such as spice-wood, pennyroyal, &c. In nine cases out 
of ten, a strong tea of the fine roots of spice-wood, made very sweet and 
combined with sulpher in tolerable large doses, will entirely relieve 
croup if given in the first stages. We copy the following from the 
writings of a respectable physician among the whites: "After using the 
remedies generally prescribed without success and the case is desperate, 
the best remedy I have ever tried as a last resort, is calomel in large 
doses, from thirty to fifty grains, repeated in ten grain portions every 
fifteen minutes, until relief is obtained, (do not be alarmed at this
dose,) I know by experience, in a hundred instances, of the lives of 
children being preserved by large doses of calomel, which otherwise must 
have been lost. Then let me urge upon you the necessity of laying aside 
your prejudices against this medicine, and not to slacken your hand in 
this trying moment if you wish to preserve the infant. So powerful and 
salutary is this medicine, that it frequently relieves the complaint in 
ten or fifteen minutes, without recourse to any other means." I give the 
above in order that those who may choose the use of calomel in cases of 
emergency, may give it in doses sufficiently large to produce the desired 
effect.

SECTION XI. 
WORMS.
   There are a variety of Worms which infest the human system, and grown 
persons are often troubled with them as well as children. But as it is 
generally viewed as a childs complaint, I have thought proper to give it a 
place among the diseases of children, but will try to give a satisfactory 
treatise on the subject.

   The first class are those which inhabit the whole range of the 
intestinal canal, they are the long tape-worm, the 

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broad tape-worm, the flat two-headed worm, the long round worm, and the 
long thread worm. Those which inhabit the lower part of the intestinal 
canal, belong to the second class, as the thread-worm, the hot-worm and 
the mane-worm. There is another or third class, as the maggot-worm, &c. 
Worms are sometimes passed with the urine, and must originate in the 
bladder and kidneys.

   SYMPTOMS.--The symptoms indicating worms are various and contradictory, 
often resembling the symptoms of other diseases in so many particulars, as 
to render it difficult to determine whether worms really exist. The child 
or person, in general, has a larger belly than usual, and pains are felt 
in the stomach and belly; the appetite is various, constant hunger, and 
yet the system becomes weak. At times, there is sickness at the stomach, 
and vomiting; looseness at the bowels, interrupted sleep, bad breath, 
picking at the nose, a peculiar paleness about the mouth; a short dry 
cough, slow fever, and sometimes convulsions.

   TREATMENT.--The roots, leaves or seeds of the Jerusalem oak, boiled in 
sweet milk, the decoction made sweet with honey given in such portions as 
the stomach will bear, of a morning, on a fasting stomach, and repeated at 
night, will carry off worms in a surprising manner; it should be repeated 
for several days, still giving a purge of butternut and gulver syrup; 
every other day cleanse the bowels.--Wild ginger boiled in sweet milk, and 
given in the same way, is one of the best warm medicines in the world.--
Spirits of turpentine is a valuable article for worms; to children, give 
from a half to a whole teaspoonful in sugar, and repeat every morning for 
three mornings, and the third day give a purge, and if the patient is not 
entirely relieved, repeat the course in a few days. Carolina pink root 
given in powder or decoction, is good to expel worms: it should be given 
in honey or molasses; when it produces any unfavorable symptoms, give a 
purge, and all will be well. The China tree is a valuable warm medicine; 
the fruit, bark of the root or bark of the tree may be used: when it 
produces giddiness in the head, give a purge.--The yellow poplar root bark 
in powders mixed with sweetning, is good for worms, and as a family 
medicine is not surpassed by any thing in my knowledge as a preventative 
of worms, for puny children and such as are frequently troubled with warm 
spells; it acts like a charm; it should be taken every morning in honey, 
sugar or molasses; a 

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tea spoonful is a dose. Those who wish to avoid worm sickness among their 
children, need only to give the poplar root every morning on an empty 
stomach. The China berries mashed, and put in spirits, is also very good 
to prevent worms. When persons commence doctoring for worms, they should 
continue it for several days and weeks, unless relief is obtained; but 
after a fair trial has been made, without its having produced the desired 
effect, there are strong grounds to suppose, that some other disease, and 
not worms is the cause of bad breath, for in many instances, children have 
been physicked to death for worms, when they had none, but were laboring 
under some other disease. In the class of Anthedmetics, in materia medica, 
you will find many other remedies for worms. When worms produce choaking, 
give honey and the patient will experience considerable relief, then give 
warm medicine to expel the worms, and the cure is effected. When taking 
medicines for worms, the patient may eat as much honey, sugar or molasses 
as he desires.

SECTION XII. 
CHOLERA INFANTUM OR PUKING AND PURGING OF INFANTS. 
(Tah-lo-ne-tse-tah-ne-gah-slee.)
   This disease in infants is the same as cholera morbus in grown persons. 
The symptoms are, vomiting and purging, a quick pulse, hot skin, and great 
and constant thirst. It makes its appearance in the heat of summer, and 
its severity is in proportion to the heat of the weather, it generally 
prevails as an epidemic when it takes a start in a section of country.

   TREATMENT.--Give a tea of cholera-morbus root, until the vomiting is 
checked, next cleanse the stomach and bowels with gulver syrup. After the 
first attack is relieved, give the child a tonic or strengthening 
medicines.--Yellow poplar bark will be very good, or the little white root 
called by Cherokees cul-sa-tse you-stee will be found excellent.

INJECTIONS OR CLYSTERS.
   When giving the treatment of the different diseases. I have frequently 
directed the use of injections. It will 

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probably not be amiss to give some farther directions, as to the mode of 
administering injections &c. When the injection is to be administered by 
an assistant, the patient is to be laid on a bed near the edge, the knees 
are to be drawn up, the attendant is then to take the clyster pipe, the 
finger is to be placed before it to keep in the contents, after it is well 
oiled it is to be placed to the fundament.--The pipe is to be gently 
pushed up the fundament about an inch, and the contents are to be forced 
out, by gently pushing the handle of the syringe with one hand, while it 
is firmly held by the other. Injections are sometimes given by putting the 
clyster into a bladder and injecting it up the fundament by means of a 
quill. After the quill is introduced up the fundament the bladder is to be 
squeezed, together with the hands.

   Clystering is one of the most mild, innocent, powerful and safe 
remedies known in the science and practice of medicine.

   Any medicine given by Injection should be given in much larger portions 
than when taken by the mouth.