Diseases > Domestic medicine

claret, &c. ought to he avoided. Malt-liquor that is
fine, and of a moderate strength is very proper.
Butter-milk, whey, and other watery liquors, are
likewise proper, and may be drunk in turns, as the
patient’s inclination directs.
Those who are troubled with costiveness, ought if
possible, to remedy it by diet, as the constant use of
medicines for that purpose is attended with many in-
conveniencies, and often with bad consequences. The
learned Dr. Arbuthnot advises those who are troubled
with costiveness to use animal oils, as fresh butter,
cream, marrow, fat broths, especially those made of
the internal parts of animals, as the liver, heart,
midriff, &c. He likewise recommends the expressed
oils of mild vegetables, as olives, almonds, pastaches,
and the fruits themselves ; all oily and mild fruits,
as figs ; decoctions of mealy vegetables ; these lubri¬
cate the intestines; some saponaceous substances
which stimulate gently, as honey, hydromel, or
boiled honey and water, unrefined sugar, &c. 1
never knew any one get into a habit of taking medi¬
cine for keeping the body open, who could leave it
off. In time the custom becomes necessary, and gene¬
rally ends in a total relaxation of the bowels, indiges¬
tion, loss of appetite, wasting of the strength, and
When the body cannot be kept open without
medicine, we would recommend gentle doses of
rhubarb to be taken twice or thrice a-week. This is
not near so injurious to the stomach as aloes, jalap,
or the other drastic purgatives so much in use.
Infusions of senna and manna may likewise be taken,
or half an ounce of soluble tartar dissolved in water-
gruel. About the size of a nutmeg of lenitiv*
electuary taken twice or thrice a-day generally
answers the purpose very well.