ink, is resorted to early, it acts most
injuriously. The desire for food is often entirely removed; the
demand of the system being therefore unperceived, and so not
supplied, a state of weakness and prostration is in time
produced, if the labor should be protracted, which may be really
serious. The nervous system becomes exhausted by the repeated
action of the alcohol. If a fatal result is not occasioned, yet
the prostration of body and mind after delivery is aggravated,
and convalescence thereby retarded. Alcoholic drinks produce
paralysis and congestion of the blood-vessels, and in this way
largely increase the liability to flooding after the labor is
over. Alcohol also increases the liability to a feverish
condition.

"It is necessary to take small quantities of plain, nourishing
food at regular intervals, and nothing is of greater value than
well-cooked oatmeal: other farinaceous food may be substituted,
if preferred. If there is much prostration, meat extracts or
beef tea are of great value. Tea tends to produce flatulence and
to prevent sleep.

"After the labor is over, the best restorative is a cup of hot
beef tea or an egg beaten up in warm milk or a cup of warm
gruel. Rest, and absence of excitement and worry are essential
and alcohol is specially injurious."

MENSTRUATION, PAINFUL:--Young girls often resort to the use of brandy
during the monthly period, and parents ask anxiously, "What can they use
instead of the brandy?"

The very best thing that can be done is to go to bed, wrapped in
flannels, with a hot-water bottle or other hot application to the
abdomen, and to the feet. Take hot ginger tea, or pepper tea.

A warm hip-bath taken at the beginning may give relief, or a large hot
enema retained for half an hour or so. Rest is necessary.

For those who must go to work, Dr. Ridge recommends five drops of oil of
juniper, to be taken on sugar.

NEURALGIA:--"The principal cause of neuralgia is defective
nutrition of the nerves. Disorders of digestion are very often
accompanied by neuralgia in various parts of the body. It may
also result from taking cold, from loss of sleep, from
dissipation, and also from the use of tobacco, alcohol, tea and
coffee.

"The patient's general health must be improved by a wholesome,
simple diet, and the employment of tonic baths, as a daily
sponge bat