Constipation : its causes and consequences with some hints for its prevention and cure / by a country clergyman.

  • Country clergyman
Date:
1871
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Constipation : its causes and consequences with some hints for its prevention and cure / by a country clergyman. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    all constitutions. I remember a time in my own life when I never dare partake of cheese in consequence of its binding effect. On speaking of this to a medical man, he said that in his case, where cheese disagreed with him, it had just the opposite effect! Now, how¬ ever, I do not find that cheese partaken of, however freely, has any pernicious consequences. One most important method of securing a regular evacuation of the bowels is to have some regular fixed period for visiting the closet, which should, if possible, never be departed from. It often happens that from sheer idleness, or sloth, or self-indulgence, the feeling which prompts one to seek relief is disregarded, the desire to go on reading to the end of a chapter in some interesting book, the wish to finish a letter, or the visit of a friend, may have interfered with the customary visit to the w.c. at the usual hour. The natural promptings once disregarded do not always repeat themselves ; and the postponing what ought to be done as soon as the desire is felt to a more convenient season often proves the commencement of a habit of Consti¬ pation, which it is far easier to contract than it is to cure. A feeling of delicacy also on the part of the female often leads to very pernicious consequences. The place of resort is apt to be pre-occupied by others, or placed in so prominent a situation as to be difficult of access without being witnessed by others ; and they who would secure the health of their families ought, when seeking a change of residence, either permanent or temporary, to make every inquiry about the situs of the closet, and to see that it be so placed that it may be made use of without the risk of being seen. A good arrangement is to have a kind of ante-room or vestibule leading to the more private apartment, in which boots and shoes may be kept, great coats, um¬ brellas, and the like, so that persons may be seen going to or coming from it without any knowledge being given of the object for which they resorted thither.
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