ave cold water
poured over the front of the body while sitting in the sitz-bath, from
a watering-can with a garden rose on the spout. This must be done
gently at first, and afterwards more strongly and with colder water.
This also prevents the troublesome "flooding" from the womb, which so
often accompanies "down-bearing." The water employed in the douche must
be _cold_, but it need not be icy cold. Ordinary cold tap water does
very well. In serious cases medical advice should be sought, as the
womb may be displaced. A golden rule for the prevention of this
distressing ailment is to pass water frequently. If women would always
do this before pushing heavy furniture, hanging up pictures, &c., many
internal ailments would be prevented, as when the bladder is empty
there is little danger of the womb being displaced.

After the system has been weakened by a miscarriage, this flooding
often occurs. Apply the above treatment: it checks the flooding, and
braces the parts.

Drinks, Refreshing.--This is a matter of great importance to the sick.
Nor is anything more important to be said on them than this, that the
foundation of all such drinks must be _water_. This water must be
_pure_, and is best distilled, or boiled and filtered. Long boiling
will spoil water, and half-an-hour is long enough to boil. To add to
this pure water, we may take the juice of half a lemon, sweetened to
taste. Few patients will fail to relish this. A whole orange may be
used instead of half a lemon. A substitute may be made by taking
half-a-teaspoonful of good white vinegar instead of the orange or
lemon. Also in many cases where the cold drink is not relished, it may
be taken warm.

Dropsy.--This trouble is rather a symptom than a disease. It rises from
accumulation of watery waste in the body, owing to improper action of
the skin, lungs, or kidneys, and sometimes follows scarlet or other
fevers and lung affections. By far the greatest danger in such cases
arises from fashionable medicines. It is of the last importance that
nothing should be given to lessen life by injuring already weakened
vital action. It is when this is done by metallic preparations that
such cases become very grave and even hopeless. There is a prominent
error in connection with all dropsical tendencies, which should be
removed. That is the idea that the "water" which collects in such
swellings is similar to good drinking water, and that giving the
thirsty patient water to