Vegetable Charcoal; Its Medicinal and Economic Properties with Practical Remarks on Its Use in Chronic Affections of the Stomach and Bowels (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1857. Excerpt: ... malt liquor; but weak people, whose occupations are sedentary, speedily become confirmed invalids under their use. The latter can never be goaded by stimulants into health and strength, though they may be coaxed into better condition by bland treatment. The want of sufficient mental or bodily rest may also be set down as conducive in a very considerable degree, to the promotion of a weak and irritable condition of the stomach and bowels. One of the prevailing follies of the day is a morbid desire for excitement, and the more startling and out of the usual order of things the programme, the more eagerly is it sought after, and hunted down. Excitement, either in business or pleasure, inordinately followed up, is far more pernicious in its results, and leads to more disturbance in the processes of digestion than people are aware of; it robs mind and body of that natural repose and quiet without which both languish and decay, and it engenders disease by converting "Nature's sweet restorer, balmy sleep," into a watchful, laboured, and unrefreshing somnolence. Let then the busy, anxious, overtaxed mind and body rest awhile, whenever opportunity offers. But to revert to Charcoal, and its use, and application, for medical purposes. It has been stated that pure Charcoal in a state of powder, possesses two very singular properties;--first, the power of absorbing gases to an almost incredible extent; and secondly, the capability of rapidly oxydising any dead animal or vegetable substances, with which it is placed in contact. From these well-established facts it has been inferred, that the operation of Charcoal on food contained within the stomach, would be somewhat analogous; that it would render it soft, and consequently more soluble; that it would absorb noxious a...