Hot water foments, applied perseveringly, will bring more certain and permanent relief.
Menstruation begins much earlier in some girls than in others, yet is natural from the 11th to the 18th year, depending upon the state of the health, also, climate.
An enema should never be given to infants in the presence of older children. Little girls have been lacerated, and thus injured for life, through accidents growing out of imitating mother, or “playing sick,” and giving injections. A young girl should be subject to the advice and protection of her mother or guardian, till sufficiently able to care for herself. Poverty, with chastity, is an enviable condition.
The internal organs consists of the heart, lungs, liver, stomach, spleen, kidneys, bladder, intestines, or guts; the uterus, or womb, and ovaries, or eggs.
The heart is in the centre of the breast, pointing toward the left nipple; the lungs are on each side; the stomach lies below the true ribs, in the left side; the liver, with the gall-bladder attached, is situated below the true ribs, on the right side, reaching across toward the left side.
The spleen, a spongy melt-like viscus, is attached to the stomach and liver somewhat, but situated under the left side of the stomach; the kidneys are situated on each side of the spine or backbone, just above the waist; the bladder, into which the urine drops, is situated in front, just below the umbilicus, or navel; the uterus, or womb, is situated just behind the bladder; the ovaries are situated on each side, and a little behind the womb. Their office appears to be to secrete the menstrual flow, and also to supply whatever is needful in the formation of a new being. The womb is to receive and protect the impregnated germ, together with the vessels through which it is nourished from the mother, till the ninth month, or time of labor, at which time it is dangerous to drink stimulants unless directed by a physician.
The large intestine arises on the right side of the abdomen, extends up and across in front, just above the navel, then descends, terminating in the rectum, or straight outlet, just behind the womb.
In case of dry colic in men and the aged, rubbing with the hand, and steaming with hot cloths over the right side and down the spine, will sometimes induce an operation of the bowels when other means have failed.