Self-harm also occurs frequently in inmates who are placed in solitary confinement. History
Self-harm was, and in some cases continues to be, a ritual practice in many cultures and religions. The Maya priesthood performed auto-sacrifice by cutting and piercing their bodies in order to draw blood. A reference to the priests of Baal "cutting themselves with blades until blood flowed" can be found in the Hebrew Bible. However, in Judaism, such self-harm is forbidden under Mosaic law. It occurred in ancient Canaanite mourning rituals, as described in the Ras Shamra tablets. Self-harm is practized in Hinduism by the ascetics known as sadhus. In Catholicism it is known as mortification of the flesh. Some branches of Islam mark the Day of Ashura, the commemoration of the martyrdom of Imam Hussein, with a ritual of self-flagellation, using chains and swords.Dueling scars such as those acquired through academic fencing at certain traditional German universities are an early example of scarification in European society. Sometimes, students who did not fence would scar themselves with razors in imitation.Constance Lytton, a prominent suffragette, used a stint in Holloway Prison during March 1909 to mutilate her body. Her plan was to carve Votes for Women from her breast to her cheek, so that it would always be visible. But after completing the V on her breast and ribs she requested sterile dressings to avoid blood poisoning, and her plan was aborted by the authorities. She wrote of this in her memoir Prisons and Prisoners.
Lactulose is a non-absorbable sugar used in the treatment of constipation and hepatic encephalopathy. It is used by mouth for constipation and either by mouth or in the rectum for hepatic encephalopathy. It generally begins working after 8–12 hours, but may take up to 2 days to improve constipation.Common side effects include abdominal bloating and cramps. A potential exists for electrolyte problems as a result of the diarrhea it produces. No evidence of harm to the baby has been found when used during pregnancy. It is generally regarded as safe during breastfeeding. It is classified as an osmotic laxative.Lactulose was first made in 1929, and has been used medically since the 1950s. It is on the World Health Organizations List of Essential Medicines. It is available as a generic and brand-name product. Lactulose is made from the milk sugar lactose, which is composed of two simple sugars, galactose and glucose. History
In 1957, Peitele discovered that lactulose is a bifidobacterium proliferation factor. In 1964, Hoffman found that only bifidobacteria, Lactobacillus and Streptococcus could metabolise lactulose into lactic acid and acetic acid. In 1966, Baicier found that lactulose can promote the growth of basophilic gram-positive bacteria lacking urease (e.g. Escherichia coli) and reduce ammonia production. It has been proven that lactulose reduces blood ammonia, and it has been successfully used in the treatment of hepatic encephalopathy. In 1979, Nianmoleyou treated viral hepatitis with lactulose and he found that lactulose has the effect of reducing plasma endotoxin.