MS

188

INFLAMMATION OF THE INTESTINES

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REGIMEN.------All acrimonious, heating, and irritating food

«nd drink are caretully to be avoided. The weakness of the patientmay deceive the by-standers, and induce them to give him wines,spirits, or other cordials ; but these never fail to increase the dis-ease, and often occasion sudden death. The inclination to vomitmay likewise impose on the attendants, and make them think avomit necessary; but that too is almost certain death.

The food must be light, thin, cool, and easy of digestion. Itmust be given in small quantities, and should neither be quite coldnor too hot. Thin gruel made of barley or oatmeal, light toastedbread dissolved in boiling water, or very weak chicken broth, arethe most proper. The drink should be clear whey, barley-water,water in which toasted bread has been boiled, or decoctions <»femollient vegetables, as liquorice and marsh-mallow roots, sarsa-parilla, or the like.

MEDICINE.------Bleeding in this disease is absolutely necessary,

and is almost the only thing that can be depended on. When thedisease proves obstinate, it will often be proper to repeat thisoperation several times, nor must the low state of the pulse deterus from doing so. The pulse indeed generally rises upon bleeding,and as long as that is the case, the operation is safe

Frequent fomentations with lukewarm water, or a decoction ofemollient vegetables, are likewise beneficial. Flannel cloths dippedin these must be applied to the region of the stomach, and removedas they grow cool. They must neither be applied too warm, norbe suffered to continue till they become quite cold, as either ofthese extremes would aggravate the disease.

The feet and legs ought likewise to be frequently bathed in luke-warm water, and warm bricks or poultices may be applied to thesoles of the feet. The warm bath, if it can be conveniently used,will be of great service.

In this, and all other inflammations of the bowels, an epispastic,or blistering-plaster, applied over the part affected, is one of tinbest remedies I Know. I have often used it, and do not recollectone instance wheiein it did not give relief to the patient.

The only internal medicines which we shall venture to recommendin this disease, are mild clysters. These may be made of warmwater, or thin water-gruel; and if the patient is costive, a littlesweet oil, honey, or manna, may be added. Clysters answer thepurpose of an internal fomentation, while they keep the body open,and at the same time nourish the patient, who is often in tliis diseaseunable to retain any food upon his stomach. For these reasonsthey must not be neglected, as the patient's life may depend onthem. When the disease is to all appearance entirely removed, thegreatest care will be necessary for a considerable time, afterwards,lest a relapse should be induced.

INFLAMMATION OF THE INTESTINES.

This is one of the most painful and dangerous diseases thatmankind is liable too. It trenerallv proceeds from the same causes

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