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INFLAMMATION OF THE INTESTINES.

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These may be administered every two or three hours, or oftcncr,if the patient continues costive.

If the disease does not yield to clysters and fomentations, re-course must be had to pretty strong purgatives: but as these, byirritating the bowels, often increase their contraction, and by thatmeans frustrate their own intention, it will be necessary to jointhem with opiates, which, by allaying the pain, and relaxing thespasmodic contractions of the guts, greatly assist the operation ofpurgatives in this case.

What answers the purpose of opening the body very well is asolution of vitriolatcd magnesia (the bitter purging salts.) Twoounces of these may be dissolved in an English pint of warm water,or thin gruel, and a tea-cupful of it taken every half hour till itoperates. At the same time fifteen, twenty, or twenty-five dropsof laudanum may be given in a glass of peppermint or simple cin-namon-water, to appease the irritation, and prevent the vomitingand convulsive motions of the intestines.

Acids have often a very happy effect in staying the vomitingand appeasing the other violent symptoms of this disease. It willtherefore be of use to sharpen the patient's drink with cream oftartar, juice of lemon, or, when these cannot be obtained, withvinegar.

But it often happens that no liquor whatever will stay on thestomach. In this case the patient must take purging pills. I havegenerally found the following answer very well: Take jalap inpowder and vitriolatcd kali, of each half a drachm, opium omgrain, Castile soap as much as will make the mass fit for pilUThese must be taken at one dose, and if they do not operate in afew hours, the dose may be repeated.

If a stool cannot be procured by any of the above means, it willbe necessary to immerse the patient in warm water up to thebreast. I have often seen this succeed when other means had beentried in vain. The patient must continue in the water as long asbe can easily bear it without fainting, and if one immersion hasnot the desired effect, it may be repeated as soon as the patient sstrength and spirits are recruited. It is more safe for him to gufrequently into the bath, than to continue too long at a time ; an,Iit is often necessary to repeat it several times before it has thedesired effect.

It has sometimes happened, after all other means of procuring astool had been tried to no purpose, that this was brought about byimmersing the patient's lower extremities in cold water, or makinghim walk upon a wet pavement, and dashing his legs and thighswith the cold water. This method, when others fail, at leastmerits a trial. It is indeed attended with some danger, but adoubtful remedy is better than none.

In desperate cases it is common to give quicksilver. This maybe given to the quantity of several ounces, or even a pound ; butshould not exceed that. But when quicksilver is given in too largequantities, it defeats its own intention, as it drags down the