INFLAMMATION OF THE INTESTINES.

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the spasmodic contractions of the guts, greatly assist the operationof purgatives in this case.

Acids have often a very happy effect in staying the vomiting,and 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 he obtained, withvinegar.

But it often happens that no liquid 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 vitriolated tartar, of each half a drachm, opium onegrain, Castile soap as much as will make the mass fit for pill».These 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 hadbeen tried in vain. The patient must continue in the water aslong as he can easily bear it without fainting, and if one immer-sion has not the desired effect, it may be repeated as soon as thepatient's strength and spirits are recruited. It is more safe for himto go frequently into the bath than to continue too long at a time ;and it is often necessary to repeat it several times before it ha*the desired effect.

It has sometimes happened, after all other means of procuringa stool has been tried to no purpose, that this was brought aboutby immersing the patient's lower extremities in cold water, ormaking him walk upon a wet pavement, and dashing his legs andthighs with the cold water. This method, when others fail, at leastmerits a trial. It is, indeed, attended with some danger ; but adoubtful remedy Í6 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.* When there is reason to suspect a mor-tification of the intestines, this medicine ought not to be tried. Inthat case it cannot cure the patient, and will only hasten his death.But when the obstruction is occasioned by any cause that can beremoved by force, quicksilver is not only a proper medicine, butthe best that can be administered, as it is the fittest body we knowfor making its way through the intestinal canal.

If the disease proceeds from a rupture, the patient must be laidwith his head very low, and the intestines returned by gentlepressure with the hand. If this, with fomentations and clysters,should not succeed, recourse must be had to a surgical operation,which may give the patient relief.

Such as would avoid this excruciating and dangerous disease,must take care never to be too lang without a stool. Some whohave died of it, have had several pounds of hard dry fœces takenout of their intestines. They should likewise beware of eating too

* When quicksilver is given in too large quantities, it defeats fts own intention, asit drags down the bottom of the stomach, which presents its getting over the Pylorus.In this case the patient should be suspended by the heejs, in order that the quicksil-ver may be discharged by his mouth.