INFLAMMATION OF THE BLADDER.
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sides the fomentations, to rub the small of the back with sweet oil,and to give gentle diuretics ; as juniper-water sweetened with thesyrup of marsh-mallows : a tea-spoonful of the sweet spirits of nitre,with a few drops of laudanum, may now and then be put in a cupof the patient's drink ; or a decoction of fife dried leaves of thepeach tree. He ought likewise to take exercise on horseback, orin a carriage, if he be able to bear it.
When the disease is protracted beyond the seventh or eighthday, and the patient complains of a stupor and heaviness of the part,has frequent returns of chilliness, shivering, <fcc, there is reasonto suspect that matter is forming in the kidney, and that an ab-scess will ensue.
When matter in the urine shows that an ulcer is already formedin the kidney, the patient must be careful to abstain from all acrid,sour, and salted provisions ; and to live chiefly upon mild mucilag-inous herbs and fruits, together with the broth of young animals,made with barley and common pot-herbs, <fcc. His drink mavbe whey, and^ buttermilk that is not sour. The latter is by somereckoned a specific remedy in ulcers of the kidneys. To answerthis character, however, it must be drunk for a considerable time.Chalybeate waters have likewise been found beneficial in this dis-ease. This medicine is easily obtained, as it is found in everypart of Great Britain. It must likewise be used for a considera-ble time, in order to produce any salutary effect.
Those who are liable to frequent returns of inflammation, orobstructions of the kidneys, must abstain from vynes, especiallysuch as abound with tartar ; and their food ought to be light andeasy of digestion. They should use moderate exercise, not lie toohot, nor too much on their back, and avoid costiveness.
Inflammation of the Bladder. (Cystitis.)
The inflammation of the bladder proceeds, in a great measure,from the same causes as that of the kidneys. It is known by anacute pain and tension towards the bottom of the belly, and diffi-culty of passing urine, with some degree of fever, a constant in-clination to go to stool, and a perpetual desire to make water, &c.
This disease must be treated on the same principle, as the oneimmediately preceding. The diet must be light and thin, and thedrink of a cooling nature. Bleeding is very proper at the begin-ning, and in robust constitutions it will often be necessary to re-peat it. The lower part of the belly should be fomented withwarm water, or a decoction of mild vegetables ; and emollientclysters ought frequently to be administered. <fcc
The patient should abstain from every thing that is of a hot,acrid, and stimulating quality ; and should live entirely upon smallbroths, gruels, or mild vegetables.
A stoppage of urine may proceed from other causes besides aninflammation of the bladder ; as a swelling of the hoemorrhoidalveins ; hardened fceces lodged in the rectum ; a stone in the blad-der ; excrescences in the urinary passages, a palsy of the bladder,hysteric affections, »fee. Each of these requires a particular treat-ment which does not fall under our present consideration. We