INFLAMMATION OF THE LIVER.

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ñammation than any o'her part of the body, from, in all probabil-ity, the increased secretion of bile which takes place when theblood is thrown ou the internal parts by an exposure to cold ; orfrom the bile becoming acrid, and thereby exciting an irritation ofthe part.

This disease, if properly treated, is seldom mortal. A constanthiccuping, violent fever, and excessive thirst, are bad symptoms.If it ends in a suppuration, and the matter cannot be dischargedoutwardly, the danger is great. When a scirrhus of the liver en-sues, the patient, if he observes a proper regimen, may neverthe-less Jive a number of years tolerably easy ; but if he indulge in an-imal food and strong liquors, or take medicines of an acrid or irri-tating nature, the scirrhus will be converted into a cancer, whichmust infallibly prove fatal.

Regimen. — The same regimen is to be observed in this as inother inflammatory disorders. All hot things are to be carefullyavoided, and cool diluting liquors, as whey, barley water, »fee.drank freely. The food must be light and thin, and the body, asweil as the mind, kept easy and quiet.

Medicine. — Bleeding from a large orifice is proper at the be-ginning of this disease, and it will often be necessary, even thoughthe pulse should not feel hard, to repeat it. Topical bleeding bymeans of leeches applied over the seat of the pain, «fee. All vio-lent purgatives are to be avoided ; the body, however, must bekept gently open, and immediately after venesection, a properdose of the submuriate of mercury and colocynth may be directed ;or the bowels may be kept open with the neutral salts* or jalap,giving the submuriate of mercury from time to time.t A decoc-tion of tamarinds, with a little honey or manna, will answer thispurpose very well. The side affected must be fomented in themanner directed ïn the foregoing diseases. Mild laxative clystersshould be frequently administered ; and, if the pain should notwith-standing continue violent, a blistering plaster may be applied overthe part affected ; or rather a plaster made of gum ammoniac andvinegar of squills.

Medicines which promote the secretion of urine have a verygood effect here. For this purpose half a drachm of purified nitre,or a teaspoonful of the sweet spirits of nitre, may be taken in acup of the patient's drink three or four times a-day.

When there is an inclination to sweat, it ought to be promoted,but not by warm sudorifics. The only thing to be used for thatpurpose is plenty of diluting liquor drank about blood-warm. In-deed the patient in this case, as well as in all other topical inflam-mations, ought to drink nothing that is colder than this medium.

If the stools should be loose, and even streaked with blood, nomeans must be used to stop them, unless they be so frequent as to

Take Infusion of Senna, 1¡ oz.

Epaoin Salts, 3 drs.

Tincture of Jalap,Syrup of Buckthorn, of each 1 dr.M ¡ike a, draught,

t Take Submuriate of Mercury, 3 grs.Extract of Colocynth, 5 grs.

Make a pill for a dose.