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CHOLERA MORBUS, &c.

be greater in proportion to the intenseness of the heat, — circum-stances which induce the belief that cholera morbus is the effect ofa warm atmosphere producing some change in the state of the bile,which maj consist either in the matter of the bile being renderedmore acrid, or its secretion being preternaturally increased. Insome instances, the disease has been observed to proceed from anobstructed perspiration, and food that passes readily into theacetous fermentation, <fec. though these causes might not giverise to it without the predisposition acquired by preceding greatheat, succeeded by sudden transitions of cold, particularly in theevenings.

Causes. — It is occasioned by a redundancy and putrid acrimonyof the bile ; food that easily turns rancid or sour on the stomach ;as butter, bacon, sweetmeats, cucumbers, melons, cherries, andother cold, unripe fruits.* It is sometimes the effect of strongacrid purges or vomits, or of poisonous substances taken into thestomach. It may likewise proceed from violent passions or affec-tions of the mind; as fear, anger, &c.

Symptoms. — It is generally preceded by a cardialgía, or heart-burn, sour belchings, and flatulencies, with pain of the stomachand intestines. To these succeed nausea, excessive vomiting-, andpurging of green, yellow, or blackish-coloured bile, with a disten-tion of the stomach, and violent griping pains. There is likewisea great thirst, with a very quick and unequal pulse, and often afixed acute pain about.the region of the navel. As the diseaseadvances, the pulse often sinks so low as to become quite imper-ceptible, the extremities grow cold or cramped, and are often cov-ered with a clammy sweat, the urine is obstructed, and there is apalpitation of the heart. Violent hiccuping, fainting, and convul-sions, are the signs of approaching death.

Medicine. — At the beginning of this disease, the efforts of Na-ture to expel the offending cause should be assisted, by promotingthe purging and vomiting. For this purpose the patient mustdrink freely of diluting liquors; as whey, butter-milk, warm water,thin water-gruel, barley-water, linseed tea, or, what is perhapspreferable to any of them, very weak chicken broth. This shouldnot only be drunk plentifully to promote the vomiting, but a clys-ter of it given every hour in order to promote the purging. Inaddition to these means, flannel cloths wrung out in a warm decoc-tion of poppy-heads slightly bruised, with the addition of aboutone fourth of the spirit of camphor, may be applied to the regionof the stomach, renewing them as often as they become cold ; oropium in the form of an external embrocation/!

After these evacuations have been continued for some time, adecoction of toasted oat-bread may be drunk to stop the vomiting.

* I have been twice brought to the gates of death by this disease, and both times itwas occasioned by eating rancid bacon.

i Take Spirit of Camphor,Tincture of Opium.

Make an embrocation, to be frequentlyrubbed over the seat of the stomach.