226

DIARRHŒA, OR LOOSENESS.

I have frequently Jiad occasion to see this disease, and havesometimes felt it. Yet I never met with an instance, in my ownpractice, where it proved fatal, though we are told this often hap-pens. Whether so lamentable an issue be owing to improper treat-ment, or to the extreme weakness of the patient's bowels, I can-not pretend to say, without an exact knowledge of each particu-lar case ; but I am inclined to think, that when death is the con-sequence, the antidote, which is opium, has been too long delay-ed. No time should be lost in administering it, upon the first seri-ous alarm, and before the powers of Nature are exhausted. WhatI generally prescribe is laudanum, to be taken in cinnamonor some other cordial water. Ten drops of laudanum may beadded to two ounces of simple cinnamon water, and the draughtrepeated every two hours, or oftener if necessary.

I have found opiates no less successful in diarrhoea, or loose-ness. Ten grains of the powder of bole compounded with opium,given in a glass of cordial water four or five times a-day, will sel-dom fail to check a recent diarrhoea, and if judiciously persisted in,will often cure the most obstinate. 1 would therefore advise, insuch cases, a full reliance on its final efficacy, rather than a rashimpatience to try other medicines far more uncertain, and perhapsdangerous. But as a looseness may arise from a great variety ofcauses, how to adapt the mode of medical treatment to each willbe explained in the next section.

Diarrhoea or looseness.

Diarrhoea, in many cases is not to be considered as a disease,but rather as a salutary evacuation. It ought, therefore, never tobe stopped, unless when it continues too long, or evidently weak-ens the patient. As this, however, sometimes happens, we shallpoint out the most common causes of a looseness, with the propermethod of treatment.

When a looseness is occasioned by catching cold, or an obstruct-ed perspiration, the patient ought to keep warm, to drink freelyof weak diluting liquors, to bathe his feet and legs frequently inlukewarm water, to wear flannel next his skin, and to take everyother method to restore the perspiration.

In a looseness which proceeds from excess or repletion, anemetic is the proper medicine. Emetics not only cleanse thestomach, but promote all the secretions, which renders them ofgreat importance in carrying off a debauch. Half a drachm ofipecacuanha in powder will answer this purpose very well. A dayor two after the emetic, the same quantity of rhubarb may be tak-

intestincs, as indicated by violent purging and painful contractions of the abdomen.Its effects are more uncertain where the affection of the stomach is obscure ; wherethere is moderate but insidious purging; where there is great sense of heat in the epi-gastrium, and in every case where collapse has come on. In conjunction with otherremedies of the antispasmodic and stimulant kind, blood-letting has latterly been esti-mated as an important measure in the treatment of this terrific malady; and althoughbrought forward in a late publication, was, we believe, first proposed by Dr. JamesJohnson, from observing- its effects in one or two sporadic cases of cholera in the Isl-and of Ceylon, more than twenty years ago. Kr».

See Report of the Kpidemic cholera, &c. by William Scatt, surgeon, &c. 4t9Madras, 1824