JAUNDICE.

263

worms a glass of red wine after meals ; as every thing that bracesand strengthens the stomach is good both for preventing and ex-pelling these vermin.*

In order to prevent any mistake of what I have here said in fa-vour of stlid food, it may be proper to observe, that I only madeuse of that word in opposition to slops of every kind ; not to ad-vise parents to cram their children with meat, two or three timesa-day. This should only be allovved at dinner, and in moderatequantities, or it would create, instead of preventing worms ; forthere is no substance in nature which generates so many worms asthe ñesh of animals, when in a state of putrefaction. Meat, there-fore, at the principal meal, should always be accompanied withplenty of good bread, and young, tender, and well-boiled vegeta-bles, especially in the spring, when these are poured forth from thebosom of the earth in such profusion. They promote the end inview, by keeping the body moderately open, without the aid of"artificial physic. The ripe fruits of autumn produce the same ef-fect ; and, from their cooling, antiputrescent qualities, are a-wholesome as the unripe are pernicious.

I also very earnestly conjure parents not to take the alarm atevery imaginary symptom of worms, and directly run for drugs tothe quack, or apothecary. They should first try the good effectsof proper diet and regimen, and never have recourse to medicinestill after unequivocal proofs of the nature of the complaint. Thedanger of advertised nostrums is sufficiently pointed out and exem-plified in the preceding note.

CHAP. XXVIII.

JAUNDICE. (Icterus.)

This disease is first observable in the white of the eye, whichappears yellow. Afterwards the whole skin puts on a yellow ap-pearance. The urine too is of a saffron hue, and dyes a whitecloth, if put into it, of the same colour. There is likewise a spe-cies of this disease called the Black Jaundice.

Causes. — The immediate cause of the jaundice is an obstructionof the bile, from biliary calculi in the gall-bladder and its ducts ;inspissated bile ; spasmodic constriction of the ducts themselves ;pressing from adjacent tumours ; scirrhosity of the liver, &c. Theremote or occasional causes are, the bites of poisonous animals, asthe viper, mad dog, tfcc. ; the bilious or hysteric colic ; violentpassions, as grief, anger, &c. Strong purges or vomits will like-wise occasion the jaundice. Sometimes it proceeds from obstin-

* We think it necessary here to warn people of their danger who buy cakes, pow-ders, and other worm medicines, at random, from quacks, and give them to the-r chil-dren without proper care. The principai ingredients in most of these medicines ismercury, which is never to be trifled with. I lately saw a shocking instance of thedanger of this conduct. A girl who had taken a dose of worm-powder, bought of atravelling quack, went out, and perhaps was so imprudent as to drink cold water dur-ing its operation : she immediately swelled, and died on the following day, with allthe symptoms of having been poisoned.

M