INFLAMMATION OF THE INTESTINES. 267

ened with sweet oil or fresh butter. These may beadministered every two or three hours, or oftener, ifthe patient continues costive.

If the disease does not yield to clysters and fomen-tations, recourse must be had to pretty strong pur-gatives ; but as these, by irritating the bowels, oftenincrease their contraction, and by that means frus-trate their own intention, it will be necessary to jointhem with opiates, which, by allaying the pain, andrelaxing the spasmodic contraction of the guts,greatly assist the operation of purgatives in this case.

What answers the purpose of opening the bodyvery well, is a solution of the bitter purging salts.Two ounces of these may be dissolved in an Englishpint of warm water, or thin gruel, and a tea-cupfulof it taken every half hour till it operates. At thesame time fifteen, twenty, or twenty-five drops oflaudanum may be given in a glass of peppermint orsimple cinnamon-water, to appease the irritation,and prevent the vomiting, &c.

Acids have often a very happy effect in staying thevomiting, and appeasing the other violent symptomsof this disease. It will therefore be of use to sharpenthe patient's drink with cream of tartar, juice oflemon; or when these cannot be obtained, with vinegar.

But it often happens that no liquid whatever willstay on the stomach. In this case the patient musttake purging-pills. I have generally found the fol-lowing answer very well: Take jalap in powder, andvitriolated tartar, of each half a drachm, opium onegrain, Castille soap as much as will make the mass fitfor pills. These must be taken at one dose, and if theydo not operate in a few hours, the dose may be re-peated.

If a stool cannot be procured by any of the abovemeans, it will be necessary to immerse the patient inwarm water up to the breast. I have often seen thissucceed when other means have been tried in vain.The patient must continue in the warm water as longas he can easily bear it without fainting, and if one im-mersion has not the desired effect, it may be repeated