Chapter XXI.

Chapter XXI.Of the Cholic and its different Kinds.Sect.296.The Appellation of a Cholic is commonly given to all Pains of the Belly indiscriminately; but I apply it in this Place only to such as attack the Stomach, or the Intestines, the Guts.Cholics may and do result from very many Causes; and the greater Number of Cholics are chronical or tedious Complaints, being more common among the inactive Inhabitants of Cities, and Workmen in sedentary Trades, than among Country People. Hence I shall treat here only of the small Variety of Cholics, which happen the most usually in Villages. I have already proved that the fatal Events of some Distempers were occasioned by endeavouring to force the Patients into Sweats; and the same unhappy Consequences have attended Cholics, from accustoming the Subjects of this Disease to Drams, and hot inflaming spirituous Liquors, with an Intention to expel the Wind.Of the inflammatory Cholic.§ 297. The most violent and dangerous kind of Cholic is that, which arises from an Inflammation of the Stomach, or of the Intestines. It begins most commonly without any Shivering, by a vehement Pain in the Belly, which gradually becomes still more so. The Pulse grows quick and hard; a burning Pain is felt through the whole Region of the Belly; sometimes there is a wateryDiarrhœa, or Purging; at other Times the Belly is rather costive, which is attended with Vomiting, a very embarrassing and dangerous Symptom: the Countenance becomes highly flushed; the Belly tense and hard; neither can it be touched scarcely without a cruel Augmentation of the Patient's Pain, who is also afflicted with extreme Restlessness; his Thirst is very great, being unquenchable by Drink; the Pain often extends to the Loins, where it proves very sharp, and severe; little Urine is made, and that very red, and with a kind of burning Heat. The tormented Patient has not a Moment's Rest, and now and then raves a little. If the Disease is not removed or moderated, before the Pains rise to their utmost Height and Violence, the Patient begins at length to complain less; the Pulse becomes less strong and less hard than before, but quicker: his Face first abates of its Flush and Redness, and soon after looks pale; the Parts under the Eyes become livid; the Patient sinks into a lowstupid Kind ofDelirium, or Raving; his Strength entirely deserts him; the Face, Hands, Feet, and the whole Body, the Belly only excepted, become cold: the Surface of the Belly appears bluish; extreme Weakness follows, and the Patient dies. There frequently occurs, just a Moment before he expires, an abundant Discharge of excessively fœtid Matter by Stool; and during this Evacuation he dies with his Intestines quite gangrened, or mortified.When the Distemper assaults the Stomach, the Symptoms are the very same, but the Pain is felt higher up, at the Pit of the Stomach. Almost every thing that is swallowed is cast up again; the Anguish of the tortured Patient is terrible, and the Raving comes on very speedily. This Disease proves mortal in a few Hours.§ 298. The only Method of succeeding in the Cure of it is as follows:1, Take a very large Quantity of Blood from the Arm; this almost immediately diminishes the Violence of the Pains, and allays the Vomiting: besides its contributing to the greater Success of the other Remedies. It is often necessary to repeat this Bleeding within the Space of two Hours.2, Whether the Patient has a Looseness, or has not, a Glyster of a Decoction of Mallows, or of Barley Water and Oil, should be given every two Hours.3, The Patient should drink very plentifully of Almond MilkNº. 4; or a Ptisan of MallowFlowers, or of Barley, all which should be warm.4, Flanels dipt in hot, or very warm Water should be continually applied over the Belly, shifting them every Hour, or rather oftner; for in this Case they very quickly grow dry.5, If the Disease, notwithstanding all this, continues very obstinate and violent, the Patient should be put into a warm Water Bath, the extraordinary Success of which I have observed.When the Distemper is over, that is to say, when the Pains have terminated, and the Fever has ceased, so that the Patient recovers a little Strength, and gets a little Sleep, it will be proper to give him a Purge, but a very gentle one. Two Ounces of Manna, and a Quarter of an Ounce of Sedlitz74Salt dissolved in a Glass of clear Whey is generally sufficient, at this Period, to purge the most robust and hardy Bodies. Manna alone may suffice for more delicate Constitutions: as all acrid sharp Purges would be highly dangerous, with Regard to the great Sensibility and tender Condition of the Stomach, and of the Intestines after this Disease.§ 299. It is sometimes the Effect of a general Inflammation of the Blood; and is produced, like other inflammatory Diseases, by extraordinary Labour, very great Heat, heating Meats or Drinks,&c.It is often the Consequence ofother Cholics which have been injudiciously treated, and which otherwise would not have degenerated into inflammatory ones; as I have many Times seen these Cholics introduced after the Use of heating Medicines; one Instance of which may be seen§ 164.§ 300. Ten Days after I had recovered a Woman out of a severe Cholic, the Pains returned violently in the Night. She, supposing them to arise only from Wind, hoped to appease them by drinking a deal of distilled Walnut Water; which, far from producing any such Effect, rendered them more outrageous. They soon were heightened to a surprising Degree, which might reasonably be expected. Being sent for very early in the Morning, I found her Pulse hard, quick, short; her Belly was tense and hard; she complained greatly of her Loins: her Urine was almost entirely stopt. She past but a few Drops, which felt as it were scalding hot, and these with excessive Pain. She went very frequently to the Close-stool, with scarcely any Effect; her Anguish, Heat, Thirst, and the Dryness of her Tongue were even terrifying: and her wretched State, the Effect of the strong hot Liquor she had taken, made me very apprehensive for her. One Bleeding, to the Quantity of fourteen Ounces, somewhat abated all the Pains; she took several Glysters, and drank off a few Pots ofOrgeatin a few Hours. By these Means the Disease was a little mitigated; by continuing the same Drink and the Glysters the Looseness abated; the Painof the Loins went off, and she passed a considerable Quantity of Urine, which proved turbid, and then let fall a Sediment, and the Patient recovered. Nevertheless I verily believe, if the Bleeding had been delayed two Hours longer, this spirituous Walnut Water would have been the Death of her. During the Progress of this violent Disease, no Food is to be allowed; and we should never be too inattentive to such Degrees of Pain, as sometimes remain after their Severity is over; lest aScirrhus, an inward hard Tumour, should be generated, which may occasion the most inveterate and tedious Maladies.§ 301. An Inflammation of the Intestines, and one of the Stomach, may also terminate in an Abscess, like an Inflammation of any other Part; and it may be apprehended that one is forming, when, though the Violence of the Painsabates, there still remains a slow, obtuse, heavy Pain, with general Inquietude, little Appetite, frequent Shiverings; the Patient at the same Time not recovering any Strength. In such Cases the Patient should be allowed no other Drinks, but what are already directed in this Chapter, and some Soops made of Pulse, or other farinaceous Food.The Breaking of the Abscess may sometimes be discovered by a slight Swoon or fainting Fit; attended with a perceivable Cessation of a Weight or Heaviness in the Part, where it was lately felt: and when thePus, or ripe Matter, is effused into the Gut, the Patient sometimes hasReachings to vomit, aVertigo, or Swimming in the Head, and the Matter appears in the next Stools. In this Case there remains an Ulcer within the Gut, which, if either neglected, or improperly treated, may pave the Way to a slow wasting Fever, and even to Death. Yet this I have cured by making the Patient live solely upon skimmed Milk, diluted with one third Part Water, and by giving every other Day a Glyster, consisting of equal Parts of Milk and Water, with the Addition of a little Honey.When the Abscess breaks on the Outside of the Gut, and discharges its Contents into the Cavity of the Belly, it becomes a very miserable Case, and demands such further Assistance as cannot be particularized here.Of the bilious Cholic.§ 302. The bilious Cholic discovers itself by very acute Pains, but is seldom accompanied with a Fever; at least not until it has lasted a Day or two. And even if there should be some Degree of a Fever, yet the Pulse, though quick, is neither strong nor hard: the Belly is neither tense or stretched as it were, nor burning hot, as in the former Cholic: the Urine comes away with more Ease, and is less high-coloured: Nevertheless the inward Heat and Thirst are considerable; the Mouth is bitter; the Vomiting or Purging, when either of them attend it, discharge ayellowish Humour or Excrement; and the Patient's Head is often vertiginous or dizzy.§ 303. The Method of curing this is,1, By injecting Glysters of Whey and Honey; or, if Whey is not readily procurable, by repeating the Glyster,Nº. 5.2, By making the Sick drink considerably of the same Whey, or of a Ptisan made of the Root of Dog's-Grass (the common Grass) and a little Juice of Lemon, for want of which, a little Vinegar and Honey may be substituted instead of it.753, By giving every Hour one Cup of the MedicineNº. 32; or where this is not to be had, half a Drachm of Cream of Tartar at the same short Intervals.4, Fomentations of warm Water and Half-baths are also very proper.5, If the Pains are sharp and violent, in a robust strong Person, and the Pulse is strong and tense, Bleeding should be used to prevent an Inflammation.6, No other Nourishment should be given, except some maigre Soops, made from Vegetables, and particularly of Sorrel.7, After plentiful Dilution with the proper Drink, if no Fever supervenes; if the Pains still continue, and the Patient discharges but little by Stool, he should take a moderate Purge. That directedNº. 47is a very proper one.§ 304. This bilious Cholic is habitual to many Persons; and may be prevented or greatly mitigated by an habitual Use of the PowderNº. 24; by submitting to a moderate Retrenchment in the Article of Flesh-meat; and by avoiding heating and greasy Food, and the Use of Milk.Of Cholics from Indigestions, and of Indigestion.§ 305. Under this Appellation I comprehend all those Cholics, which are either owing to any overloading Quantity of Food taken at once; or to a Mass or Accumulation of Aliments formed by Degrees in such Stomachs, as digest but very imperfectly; or which result from noxious Mixtures of Aliment in the Stomach, such as that of Milk and Acids; or from Food either not wholesome in its self, or degenerated into an unwholesome Condition.This kind of Cholic may be known from any of these Causes having preceded it; by its Pains, which are accompanied with great Restlessness, and come on by Degrees, being less fixed than in the Cholics before treated of. These Cholics are also without any Fever, Heat or Thirst, but accompanied with a Giddiness of the Head, and Efforts to vomit, and rather with a pale, than a high-coloured Visage.§ 306. These Disorders, from these last Causes, are scarcely ever dangerous in themselves; but may be made such by injudicious Management, and doing more than is necessary or proper: asthe only Thing to be done is to promote the Discharges by warm Drinks. There are a considerable Variety of them, which seem equally good, such as warm Water, or even cold Water with a Toast, with the Addition either of a little Sugar, or a little Salt: a light Infusion of Chamomile, or of Elder-flowers, common Tea, or Baum, it imports little which, provided the Patient drink plentifully of them: in Consequence of which the offending Matter is discharged, either by vomiting, or a considerable purging; and the speedier and more in Quantity these Discharges are, the sooner the Patient is relieved.If the Belly is remarkably full and costive, Glysters of warm Water and Salt should be injected.The Expulsion of the obstructing Matter is also facilitated, by rubbing the Belly heartily with hot Cloths.Sometimes the Humours, or other retained Contents of the Belly, are more pernicious from their Quality, than their Quantity; and then the Malady may be dissipated without the former Discharges, by the irritating sharp Humour being diluted, or even drowned, as it were, in the Abundance of small watery Drinks. When the Pains invade first in the Stomach, they become less sharp, and the Patient feels less Inquietude, as soon as the Cause of the Pain has descended out of the Stomach into the Intestines, whose Sensations are something less acute than, or somewhat different from, those of the Stomach.It is often found that after these plentiful Discharges, and when the Pains are over, there remains a very disagreeable Taste in the Mouth, resembling the Savour of rotten Eggs. This may be removed by giving some Doses of the PowderNº. 24, and drinking largely of good Water:It is an essential Point in these Cases, to take no Food before a perfect Recovery.§ 307. Some have been absurd enough in them, to fly at once to some heating Cordial Confection, to Venice Treacle, Aniseed Water, Geneva, or red Wine to stop these Evacuations; but there cannot be a more fatal Practice: since these Evacuations are the only Thing which can cure the Complaint, and to stop them is to deprive the Person, who was in Danger of drowning, of the Plank which might save him. Nay should this Endeavour of stopping them unhappily succeed, the Patient is either thrown into a putrid Fever, or some chronical tedious Malady; unless Nature, much wiser than such a miserable Assistant, should prevail over the Obstacles opposed to her Recovery, and restore the obstructed Evacuations by her own Oeconomy, in the Space of a few Days.§ 308. Sometimes an Indigestion happens, with very little Pain or Cholic, but with violent Reachings to vomit, inexpressible Anguish, Faintings, and cold Sweats: and not seldom also the Malady begins, only with a very sudden and unexpected Fainting: the Patient immediately losesall his Senses, his Face is pale and wan: he has some Hickups rather than Reachings to vomit, which joined to the Smallness of his Pulse, to the Easiness of his respiring, or breathing, and to the Circumstance of his being attacked immediately, or very soon, after a Meal, makes this Disorder distinguishable from a real Apoplexy. Nevertheless, when it rises to this Height, with these terrible Symptoms, it sometimes kills in a few Hours. The first thing to be done is to throw up a sharp Glyster, in which Salt and Soap are to be dissolved; next to get down as much Salt and Water as he can swallow; and if that is ineffectual, the PowderNº. 34is to be dissolved in three Cups of Water; one half of which is to be given directly; and, if it does not operate in a Quarter of an Hour, the other half. Generally speaking the Patient's Sense begins to return, as soon as he begins to vomit.Of the flatulent or windy Cholic.§ 309. Every Particular which constitutes our Food, whether solid or liquid, contains much Air, but some of them more than others. If they do not digest soon enough, or but badly, which occasions a sensible Escape of such Air; if they are such as contain an extraordinary Quantity of Air; or if the Guts being straitened or compressed any where in the Course of their Extent, prevent that Air from being equally diffused (which must occasion a greater Proportionof it in some Places) then the Stomach and the Guts are distended by this Wind; and this Distention occasions these Pains, which are called flatulent, or windy.This Sort of Cholic rarely appears alone and simple; but is often complicated with, or added, as it were, to the other Sorts, of which it is a Consequence; and is more especially joined with the Cholic from Indigestions, whose Symptoms it multiplies and heightens. It may be known, like that, by the Causes which have preceded it, by its not being accompanied either with Fever, Heat, or Thirst; the Belly's being large and full, though without Hardness, being unequal in its Largeness, which prevails more in one Part of it than in another, forming something like Pockets of Wind, sometimes in one Part, sometimes in another; and by the Patient's feeling some Ease merely from the rubbing of his Belly, as it moves the Wind about; which escaping either upwards or downwards affords him still a greater Relief.§ 310. When it is combined with any different Species of the Cholic, it requires no distinct Treatment from that Species; and it is removed or dissipated by the Medicines which cure the principal Disease.Sometimes however it does happen to exist alone, and then it depends on the Windiness of the solid and liquid Food of the Person affected with it, such as theMustor new Wine, Beer, especially very new Beer, certain Fruits andGarden-stuff. It may be cured by a Glyster; by chaffing the Belly with hot Cloths; by the Use of Drink moderately spiced; and especially by Camomile Tea, to which a little cordial Confection, or even Venice Treacle, may be added. When the Pains are almost entirely vanished, and there is no Fever, nor any unhealthy Degree of Heat; and if the Patient is sensible of a Weakness at Stomach, he may take a little aromatic, or spiced Wine, or even a small cordial stomachic Dram. It should be observed, that these are not to be allowed in any other Kind of Cholic.§ 311. When any Person is frequently subject to cholic-like Pains, it is a Proof that the digestive Faculty is impaired; the restoring of which should be carefully attended to; without which the Health of the Patient must suffer considerably, and he must be very likely to contract many tedious and troublesome Disorders.Of Cholics from Cold.§ 312. When any Person has been very cold, and especially in his Feet, it is not uncommon for him to be attacked, within a few Hours after it, with violent Cholic Pains, in which heating and spirituous Medicines are very pernicious: but which are easily cured by rubbing the Legs well with hot Cloths; and keeping them afterwards for a considerable Time in warm Water; advising them at the same Time to drink freely of a light Infusion of Chamomile or Elder-flowers.The Cure will be effected the sooner, if the Patient is put to Bed and sweats a little, especially in the Legs and Feet.A Woman who had put her Legs into a pretty cool Spring, after travelling in the Height of Summer, was very quickly after attacked with a most violent Cholic. She took different hot Medicines; she became still worse; she was purged, but the Distemper was still further aggravated. I was called in on the third Day, a few Hours before her Decease.In such Cases, if the Pain be excessive, it may be necessary to bleed;76to give a Glyster of warm Water; to keep the Legs several Hours over the Steam of hot Water, and afterwards in the Water; to drink plentifully of an Infusion of the Flowers of the Lime-tree, with a little Milk; and if the Distemper is not subdued by these Means, Blisters should be applied to the Legs, which I have known to be highly efficacious.§ 313. It appears, through the Course of this Chapter, that it is necessary to be extremely on our Guard, against permitting the Use of heating and spirituous Medicines in Cholics, as they may not only aggravate, but even render them mortal.In short they should never be given, and when it is difficult to discover the real Cause of the Cholic, I advise Country People to confine themselves to the three following Remedies, which cannot be hurtful in any Sort of Cholic, and may remove as many as are not of a violent Nature. First then, let Glysters be frequently repeated. 2, Let the Patient drink warm Water plentifully, or Elder Tea. 3, Let the Belly be often fomented in pretty warm Water, which is the most preferable Fomentation of any.§ 314I have said nothing here of the Use of any Oils in this Disease, as they agree but in very few Species of Cholics, and not at all in those of which I have been treating. For this Reason I advise a total Disuse of them, since they may be of bad Consequence in many Respects.§ 315. Chronical Diseases not coming within the Plan of this Work, I purposely forbear treating of any Kind of those tedious Cholics, which afflict some People for many Years: but I think it my Duty to admonish such, that their Torments being very generally occasioned by Obstructions in theViscera, or different Bowels of the Belly, or by some other Fault, and more particularly in those Organs, which are intended to prepare the Bile, they should, 1, avoid with the greatest Care, the Use of sharp, hot, violent Medicines, Vomits, strong Purges, Elixirs,&c.2, They should be thoroughly on their Guard against all those, who promise them a very speedy Cure, by the Assistance of some specific Remedy; andought to look upon them as Mountebanks, into whose Hands it is highly dangerous to trust themselves. 3, They should be persuaded, or rather convinced, that they can entertain no reasonable Hope of being cured, without an exact Conformity to a proper and judicious Regimen, and a long Perseverance in a Course of mild and safe Remedies. 4, They should continually reflect with themselves, that there is little Difficulty in doing them great Mischief; and that their Complaints are of that Sort, which require the greatest Knowledge and Prudence in those Persons, to whom the Treatment and Cure of them are confided.

Of the Cholic and its different Kinds.Sect.296.The Appellation of a Cholic is commonly given to all Pains of the Belly indiscriminately; but I apply it in this Place only to such as attack the Stomach, or the Intestines, the Guts.Cholics may and do result from very many Causes; and the greater Number of Cholics are chronical or tedious Complaints, being more common among the inactive Inhabitants of Cities, and Workmen in sedentary Trades, than among Country People. Hence I shall treat here only of the small Variety of Cholics, which happen the most usually in Villages. I have already proved that the fatal Events of some Distempers were occasioned by endeavouring to force the Patients into Sweats; and the same unhappy Consequences have attended Cholics, from accustoming the Subjects of this Disease to Drams, and hot inflaming spirituous Liquors, with an Intention to expel the Wind.

Sect.296.

The Appellation of a Cholic is commonly given to all Pains of the Belly indiscriminately; but I apply it in this Place only to such as attack the Stomach, or the Intestines, the Guts.

Cholics may and do result from very many Causes; and the greater Number of Cholics are chronical or tedious Complaints, being more common among the inactive Inhabitants of Cities, and Workmen in sedentary Trades, than among Country People. Hence I shall treat here only of the small Variety of Cholics, which happen the most usually in Villages. I have already proved that the fatal Events of some Distempers were occasioned by endeavouring to force the Patients into Sweats; and the same unhappy Consequences have attended Cholics, from accustoming the Subjects of this Disease to Drams, and hot inflaming spirituous Liquors, with an Intention to expel the Wind.

Of the inflammatory Cholic.§ 297. The most violent and dangerous kind of Cholic is that, which arises from an Inflammation of the Stomach, or of the Intestines. It begins most commonly without any Shivering, by a vehement Pain in the Belly, which gradually becomes still more so. The Pulse grows quick and hard; a burning Pain is felt through the whole Region of the Belly; sometimes there is a wateryDiarrhœa, or Purging; at other Times the Belly is rather costive, which is attended with Vomiting, a very embarrassing and dangerous Symptom: the Countenance becomes highly flushed; the Belly tense and hard; neither can it be touched scarcely without a cruel Augmentation of the Patient's Pain, who is also afflicted with extreme Restlessness; his Thirst is very great, being unquenchable by Drink; the Pain often extends to the Loins, where it proves very sharp, and severe; little Urine is made, and that very red, and with a kind of burning Heat. The tormented Patient has not a Moment's Rest, and now and then raves a little. If the Disease is not removed or moderated, before the Pains rise to their utmost Height and Violence, the Patient begins at length to complain less; the Pulse becomes less strong and less hard than before, but quicker: his Face first abates of its Flush and Redness, and soon after looks pale; the Parts under the Eyes become livid; the Patient sinks into a lowstupid Kind ofDelirium, or Raving; his Strength entirely deserts him; the Face, Hands, Feet, and the whole Body, the Belly only excepted, become cold: the Surface of the Belly appears bluish; extreme Weakness follows, and the Patient dies. There frequently occurs, just a Moment before he expires, an abundant Discharge of excessively fœtid Matter by Stool; and during this Evacuation he dies with his Intestines quite gangrened, or mortified.When the Distemper assaults the Stomach, the Symptoms are the very same, but the Pain is felt higher up, at the Pit of the Stomach. Almost every thing that is swallowed is cast up again; the Anguish of the tortured Patient is terrible, and the Raving comes on very speedily. This Disease proves mortal in a few Hours.§ 298. The only Method of succeeding in the Cure of it is as follows:1, Take a very large Quantity of Blood from the Arm; this almost immediately diminishes the Violence of the Pains, and allays the Vomiting: besides its contributing to the greater Success of the other Remedies. It is often necessary to repeat this Bleeding within the Space of two Hours.2, Whether the Patient has a Looseness, or has not, a Glyster of a Decoction of Mallows, or of Barley Water and Oil, should be given every two Hours.3, The Patient should drink very plentifully of Almond MilkNº. 4; or a Ptisan of MallowFlowers, or of Barley, all which should be warm.4, Flanels dipt in hot, or very warm Water should be continually applied over the Belly, shifting them every Hour, or rather oftner; for in this Case they very quickly grow dry.5, If the Disease, notwithstanding all this, continues very obstinate and violent, the Patient should be put into a warm Water Bath, the extraordinary Success of which I have observed.When the Distemper is over, that is to say, when the Pains have terminated, and the Fever has ceased, so that the Patient recovers a little Strength, and gets a little Sleep, it will be proper to give him a Purge, but a very gentle one. Two Ounces of Manna, and a Quarter of an Ounce of Sedlitz74Salt dissolved in a Glass of clear Whey is generally sufficient, at this Period, to purge the most robust and hardy Bodies. Manna alone may suffice for more delicate Constitutions: as all acrid sharp Purges would be highly dangerous, with Regard to the great Sensibility and tender Condition of the Stomach, and of the Intestines after this Disease.§ 299. It is sometimes the Effect of a general Inflammation of the Blood; and is produced, like other inflammatory Diseases, by extraordinary Labour, very great Heat, heating Meats or Drinks,&c.It is often the Consequence ofother Cholics which have been injudiciously treated, and which otherwise would not have degenerated into inflammatory ones; as I have many Times seen these Cholics introduced after the Use of heating Medicines; one Instance of which may be seen§ 164.§ 300. Ten Days after I had recovered a Woman out of a severe Cholic, the Pains returned violently in the Night. She, supposing them to arise only from Wind, hoped to appease them by drinking a deal of distilled Walnut Water; which, far from producing any such Effect, rendered them more outrageous. They soon were heightened to a surprising Degree, which might reasonably be expected. Being sent for very early in the Morning, I found her Pulse hard, quick, short; her Belly was tense and hard; she complained greatly of her Loins: her Urine was almost entirely stopt. She past but a few Drops, which felt as it were scalding hot, and these with excessive Pain. She went very frequently to the Close-stool, with scarcely any Effect; her Anguish, Heat, Thirst, and the Dryness of her Tongue were even terrifying: and her wretched State, the Effect of the strong hot Liquor she had taken, made me very apprehensive for her. One Bleeding, to the Quantity of fourteen Ounces, somewhat abated all the Pains; she took several Glysters, and drank off a few Pots ofOrgeatin a few Hours. By these Means the Disease was a little mitigated; by continuing the same Drink and the Glysters the Looseness abated; the Painof the Loins went off, and she passed a considerable Quantity of Urine, which proved turbid, and then let fall a Sediment, and the Patient recovered. Nevertheless I verily believe, if the Bleeding had been delayed two Hours longer, this spirituous Walnut Water would have been the Death of her. During the Progress of this violent Disease, no Food is to be allowed; and we should never be too inattentive to such Degrees of Pain, as sometimes remain after their Severity is over; lest aScirrhus, an inward hard Tumour, should be generated, which may occasion the most inveterate and tedious Maladies.§ 301. An Inflammation of the Intestines, and one of the Stomach, may also terminate in an Abscess, like an Inflammation of any other Part; and it may be apprehended that one is forming, when, though the Violence of the Painsabates, there still remains a slow, obtuse, heavy Pain, with general Inquietude, little Appetite, frequent Shiverings; the Patient at the same Time not recovering any Strength. In such Cases the Patient should be allowed no other Drinks, but what are already directed in this Chapter, and some Soops made of Pulse, or other farinaceous Food.The Breaking of the Abscess may sometimes be discovered by a slight Swoon or fainting Fit; attended with a perceivable Cessation of a Weight or Heaviness in the Part, where it was lately felt: and when thePus, or ripe Matter, is effused into the Gut, the Patient sometimes hasReachings to vomit, aVertigo, or Swimming in the Head, and the Matter appears in the next Stools. In this Case there remains an Ulcer within the Gut, which, if either neglected, or improperly treated, may pave the Way to a slow wasting Fever, and even to Death. Yet this I have cured by making the Patient live solely upon skimmed Milk, diluted with one third Part Water, and by giving every other Day a Glyster, consisting of equal Parts of Milk and Water, with the Addition of a little Honey.When the Abscess breaks on the Outside of the Gut, and discharges its Contents into the Cavity of the Belly, it becomes a very miserable Case, and demands such further Assistance as cannot be particularized here.

§ 297. The most violent and dangerous kind of Cholic is that, which arises from an Inflammation of the Stomach, or of the Intestines. It begins most commonly without any Shivering, by a vehement Pain in the Belly, which gradually becomes still more so. The Pulse grows quick and hard; a burning Pain is felt through the whole Region of the Belly; sometimes there is a wateryDiarrhœa, or Purging; at other Times the Belly is rather costive, which is attended with Vomiting, a very embarrassing and dangerous Symptom: the Countenance becomes highly flushed; the Belly tense and hard; neither can it be touched scarcely without a cruel Augmentation of the Patient's Pain, who is also afflicted with extreme Restlessness; his Thirst is very great, being unquenchable by Drink; the Pain often extends to the Loins, where it proves very sharp, and severe; little Urine is made, and that very red, and with a kind of burning Heat. The tormented Patient has not a Moment's Rest, and now and then raves a little. If the Disease is not removed or moderated, before the Pains rise to their utmost Height and Violence, the Patient begins at length to complain less; the Pulse becomes less strong and less hard than before, but quicker: his Face first abates of its Flush and Redness, and soon after looks pale; the Parts under the Eyes become livid; the Patient sinks into a lowstupid Kind ofDelirium, or Raving; his Strength entirely deserts him; the Face, Hands, Feet, and the whole Body, the Belly only excepted, become cold: the Surface of the Belly appears bluish; extreme Weakness follows, and the Patient dies. There frequently occurs, just a Moment before he expires, an abundant Discharge of excessively fœtid Matter by Stool; and during this Evacuation he dies with his Intestines quite gangrened, or mortified.

When the Distemper assaults the Stomach, the Symptoms are the very same, but the Pain is felt higher up, at the Pit of the Stomach. Almost every thing that is swallowed is cast up again; the Anguish of the tortured Patient is terrible, and the Raving comes on very speedily. This Disease proves mortal in a few Hours.

§ 298. The only Method of succeeding in the Cure of it is as follows:

1, Take a very large Quantity of Blood from the Arm; this almost immediately diminishes the Violence of the Pains, and allays the Vomiting: besides its contributing to the greater Success of the other Remedies. It is often necessary to repeat this Bleeding within the Space of two Hours.

2, Whether the Patient has a Looseness, or has not, a Glyster of a Decoction of Mallows, or of Barley Water and Oil, should be given every two Hours.

3, The Patient should drink very plentifully of Almond MilkNº. 4; or a Ptisan of MallowFlowers, or of Barley, all which should be warm.

4, Flanels dipt in hot, or very warm Water should be continually applied over the Belly, shifting them every Hour, or rather oftner; for in this Case they very quickly grow dry.

5, If the Disease, notwithstanding all this, continues very obstinate and violent, the Patient should be put into a warm Water Bath, the extraordinary Success of which I have observed.

When the Distemper is over, that is to say, when the Pains have terminated, and the Fever has ceased, so that the Patient recovers a little Strength, and gets a little Sleep, it will be proper to give him a Purge, but a very gentle one. Two Ounces of Manna, and a Quarter of an Ounce of Sedlitz74Salt dissolved in a Glass of clear Whey is generally sufficient, at this Period, to purge the most robust and hardy Bodies. Manna alone may suffice for more delicate Constitutions: as all acrid sharp Purges would be highly dangerous, with Regard to the great Sensibility and tender Condition of the Stomach, and of the Intestines after this Disease.

§ 299. It is sometimes the Effect of a general Inflammation of the Blood; and is produced, like other inflammatory Diseases, by extraordinary Labour, very great Heat, heating Meats or Drinks,&c.It is often the Consequence ofother Cholics which have been injudiciously treated, and which otherwise would not have degenerated into inflammatory ones; as I have many Times seen these Cholics introduced after the Use of heating Medicines; one Instance of which may be seen§ 164.

§ 300. Ten Days after I had recovered a Woman out of a severe Cholic, the Pains returned violently in the Night. She, supposing them to arise only from Wind, hoped to appease them by drinking a deal of distilled Walnut Water; which, far from producing any such Effect, rendered them more outrageous. They soon were heightened to a surprising Degree, which might reasonably be expected. Being sent for very early in the Morning, I found her Pulse hard, quick, short; her Belly was tense and hard; she complained greatly of her Loins: her Urine was almost entirely stopt. She past but a few Drops, which felt as it were scalding hot, and these with excessive Pain. She went very frequently to the Close-stool, with scarcely any Effect; her Anguish, Heat, Thirst, and the Dryness of her Tongue were even terrifying: and her wretched State, the Effect of the strong hot Liquor she had taken, made me very apprehensive for her. One Bleeding, to the Quantity of fourteen Ounces, somewhat abated all the Pains; she took several Glysters, and drank off a few Pots ofOrgeatin a few Hours. By these Means the Disease was a little mitigated; by continuing the same Drink and the Glysters the Looseness abated; the Painof the Loins went off, and she passed a considerable Quantity of Urine, which proved turbid, and then let fall a Sediment, and the Patient recovered. Nevertheless I verily believe, if the Bleeding had been delayed two Hours longer, this spirituous Walnut Water would have been the Death of her. During the Progress of this violent Disease, no Food is to be allowed; and we should never be too inattentive to such Degrees of Pain, as sometimes remain after their Severity is over; lest aScirrhus, an inward hard Tumour, should be generated, which may occasion the most inveterate and tedious Maladies.

§ 301. An Inflammation of the Intestines, and one of the Stomach, may also terminate in an Abscess, like an Inflammation of any other Part; and it may be apprehended that one is forming, when, though the Violence of the Painsabates, there still remains a slow, obtuse, heavy Pain, with general Inquietude, little Appetite, frequent Shiverings; the Patient at the same Time not recovering any Strength. In such Cases the Patient should be allowed no other Drinks, but what are already directed in this Chapter, and some Soops made of Pulse, or other farinaceous Food.

The Breaking of the Abscess may sometimes be discovered by a slight Swoon or fainting Fit; attended with a perceivable Cessation of a Weight or Heaviness in the Part, where it was lately felt: and when thePus, or ripe Matter, is effused into the Gut, the Patient sometimes hasReachings to vomit, aVertigo, or Swimming in the Head, and the Matter appears in the next Stools. In this Case there remains an Ulcer within the Gut, which, if either neglected, or improperly treated, may pave the Way to a slow wasting Fever, and even to Death. Yet this I have cured by making the Patient live solely upon skimmed Milk, diluted with one third Part Water, and by giving every other Day a Glyster, consisting of equal Parts of Milk and Water, with the Addition of a little Honey.

When the Abscess breaks on the Outside of the Gut, and discharges its Contents into the Cavity of the Belly, it becomes a very miserable Case, and demands such further Assistance as cannot be particularized here.

Of the bilious Cholic.§ 302. The bilious Cholic discovers itself by very acute Pains, but is seldom accompanied with a Fever; at least not until it has lasted a Day or two. And even if there should be some Degree of a Fever, yet the Pulse, though quick, is neither strong nor hard: the Belly is neither tense or stretched as it were, nor burning hot, as in the former Cholic: the Urine comes away with more Ease, and is less high-coloured: Nevertheless the inward Heat and Thirst are considerable; the Mouth is bitter; the Vomiting or Purging, when either of them attend it, discharge ayellowish Humour or Excrement; and the Patient's Head is often vertiginous or dizzy.§ 303. The Method of curing this is,1, By injecting Glysters of Whey and Honey; or, if Whey is not readily procurable, by repeating the Glyster,Nº. 5.2, By making the Sick drink considerably of the same Whey, or of a Ptisan made of the Root of Dog's-Grass (the common Grass) and a little Juice of Lemon, for want of which, a little Vinegar and Honey may be substituted instead of it.753, By giving every Hour one Cup of the MedicineNº. 32; or where this is not to be had, half a Drachm of Cream of Tartar at the same short Intervals.4, Fomentations of warm Water and Half-baths are also very proper.5, If the Pains are sharp and violent, in a robust strong Person, and the Pulse is strong and tense, Bleeding should be used to prevent an Inflammation.6, No other Nourishment should be given, except some maigre Soops, made from Vegetables, and particularly of Sorrel.7, After plentiful Dilution with the proper Drink, if no Fever supervenes; if the Pains still continue, and the Patient discharges but little by Stool, he should take a moderate Purge. That directedNº. 47is a very proper one.§ 304. This bilious Cholic is habitual to many Persons; and may be prevented or greatly mitigated by an habitual Use of the PowderNº. 24; by submitting to a moderate Retrenchment in the Article of Flesh-meat; and by avoiding heating and greasy Food, and the Use of Milk.

§ 302. The bilious Cholic discovers itself by very acute Pains, but is seldom accompanied with a Fever; at least not until it has lasted a Day or two. And even if there should be some Degree of a Fever, yet the Pulse, though quick, is neither strong nor hard: the Belly is neither tense or stretched as it were, nor burning hot, as in the former Cholic: the Urine comes away with more Ease, and is less high-coloured: Nevertheless the inward Heat and Thirst are considerable; the Mouth is bitter; the Vomiting or Purging, when either of them attend it, discharge ayellowish Humour or Excrement; and the Patient's Head is often vertiginous or dizzy.

§ 303. The Method of curing this is,

1, By injecting Glysters of Whey and Honey; or, if Whey is not readily procurable, by repeating the Glyster,Nº. 5.

2, By making the Sick drink considerably of the same Whey, or of a Ptisan made of the Root of Dog's-Grass (the common Grass) and a little Juice of Lemon, for want of which, a little Vinegar and Honey may be substituted instead of it.75

3, By giving every Hour one Cup of the MedicineNº. 32; or where this is not to be had, half a Drachm of Cream of Tartar at the same short Intervals.

4, Fomentations of warm Water and Half-baths are also very proper.

5, If the Pains are sharp and violent, in a robust strong Person, and the Pulse is strong and tense, Bleeding should be used to prevent an Inflammation.

6, No other Nourishment should be given, except some maigre Soops, made from Vegetables, and particularly of Sorrel.

7, After plentiful Dilution with the proper Drink, if no Fever supervenes; if the Pains still continue, and the Patient discharges but little by Stool, he should take a moderate Purge. That directedNº. 47is a very proper one.

§ 304. This bilious Cholic is habitual to many Persons; and may be prevented or greatly mitigated by an habitual Use of the PowderNº. 24; by submitting to a moderate Retrenchment in the Article of Flesh-meat; and by avoiding heating and greasy Food, and the Use of Milk.

Of Cholics from Indigestions, and of Indigestion.§ 305. Under this Appellation I comprehend all those Cholics, which are either owing to any overloading Quantity of Food taken at once; or to a Mass or Accumulation of Aliments formed by Degrees in such Stomachs, as digest but very imperfectly; or which result from noxious Mixtures of Aliment in the Stomach, such as that of Milk and Acids; or from Food either not wholesome in its self, or degenerated into an unwholesome Condition.This kind of Cholic may be known from any of these Causes having preceded it; by its Pains, which are accompanied with great Restlessness, and come on by Degrees, being less fixed than in the Cholics before treated of. These Cholics are also without any Fever, Heat or Thirst, but accompanied with a Giddiness of the Head, and Efforts to vomit, and rather with a pale, than a high-coloured Visage.§ 306. These Disorders, from these last Causes, are scarcely ever dangerous in themselves; but may be made such by injudicious Management, and doing more than is necessary or proper: asthe only Thing to be done is to promote the Discharges by warm Drinks. There are a considerable Variety of them, which seem equally good, such as warm Water, or even cold Water with a Toast, with the Addition either of a little Sugar, or a little Salt: a light Infusion of Chamomile, or of Elder-flowers, common Tea, or Baum, it imports little which, provided the Patient drink plentifully of them: in Consequence of which the offending Matter is discharged, either by vomiting, or a considerable purging; and the speedier and more in Quantity these Discharges are, the sooner the Patient is relieved.If the Belly is remarkably full and costive, Glysters of warm Water and Salt should be injected.The Expulsion of the obstructing Matter is also facilitated, by rubbing the Belly heartily with hot Cloths.Sometimes the Humours, or other retained Contents of the Belly, are more pernicious from their Quality, than their Quantity; and then the Malady may be dissipated without the former Discharges, by the irritating sharp Humour being diluted, or even drowned, as it were, in the Abundance of small watery Drinks. When the Pains invade first in the Stomach, they become less sharp, and the Patient feels less Inquietude, as soon as the Cause of the Pain has descended out of the Stomach into the Intestines, whose Sensations are something less acute than, or somewhat different from, those of the Stomach.It is often found that after these plentiful Discharges, and when the Pains are over, there remains a very disagreeable Taste in the Mouth, resembling the Savour of rotten Eggs. This may be removed by giving some Doses of the PowderNº. 24, and drinking largely of good Water:It is an essential Point in these Cases, to take no Food before a perfect Recovery.§ 307. Some have been absurd enough in them, to fly at once to some heating Cordial Confection, to Venice Treacle, Aniseed Water, Geneva, or red Wine to stop these Evacuations; but there cannot be a more fatal Practice: since these Evacuations are the only Thing which can cure the Complaint, and to stop them is to deprive the Person, who was in Danger of drowning, of the Plank which might save him. Nay should this Endeavour of stopping them unhappily succeed, the Patient is either thrown into a putrid Fever, or some chronical tedious Malady; unless Nature, much wiser than such a miserable Assistant, should prevail over the Obstacles opposed to her Recovery, and restore the obstructed Evacuations by her own Oeconomy, in the Space of a few Days.§ 308. Sometimes an Indigestion happens, with very little Pain or Cholic, but with violent Reachings to vomit, inexpressible Anguish, Faintings, and cold Sweats: and not seldom also the Malady begins, only with a very sudden and unexpected Fainting: the Patient immediately losesall his Senses, his Face is pale and wan: he has some Hickups rather than Reachings to vomit, which joined to the Smallness of his Pulse, to the Easiness of his respiring, or breathing, and to the Circumstance of his being attacked immediately, or very soon, after a Meal, makes this Disorder distinguishable from a real Apoplexy. Nevertheless, when it rises to this Height, with these terrible Symptoms, it sometimes kills in a few Hours. The first thing to be done is to throw up a sharp Glyster, in which Salt and Soap are to be dissolved; next to get down as much Salt and Water as he can swallow; and if that is ineffectual, the PowderNº. 34is to be dissolved in three Cups of Water; one half of which is to be given directly; and, if it does not operate in a Quarter of an Hour, the other half. Generally speaking the Patient's Sense begins to return, as soon as he begins to vomit.

§ 305. Under this Appellation I comprehend all those Cholics, which are either owing to any overloading Quantity of Food taken at once; or to a Mass or Accumulation of Aliments formed by Degrees in such Stomachs, as digest but very imperfectly; or which result from noxious Mixtures of Aliment in the Stomach, such as that of Milk and Acids; or from Food either not wholesome in its self, or degenerated into an unwholesome Condition.

This kind of Cholic may be known from any of these Causes having preceded it; by its Pains, which are accompanied with great Restlessness, and come on by Degrees, being less fixed than in the Cholics before treated of. These Cholics are also without any Fever, Heat or Thirst, but accompanied with a Giddiness of the Head, and Efforts to vomit, and rather with a pale, than a high-coloured Visage.

§ 306. These Disorders, from these last Causes, are scarcely ever dangerous in themselves; but may be made such by injudicious Management, and doing more than is necessary or proper: asthe only Thing to be done is to promote the Discharges by warm Drinks. There are a considerable Variety of them, which seem equally good, such as warm Water, or even cold Water with a Toast, with the Addition either of a little Sugar, or a little Salt: a light Infusion of Chamomile, or of Elder-flowers, common Tea, or Baum, it imports little which, provided the Patient drink plentifully of them: in Consequence of which the offending Matter is discharged, either by vomiting, or a considerable purging; and the speedier and more in Quantity these Discharges are, the sooner the Patient is relieved.

If the Belly is remarkably full and costive, Glysters of warm Water and Salt should be injected.

The Expulsion of the obstructing Matter is also facilitated, by rubbing the Belly heartily with hot Cloths.

Sometimes the Humours, or other retained Contents of the Belly, are more pernicious from their Quality, than their Quantity; and then the Malady may be dissipated without the former Discharges, by the irritating sharp Humour being diluted, or even drowned, as it were, in the Abundance of small watery Drinks. When the Pains invade first in the Stomach, they become less sharp, and the Patient feels less Inquietude, as soon as the Cause of the Pain has descended out of the Stomach into the Intestines, whose Sensations are something less acute than, or somewhat different from, those of the Stomach.

It is often found that after these plentiful Discharges, and when the Pains are over, there remains a very disagreeable Taste in the Mouth, resembling the Savour of rotten Eggs. This may be removed by giving some Doses of the PowderNº. 24, and drinking largely of good Water:

It is an essential Point in these Cases, to take no Food before a perfect Recovery.

§ 307. Some have been absurd enough in them, to fly at once to some heating Cordial Confection, to Venice Treacle, Aniseed Water, Geneva, or red Wine to stop these Evacuations; but there cannot be a more fatal Practice: since these Evacuations are the only Thing which can cure the Complaint, and to stop them is to deprive the Person, who was in Danger of drowning, of the Plank which might save him. Nay should this Endeavour of stopping them unhappily succeed, the Patient is either thrown into a putrid Fever, or some chronical tedious Malady; unless Nature, much wiser than such a miserable Assistant, should prevail over the Obstacles opposed to her Recovery, and restore the obstructed Evacuations by her own Oeconomy, in the Space of a few Days.

§ 308. Sometimes an Indigestion happens, with very little Pain or Cholic, but with violent Reachings to vomit, inexpressible Anguish, Faintings, and cold Sweats: and not seldom also the Malady begins, only with a very sudden and unexpected Fainting: the Patient immediately losesall his Senses, his Face is pale and wan: he has some Hickups rather than Reachings to vomit, which joined to the Smallness of his Pulse, to the Easiness of his respiring, or breathing, and to the Circumstance of his being attacked immediately, or very soon, after a Meal, makes this Disorder distinguishable from a real Apoplexy. Nevertheless, when it rises to this Height, with these terrible Symptoms, it sometimes kills in a few Hours. The first thing to be done is to throw up a sharp Glyster, in which Salt and Soap are to be dissolved; next to get down as much Salt and Water as he can swallow; and if that is ineffectual, the PowderNº. 34is to be dissolved in three Cups of Water; one half of which is to be given directly; and, if it does not operate in a Quarter of an Hour, the other half. Generally speaking the Patient's Sense begins to return, as soon as he begins to vomit.

Of the flatulent or windy Cholic.§ 309. Every Particular which constitutes our Food, whether solid or liquid, contains much Air, but some of them more than others. If they do not digest soon enough, or but badly, which occasions a sensible Escape of such Air; if they are such as contain an extraordinary Quantity of Air; or if the Guts being straitened or compressed any where in the Course of their Extent, prevent that Air from being equally diffused (which must occasion a greater Proportionof it in some Places) then the Stomach and the Guts are distended by this Wind; and this Distention occasions these Pains, which are called flatulent, or windy.This Sort of Cholic rarely appears alone and simple; but is often complicated with, or added, as it were, to the other Sorts, of which it is a Consequence; and is more especially joined with the Cholic from Indigestions, whose Symptoms it multiplies and heightens. It may be known, like that, by the Causes which have preceded it, by its not being accompanied either with Fever, Heat, or Thirst; the Belly's being large and full, though without Hardness, being unequal in its Largeness, which prevails more in one Part of it than in another, forming something like Pockets of Wind, sometimes in one Part, sometimes in another; and by the Patient's feeling some Ease merely from the rubbing of his Belly, as it moves the Wind about; which escaping either upwards or downwards affords him still a greater Relief.§ 310. When it is combined with any different Species of the Cholic, it requires no distinct Treatment from that Species; and it is removed or dissipated by the Medicines which cure the principal Disease.Sometimes however it does happen to exist alone, and then it depends on the Windiness of the solid and liquid Food of the Person affected with it, such as theMustor new Wine, Beer, especially very new Beer, certain Fruits andGarden-stuff. It may be cured by a Glyster; by chaffing the Belly with hot Cloths; by the Use of Drink moderately spiced; and especially by Camomile Tea, to which a little cordial Confection, or even Venice Treacle, may be added. When the Pains are almost entirely vanished, and there is no Fever, nor any unhealthy Degree of Heat; and if the Patient is sensible of a Weakness at Stomach, he may take a little aromatic, or spiced Wine, or even a small cordial stomachic Dram. It should be observed, that these are not to be allowed in any other Kind of Cholic.§ 311. When any Person is frequently subject to cholic-like Pains, it is a Proof that the digestive Faculty is impaired; the restoring of which should be carefully attended to; without which the Health of the Patient must suffer considerably, and he must be very likely to contract many tedious and troublesome Disorders.

§ 309. Every Particular which constitutes our Food, whether solid or liquid, contains much Air, but some of them more than others. If they do not digest soon enough, or but badly, which occasions a sensible Escape of such Air; if they are such as contain an extraordinary Quantity of Air; or if the Guts being straitened or compressed any where in the Course of their Extent, prevent that Air from being equally diffused (which must occasion a greater Proportionof it in some Places) then the Stomach and the Guts are distended by this Wind; and this Distention occasions these Pains, which are called flatulent, or windy.

This Sort of Cholic rarely appears alone and simple; but is often complicated with, or added, as it were, to the other Sorts, of which it is a Consequence; and is more especially joined with the Cholic from Indigestions, whose Symptoms it multiplies and heightens. It may be known, like that, by the Causes which have preceded it, by its not being accompanied either with Fever, Heat, or Thirst; the Belly's being large and full, though without Hardness, being unequal in its Largeness, which prevails more in one Part of it than in another, forming something like Pockets of Wind, sometimes in one Part, sometimes in another; and by the Patient's feeling some Ease merely from the rubbing of his Belly, as it moves the Wind about; which escaping either upwards or downwards affords him still a greater Relief.

§ 310. When it is combined with any different Species of the Cholic, it requires no distinct Treatment from that Species; and it is removed or dissipated by the Medicines which cure the principal Disease.

Sometimes however it does happen to exist alone, and then it depends on the Windiness of the solid and liquid Food of the Person affected with it, such as theMustor new Wine, Beer, especially very new Beer, certain Fruits andGarden-stuff. It may be cured by a Glyster; by chaffing the Belly with hot Cloths; by the Use of Drink moderately spiced; and especially by Camomile Tea, to which a little cordial Confection, or even Venice Treacle, may be added. When the Pains are almost entirely vanished, and there is no Fever, nor any unhealthy Degree of Heat; and if the Patient is sensible of a Weakness at Stomach, he may take a little aromatic, or spiced Wine, or even a small cordial stomachic Dram. It should be observed, that these are not to be allowed in any other Kind of Cholic.

§ 311. When any Person is frequently subject to cholic-like Pains, it is a Proof that the digestive Faculty is impaired; the restoring of which should be carefully attended to; without which the Health of the Patient must suffer considerably, and he must be very likely to contract many tedious and troublesome Disorders.

Of Cholics from Cold.§ 312. When any Person has been very cold, and especially in his Feet, it is not uncommon for him to be attacked, within a few Hours after it, with violent Cholic Pains, in which heating and spirituous Medicines are very pernicious: but which are easily cured by rubbing the Legs well with hot Cloths; and keeping them afterwards for a considerable Time in warm Water; advising them at the same Time to drink freely of a light Infusion of Chamomile or Elder-flowers.The Cure will be effected the sooner, if the Patient is put to Bed and sweats a little, especially in the Legs and Feet.A Woman who had put her Legs into a pretty cool Spring, after travelling in the Height of Summer, was very quickly after attacked with a most violent Cholic. She took different hot Medicines; she became still worse; she was purged, but the Distemper was still further aggravated. I was called in on the third Day, a few Hours before her Decease.In such Cases, if the Pain be excessive, it may be necessary to bleed;76to give a Glyster of warm Water; to keep the Legs several Hours over the Steam of hot Water, and afterwards in the Water; to drink plentifully of an Infusion of the Flowers of the Lime-tree, with a little Milk; and if the Distemper is not subdued by these Means, Blisters should be applied to the Legs, which I have known to be highly efficacious.§ 313. It appears, through the Course of this Chapter, that it is necessary to be extremely on our Guard, against permitting the Use of heating and spirituous Medicines in Cholics, as they may not only aggravate, but even render them mortal.In short they should never be given, and when it is difficult to discover the real Cause of the Cholic, I advise Country People to confine themselves to the three following Remedies, which cannot be hurtful in any Sort of Cholic, and may remove as many as are not of a violent Nature. First then, let Glysters be frequently repeated. 2, Let the Patient drink warm Water plentifully, or Elder Tea. 3, Let the Belly be often fomented in pretty warm Water, which is the most preferable Fomentation of any.§ 314I have said nothing here of the Use of any Oils in this Disease, as they agree but in very few Species of Cholics, and not at all in those of which I have been treating. For this Reason I advise a total Disuse of them, since they may be of bad Consequence in many Respects.§ 315. Chronical Diseases not coming within the Plan of this Work, I purposely forbear treating of any Kind of those tedious Cholics, which afflict some People for many Years: but I think it my Duty to admonish such, that their Torments being very generally occasioned by Obstructions in theViscera, or different Bowels of the Belly, or by some other Fault, and more particularly in those Organs, which are intended to prepare the Bile, they should, 1, avoid with the greatest Care, the Use of sharp, hot, violent Medicines, Vomits, strong Purges, Elixirs,&c.2, They should be thoroughly on their Guard against all those, who promise them a very speedy Cure, by the Assistance of some specific Remedy; andought to look upon them as Mountebanks, into whose Hands it is highly dangerous to trust themselves. 3, They should be persuaded, or rather convinced, that they can entertain no reasonable Hope of being cured, without an exact Conformity to a proper and judicious Regimen, and a long Perseverance in a Course of mild and safe Remedies. 4, They should continually reflect with themselves, that there is little Difficulty in doing them great Mischief; and that their Complaints are of that Sort, which require the greatest Knowledge and Prudence in those Persons, to whom the Treatment and Cure of them are confided.

§ 312. When any Person has been very cold, and especially in his Feet, it is not uncommon for him to be attacked, within a few Hours after it, with violent Cholic Pains, in which heating and spirituous Medicines are very pernicious: but which are easily cured by rubbing the Legs well with hot Cloths; and keeping them afterwards for a considerable Time in warm Water; advising them at the same Time to drink freely of a light Infusion of Chamomile or Elder-flowers.

The Cure will be effected the sooner, if the Patient is put to Bed and sweats a little, especially in the Legs and Feet.

A Woman who had put her Legs into a pretty cool Spring, after travelling in the Height of Summer, was very quickly after attacked with a most violent Cholic. She took different hot Medicines; she became still worse; she was purged, but the Distemper was still further aggravated. I was called in on the third Day, a few Hours before her Decease.

In such Cases, if the Pain be excessive, it may be necessary to bleed;76to give a Glyster of warm Water; to keep the Legs several Hours over the Steam of hot Water, and afterwards in the Water; to drink plentifully of an Infusion of the Flowers of the Lime-tree, with a little Milk; and if the Distemper is not subdued by these Means, Blisters should be applied to the Legs, which I have known to be highly efficacious.

§ 313. It appears, through the Course of this Chapter, that it is necessary to be extremely on our Guard, against permitting the Use of heating and spirituous Medicines in Cholics, as they may not only aggravate, but even render them mortal.In short they should never be given, and when it is difficult to discover the real Cause of the Cholic, I advise Country People to confine themselves to the three following Remedies, which cannot be hurtful in any Sort of Cholic, and may remove as many as are not of a violent Nature. First then, let Glysters be frequently repeated. 2, Let the Patient drink warm Water plentifully, or Elder Tea. 3, Let the Belly be often fomented in pretty warm Water, which is the most preferable Fomentation of any.

§ 314I have said nothing here of the Use of any Oils in this Disease, as they agree but in very few Species of Cholics, and not at all in those of which I have been treating. For this Reason I advise a total Disuse of them, since they may be of bad Consequence in many Respects.

§ 315. Chronical Diseases not coming within the Plan of this Work, I purposely forbear treating of any Kind of those tedious Cholics, which afflict some People for many Years: but I think it my Duty to admonish such, that their Torments being very generally occasioned by Obstructions in theViscera, or different Bowels of the Belly, or by some other Fault, and more particularly in those Organs, which are intended to prepare the Bile, they should, 1, avoid with the greatest Care, the Use of sharp, hot, violent Medicines, Vomits, strong Purges, Elixirs,&c.2, They should be thoroughly on their Guard against all those, who promise them a very speedy Cure, by the Assistance of some specific Remedy; andought to look upon them as Mountebanks, into whose Hands it is highly dangerous to trust themselves. 3, They should be persuaded, or rather convinced, that they can entertain no reasonable Hope of being cured, without an exact Conformity to a proper and judicious Regimen, and a long Perseverance in a Course of mild and safe Remedies. 4, They should continually reflect with themselves, that there is little Difficulty in doing them great Mischief; and that their Complaints are of that Sort, which require the greatest Knowledge and Prudence in those Persons, to whom the Treatment and Cure of them are confided.

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