Chapter XXIII.

Chapter XXIII.Of a Diarrhœa, or Looseness.Sect.325.Every one knows what is meant by a Looseness or Purging, which the Populace frequently call a Flux, and sometimes a Cholic.There are certain very chronical, or tedious and obstinate ones, which arise from some essential Fault in the Constitution. Of such, as foreign to my Plan, I shall say nothing.Those which come on suddenly, without any preceding Disorder, except sometimes a slight Qualm or short Loathing, and a Pain in the Loins and Knees; which are not attended with smart Pains nor a Fever (and frequently without any Pain, or any other Complaint) are oftener of Service than prejudicial. They carry off a Heap of Matter that may have been long amassed and corrupted in the Body; which, if not discharged, might have produced some Distemper; and, far from weakening the Body, such Purgings as these render it more strong, light and active.§ 326. Such therefore ought by no Means to be stopped, nor even speedily checked: they generally cease of themselves, as soon as all the noxious Matter is discharged; and as they require no Medicine, it is only necessary to retrench considerably from the ordinary Quantity of Nourishment; to abstain from Flesh, Eggs and Wine or other strong Drink; to live only on some Soups, on Pulse, or on a little Fruit, whether raw or baked, and to drink rather less than usual. A simple Ptisan with a little Syrup ofCapillaire, or Maiden-hair, is sufficient in these Purgings, which require no Venice Treacle, Confection, nor any Drug whatever.§ 327. But should it continue more than five or six Days, and manifestly weaken the Patient; if the Pain attending it grows a little severe; and especially if the Irritation, the urging to Stool, proves more frequent, it becomes seasonable to check, or to stop, it. For this Purpose the Patient is to be put into a Regimen; and if the Looseness has been accompanied with a great Loathing, with Risings or Wamblings at Stomach, with a foul furred Tongue, and a bad Taste in the Mouth, he must take the PowderNº. 35. But if these Symptoms do not appear, give him that ofNº. 51: and during the three following Hours, let him take, every half Hour, a Cup of weak light Broth, without any Fat on it.If the Purging, after being restrained by this Medicine, should return within a few Days, itwould strongly infer, there was still some tough viscid Matter within, that required Evacuation. To effect this he should take the MedicinesNº. 21,25or27; and afterwards take fasting, for two successive Mornings, half the Powder,Nº. 51.On the Evening of that Day when the Patient tookNº. 35, orNº. 51, or any other Purge, he may take a small Dose of Venice Treacle.§ 328. A Purging is often neglected for a long Time, without observing the least Regimen, from which Neglect they degenerate into tedious and as it were habitual, perpetual ones, and entirely weaken the Patient. In such Cases, the MedicineNº. 35should be given first; then, every other Day for four Times successively, he should takeNº. 51: during all which Time he should live on nothing but Panada (See§ 57) or on Rice boiled in weak Chicken-broth. A strengthing stomachic Plaister has sometimes been successfully applied, which may be often moistened in a Decoction of Herbs boiled in Wine. Cold and Moisture should be carefully avoided in these Cases, which frequently occasion immediate Relapses, even after the Looseness had ceased for many Days.****

Chapter XXIII.Of a Diarrhœa, or Looseness.Sect.325.Every one knows what is meant by a Looseness or Purging, which the Populace frequently call a Flux, and sometimes a Cholic.There are certain very chronical, or tedious and obstinate ones, which arise from some essential Fault in the Constitution. Of such, as foreign to my Plan, I shall say nothing.Those which come on suddenly, without any preceding Disorder, except sometimes a slight Qualm or short Loathing, and a Pain in the Loins and Knees; which are not attended with smart Pains nor a Fever (and frequently without any Pain, or any other Complaint) are oftener of Service than prejudicial. They carry off a Heap of Matter that may have been long amassed and corrupted in the Body; which, if not discharged, might have produced some Distemper; and, far from weakening the Body, such Purgings as these render it more strong, light and active.§ 326. Such therefore ought by no Means to be stopped, nor even speedily checked: they generally cease of themselves, as soon as all the noxious Matter is discharged; and as they require no Medicine, it is only necessary to retrench considerably from the ordinary Quantity of Nourishment; to abstain from Flesh, Eggs and Wine or other strong Drink; to live only on some Soups, on Pulse, or on a little Fruit, whether raw or baked, and to drink rather less than usual. A simple Ptisan with a little Syrup ofCapillaire, or Maiden-hair, is sufficient in these Purgings, which require no Venice Treacle, Confection, nor any Drug whatever.§ 327. But should it continue more than five or six Days, and manifestly weaken the Patient; if the Pain attending it grows a little severe; and especially if the Irritation, the urging to Stool, proves more frequent, it becomes seasonable to check, or to stop, it. For this Purpose the Patient is to be put into a Regimen; and if the Looseness has been accompanied with a great Loathing, with Risings or Wamblings at Stomach, with a foul furred Tongue, and a bad Taste in the Mouth, he must take the PowderNº. 35. But if these Symptoms do not appear, give him that ofNº. 51: and during the three following Hours, let him take, every half Hour, a Cup of weak light Broth, without any Fat on it.If the Purging, after being restrained by this Medicine, should return within a few Days, itwould strongly infer, there was still some tough viscid Matter within, that required Evacuation. To effect this he should take the MedicinesNº. 21,25or27; and afterwards take fasting, for two successive Mornings, half the Powder,Nº. 51.On the Evening of that Day when the Patient tookNº. 35, orNº. 51, or any other Purge, he may take a small Dose of Venice Treacle.§ 328. A Purging is often neglected for a long Time, without observing the least Regimen, from which Neglect they degenerate into tedious and as it were habitual, perpetual ones, and entirely weaken the Patient. In such Cases, the MedicineNº. 35should be given first; then, every other Day for four Times successively, he should takeNº. 51: during all which Time he should live on nothing but Panada (See§ 57) or on Rice boiled in weak Chicken-broth. A strengthing stomachic Plaister has sometimes been successfully applied, which may be often moistened in a Decoction of Herbs boiled in Wine. Cold and Moisture should be carefully avoided in these Cases, which frequently occasion immediate Relapses, even after the Looseness had ceased for many Days.****

Of a Diarrhœa, or Looseness.

Sect.325.

Sect.325.

Every one knows what is meant by a Looseness or Purging, which the Populace frequently call a Flux, and sometimes a Cholic.

There are certain very chronical, or tedious and obstinate ones, which arise from some essential Fault in the Constitution. Of such, as foreign to my Plan, I shall say nothing.

Those which come on suddenly, without any preceding Disorder, except sometimes a slight Qualm or short Loathing, and a Pain in the Loins and Knees; which are not attended with smart Pains nor a Fever (and frequently without any Pain, or any other Complaint) are oftener of Service than prejudicial. They carry off a Heap of Matter that may have been long amassed and corrupted in the Body; which, if not discharged, might have produced some Distemper; and, far from weakening the Body, such Purgings as these render it more strong, light and active.

§ 326. Such therefore ought by no Means to be stopped, nor even speedily checked: they generally cease of themselves, as soon as all the noxious Matter is discharged; and as they require no Medicine, it is only necessary to retrench considerably from the ordinary Quantity of Nourishment; to abstain from Flesh, Eggs and Wine or other strong Drink; to live only on some Soups, on Pulse, or on a little Fruit, whether raw or baked, and to drink rather less than usual. A simple Ptisan with a little Syrup ofCapillaire, or Maiden-hair, is sufficient in these Purgings, which require no Venice Treacle, Confection, nor any Drug whatever.

§ 327. But should it continue more than five or six Days, and manifestly weaken the Patient; if the Pain attending it grows a little severe; and especially if the Irritation, the urging to Stool, proves more frequent, it becomes seasonable to check, or to stop, it. For this Purpose the Patient is to be put into a Regimen; and if the Looseness has been accompanied with a great Loathing, with Risings or Wamblings at Stomach, with a foul furred Tongue, and a bad Taste in the Mouth, he must take the PowderNº. 35. But if these Symptoms do not appear, give him that ofNº. 51: and during the three following Hours, let him take, every half Hour, a Cup of weak light Broth, without any Fat on it.

If the Purging, after being restrained by this Medicine, should return within a few Days, itwould strongly infer, there was still some tough viscid Matter within, that required Evacuation. To effect this he should take the MedicinesNº. 21,25or27; and afterwards take fasting, for two successive Mornings, half the Powder,Nº. 51.

On the Evening of that Day when the Patient tookNº. 35, orNº. 51, or any other Purge, he may take a small Dose of Venice Treacle.

§ 328. A Purging is often neglected for a long Time, without observing the least Regimen, from which Neglect they degenerate into tedious and as it were habitual, perpetual ones, and entirely weaken the Patient. In such Cases, the MedicineNº. 35should be given first; then, every other Day for four Times successively, he should takeNº. 51: during all which Time he should live on nothing but Panada (See§ 57) or on Rice boiled in weak Chicken-broth. A strengthing stomachic Plaister has sometimes been successfully applied, which may be often moistened in a Decoction of Herbs boiled in Wine. Cold and Moisture should be carefully avoided in these Cases, which frequently occasion immediate Relapses, even after the Looseness had ceased for many Days.

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