. A flannel
shirt in winter, not in summer. A less quantity of potation of all kinds.
Ten black pepper-corns swallowed after dinner. Half a grain of opium twice
a day, or a grain. The food should consist of such things as do not easily
ferment, as flesh, shell-fish, sea-biscuit, toasted cheese. I have seen
toasted cheese brought up from the stomach 24 hours after it had been
swallowed, without apparently having undergone any chemical change. See
Class II. 1. 3. 17. and IV. 1. 2. 13.
6. _Arthritis Ventriculi._ Sickness of the stomach in gouty cases is
frequently a consequence of the torpor or inflammation of the liver, and
then it continues many days or weeks. But when the patient is seized with
great pain at the stomach with the sensation of coldness, which they have
called an ice-bolt, this is a primary affection of the stomach, and
destroys the patient in a few hours, owing to the torpor or inaction of
that viscus so important to life.
This primary gout of the stomach, as it is a torpor of that viscus, is
attended with sensation of coldness, and with real defect of heat, in that
part, and may thence be distinguished from the pain occasioned by the
passage of a gall-stone into the duodenum, as well as by the weak pulse,
and cold extremities; to which must be added, that it affects those only,
who have been long afflicted with the gout, and much debilitated by its
numerous attacks.
M. M. Opium. Vinous spirit. Volatile alcali. Spice. Warmth applied
externally to the stomach by hot cloths or fomentation.
7. _Colica flatulenta._ The flatulent colic arises from the too great
distention of the bowel by air, and consequent pain. The cause of this
disease is the inactivity or want of sufficiently powerful contraction of
the coats of the bowel, to carry forwards the gas given up by the
fermenting aliment. It is without fever, and generally attended with cold
extremities.
It is distinguished, first, from the pain occasioned by the passage of a
gall-stone, as that is felt at the pit of the stomach, and this nearer the
navel. Secondly, it is distinguished from the colica saturnina, or colic
from lead, as that arising from the torpor of the liver, or of some other
viscus, is attended with greater coldness, and with an aching pain; whereas
the flatulent cholic being owing to distention of the muscles of the bowel,
the pain is more acute, and the coldness less. Thirdly, it is distinguished
from inflammation of the bowels, o
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