wards night.

The stimulus of this small quantity of opium on a patient previously so
much debilitated, acts by increasing the exertion of the absorbent vessels,
in the same manner as a solution of opium, or any other stimulant, put on
an inflamed eye after the vessels are previously emptied by evacuations,
stimulates the absorbent system, so as to cause the remaining new vessels
to be immediately reabsorbed. Which same stimulants would have increased
the inflammation, if they had been applied before the evacuations. See
Class II. 1. 2. 2. Sect. XXXIII. 3. 1. When the sanguiferous system is full
of blood, the absorbents cannot act so powerfully, as the progress of their
contents is opposed by the previous fulness of the blood-vessels; whence
stimulants in that case increase the action of the secerning system more
than of the absorbent one; but after copious evacuation this resistance to
the progress of the absorbed fluids is removed; and when stimulants are
then applied, they increase the action of the absorbent system more than
that of the secerning one. Hence opium given in the commencement of
inflammatory diseases destroys the patient; and cures them, if given in
very small doses at the end of inflammatory diseases.

7. _Carditis._ Inflammation of the heart is attended with unequal
intermitting pulse, palpitation, pain in the middle of the sternum, and
constant vomiting. It cannot certainly be distinguished from peripneumony,
and is perhaps always combined with it.

8. _Peritonitis._ Inflammation of the peritonaeum is known by pain all over
the abdomen, which is increased on erecting the body. It has probably most
frequently a rheumatic origin. See Class II. 1. 2. 17.

9. _Mesenteritis._ Inflammation of the mesentery is attended with pains
like colic, and with curdled or chyle-like stools. It is a very frequent
and dangerous disease, as the production of matter more readily takes place
in it than in any other viscus. The consequence of which, after a hard
labour, is probably the puerperal fever, and in scrophulous habits a fatal
purulent fever, or hopeless consumption.

M. M. Venesection. Warm bath. Emollient clysters.

10. _Gastritis._ In inflammation of the stomach the pulse is generally
soft, probably occasioned by the sickness which attends it. The pain and
heat of the stomach is increased by whatever is swallowed, with immediate
rejection of it. Hiccough.

This disease may be occasioned by acrid or indiges