M. M. Cool air. A small blister on the back. Bark. Wine. Opium in small
repeated quantities. Soap neutralizes the gastric acid without
effervescence, and thus relieves the pain of cardialgia, where the stomach
is affected. Milk also destroys a part of this acid. Infusion of sage
leaves two ounces, almond soap from five grains to ten, with sugar and
cream, is generally both agreeable and useful to these patients. See I. 2.
4. 5.

Where the stomach may be supposed to be excoriated by poisons containing
acid, as sublimate of mercury or arsenic; or if it be otherwise inflamed,
or very sensible to the stimulus of the gastric acid; or where it abounds
with acid of any kind, as in cardialgia; the exhibition of soap is perhaps
a preferable manner of giving alcali than any other, as it decomposes in
the stomach without effervescence; while the caustic alcali is too acrid to
be administered in such cases, and the mild alcali produces carbonic gas.
If a drop of acid of vitriol be put on cap paper, it will be long before it
destroys the paper; but if a drop of mild alcali be added, a sudden
effervescence arises, and the paper is instantly destroyed by the escape of
the fixed air; in the same manner as lumps of solid lime are broken into
powder by the escape of the steam produced from the water, which is poured
on them. This shews why a succession of acid and of alcaline caustics
sooner destroys a part, than either of them applied separately.

18. _Dysenteria._ Bloody-flux is attended with sensitive fever generally
with arterial debility; with frequent mucous or bloody stools; which
contain contagious matter produced by the membranes of the intestines; the
alimentary excrement being nevertheless retained; with griping pains and
tenesmus.

M. M. Emetics. Antimonials. Peruvian bark. Opium and calomel of each a
grain every night. Bolus armeniae. Earth of alum. Chalk. Calcined
hartshorn. Mucilage. Bee's wax mixt with yolk of egg. Cerated glass of
antimony. Warm bath. Flannel clothing next to the skin. Large clysters with
opium. With ipecacuanha, with smoke of tobacco? Two dysenteric patients in
the same ward of the infirmary at Edinburgh quarrelled, and whipped each
other with horsewhips a long time, and were both much better after it,
owing perhaps to the exertion of so much of the sensorial power of
volition; which, like real insanity, added excitement to the whole system.

The prevention of this contagion must consist principall