Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 1, 1802).djvu/109

APP - quenfly from an immoderate quan- tity, than the improper quality, of food j or it may he occasioned by the sympathy of other diseased parts, such as the liver, bowels, uterus, &c. 5 or by intestinal worms, obstructions of the mesentery, and many other causes. Hence it will be understood, that there can be no specific remedy suggested to remove the complaint ; but that the treat- ment must be regulated by the na- ture of the case, and the constitu- tion of the patient. In general, however, the following hints de- serve attention. When the stomach loathes wholesome food, and is troubled with habitual flatulency, and eructations of a bitter, rancid, or saline taste, it should be previ- ously ascertained, whether an eme- tic be proper, or necessary, to eva- cuate its foul contents. Yet to determine this point, requires a <legree of skill and experience "which few persons in common life ' possess : on the cither hand, the administration of a simple emetic may be attended with serious con- sequences. For this reason, we would previously recommend a change of air and diet ; early rising in the morning; gentle exercise; abstinence from all hot drinks, par- ticularly tea, punch, and hot broths, fat or hard meat, spirituous liquors, tobacco, &c'i ; to avoid the influence of depressing passions, such as ex- cessive grief, fear and anxiety ; and if this treatment, after having been rigorously pursued for several days or weeks, produce no change in the appetite, then to have re- course to gentle emetics, or rather to the operation of nauseating me- dicines. According to our expe- rience, the powder of ipecacuanha, in the smallest doses of a quarter 01 sixth part of a grain, in a little APP [85 cold water, repeated every ten mi- nutes for two or three hours to- gether, before breakfast, stands eminently recommended in disor- ders of this nature, and has seldom failed to be of sen-ice to phlegma- tic or corpulent individuals, when continued for several mornings. But if there appear to be great fulness of the stomach, or bowels, attended with the symptoms before described, it will sometimes be necessary to give such an emetic as may, according to circumstances, at the same time relieve the bowels. A mixture of two parts of ipecacuanha wine, and one part of antimonial wine taken in single tea-spoonfuls every quar- ter of an hour, without any farther drink till it begins to operate, gene- rally produces the desired etfect. After the stomach and bowels have, by such, or similar means, been evacuated, it will be useful t» strengthen the tone of the fibres, by drinking small draughts of cold chamomile-tea, or an infusion of quassia, or simple toast and water well prepared, which last may be justly considered as one of the mildest and most grateful corro- borants. An insatiable appetite may arise from too great a distension of the 6tomach in early infancy ; from an over-abundant secretion of the gas- tric or digestive liquor ; from drinking large quantities of stimu- lating acid beverage, such as cyder, perry, butter-milk, &0. but Espe- cially from a bad habit of fasi cat- in?, without properly masticating hard substances. Hence the first maxim in diet should be, to eat slowly, in order to prevent a sudden distension of the digestive organs, and to allow sufficient time for the food to be duly prepared, and gra- dually mixed with the gastric G 3 juice.