Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 1, 1802).djvu/352

320] BO W The abdomen is pained on &ie slightest touch, and the body is ge- nerally costive; After taking any kind of nutriment, the patient is inclined to vomit ; but the princi- pal symptom, by which an inflam- matory state of the intestines may be distinguished from a mete Colic", is a peculiar fever, with a small, though hard pulse, while Ihe heat in the extremities of the body con- tinues almost the same as when in a state of health. The most fre- quent causes of this dangerous com- plaint are, acrid substances in the bowels ; crude and hardened feces ; confined ruptures 5 suppressed he- morrhages ; violent diarrhoeas and dysenteries; abortions, Skc. At their commencement, inflamma- tions are often confounded with other complaints ; and sometimes they terminate in a fatal mortifi- cation, though more frequently in suppuration. The degree of dan- ger may be ascertained by the in- creasing coldness of the extremities, and the more or less inveterate ob- stipations of the bowels. Hiccough, and vomiting of excrements, indi- cate the. approach of dissolution. If the inflammation be occasioned by a confined rupture, it sometimes may be reduced by fomentations with cold water and ice, or still more effectually by dropping and evaporating vitriolic set her on the protuberant part. Diluent and emollient liquids are of no service in this case, as they only contri- bute to distend the bowels ; and where the external application of cold has no effect, the patient must, without delay, submit to an opera- Suppressed hemorrhoids and ether natural fluxes, should be re- stored by applying leeches to the parts, and repeated warm foraen- B O W tatiofts. Diarrhoeas and dysenteries ought to be treated according to their causes ; and poison introduced into the stomach, should be reme- died according to the rules given under the head of Antidotls. When there is reason to suspect an inflammation, venesection will be necessary ; but the quantity of blood drawn must be regulated by the strength Of the patient, and die nature of the fever. The towels should be opened by emollient clys- ters ; or, if these prove inefleet uat, strong solutions of pot-ash, in vine- gar, ought, without delay, to be injected, and the abdomen rubbed with balsamic and antispasmodic embrocations, such as the campho- rated liniment, mixed with an equal quantity of honey ; or, in castes of extremity, the latter, dissolved m a strong decoction made of sage- leaves and vinegar. If these reme- dies produce no relief, the smoke of tobacco may be introduced by the rectum, and blisters applied to the abdomen. But, during the obstipation, no medicines should be used internal ly ; as stimulating the stomach and bowels cannot fail to increase the inflammation, and thus endanger the life of the patient. Diseases of the Bewcls in Hvrses. It is difficult to form a proper judg- ment respecting disorders of the stomach and bo vvels of these ani- mals. If a healthy horse, on taking cold after hard riding, See. should have a moderate purging, it Ought not to be stopped, but rather en- couraged with an opening diet and water gruel. But if it continues long, with gripings ; if the horse loses his appetite and flesh, and voids the mucus of the bowels, or other slimy matter, the following crench thould be given, add re- peated