nutriment than any of the dishes before mentioned; provided they agree with their digestive organs.
Suppuration. See Ulcer.
SURFEIT, in physiology, is an indisposition attended with nausea, and the sensation of a load at the stomach, which are generally occasioned by indolence, and excess in eating or drinking; though the disease sometimes arises from an error in the quality of the diet. During this affection, the insensible perspiration is impeded, and the skin is often covered with eruptions.
If a surfeit originate from the use of muscles, corrupted meat, or other unwholesome animal food, it will be advisable speedily to resort to an emetic; and, after its operation, to drink frequent and copious draughts of vegetable acids, diluted with water. But, in cases where excess in eating or drinking is the immediate cause of the complaint, the first passages ought to be evacuated by proper purgatives, and afterwards such medicines administered as tend to restore the obstructed perspiration, and at the same time promote the secretion of urine.
SURFEIT, in farriery, a disease chiefly incident to horses: it may be occasioned either by suffering them to drink immoderate portions of cold water, while they are in a profuse perspiration; or by neglecting them, when Hide-bound. In both cases, the whole mass of the fluids becomes tainted; the skin is affected with eruptions; and (as farriers express themselves), the body is filled with inflammatory crudities.
Such are the general symptoms indicating a surfeit, the mildness or malignity of which, depends on the age, habit, and constitution of the horse. With a view to remove the disease, a moderate quantity of blood should first be drawn, in order to accelerate its circulation: a few warm mashes should next be given, to open the body; and after them, two or three of the following purgatives, according to circumstances: Let one ounce of Barbadoes aloes; three drams of pulverized jalap; two drams of cream of tartar; and a similar portion of Castile soap, calomel, and ginger in powder; be mixed with syrup of buckthorn, sufficient to form them into a ball.—These medicines ought to be divided into three doses, administered at proper intervals; the diseased animal being carefully sheltered from the cold; and, on the third day after the last dose has been taken, Mr. Taplin recommends the following alteratives:—To half a pound of levigated antimony, and an equal portion of sulphur, let four ounces of each, cream of tartar, and Æthiop's mineral, be added; the ingredients be perfectly incorporated, and then divided into twelve parts, each consisting of two ounces: one dose should be given every night with the corn (the latter being previously sprinkled with water, so as to retain the powder), for a month; and, in case no advantage be perceptible, the dose must be increased to 212 oz. during the first week, and to three ounces in the second week. Throughout the whole course, two ounces of nitre ought to be given every morning, in a pailful of soft water. Should any scabs or execoriations appear on the surface of the body, they may be removed, by washing them with equal parts of soap-leys and lime-water.
SURGEON, or Chirurgeon,
