SECT. IV.
Of Diseases of the Bowels, and the Alimentary Canal
Diseases of mankind under this head are very numerous indeed; which are for the most part owing to their deviating too much from the common path of nature. But besides all this, seamen are particularly liable; not so much indeed on account of luxury as the confined diet, and the different climates they visit.
I shall in this be as concise as the subject will admit of, and confine myself to such diseases as occur most commonly; and by which others that are here omitted, may be understood.
Of a Depraved Appetite.
There is nothing that people in general are more apt to fly to, when appetite fails them, than bitters; but if we consider what bitters really are, and by what means they act in the alimentary canal, we shall find them, either only to stimulate the coat of the stomach, or else add to the strength of the bile.
But generally the default of a bad appetite is a pituitous slime in the stomach, that prevents this viscera from performing its part towards assimilation; and therefore we generally find that such stimulants only spur it on for a little while longer, till at length it loses its tone, so as to be wholly unable to prepare the food for a good nutrition; or else the stomach becomes so used to these forcing stimulants, as not to be able to do without them.
But this is not all; for in bilious complaints, when the stomach is most disordered, bitters never fail of making evil worse. The stomach is a delicate viscera, and should ever be the most cautiously dealt with. Whatever part of the human body is in exquisite pain, the stomach from the nervous consent always partakes, and is apt to be depraved in its functions; whence a nausea is liable to ensue; and in such a case any stimulants, particularly where bitters are concerned, is ever of evil tendency.
In general however, a vomit is what nature points out; and which gives not only relief to the stomach, but assists in giving a general effort to the whole animal fabric. In short, there are so very few cases where bitters are of any benefit at all, except where the stomach has injuriously been used to those stimulants, that I have entirely exploded them from my catalogue; being persuaded that every body will do better without them.
When the stomach loaths victuals, the mouth is slimy, has a bitterish taste, and attended with sour belching, and the victuals siting heavy on the stomach, nothing is preferable to a vomit.
This I know has also been carried into abuse, as well as many other good medicines.——Yet that should be no rule; for if a vomit is properly and timely given, it will ever be attended with success. Take here the following direction for a foul stomach.
First take a vomit, and work it well off with bare luke warm water; then take every night, or when going to rest, a dose of stomach powder (M). If the stomach seems very weak, add a few drops of the essential oil of peppermint (U), which will soon convince you of the good effects.
If you require a stimulant in the morning, take Turlington’s balsam (W), about a tea spoonful in a glass of wine, previously put on a lump of sugar, that it may the better incorporate: which is a good stomachic, and ever preferable to the customary bitters.
Dram drinking is another pernicious custom, whereby many have been sent to eternity long before the period of life prescribed by nature; and of which I would advise every man, who has the least regard for his health, to beware, as of a deadly poison.
On the whole, the want of appetite is what many complain of without reason. Some fancy themselves very bad, because they cannot eat their breakfast; those I would advise to stay till dinner time; others again have no appetite for their dinner, unless they wet their stomach with a glass of Stoughton, or some other bitters: Those should eat nothing in the morning, or else stay till supper time.——In short, nature should be consulted, both in the state of health, as well as in diseases, and her salutary dictates should be followed.
The custom of seasoning victuals with strong stimulating condiments is often prejudicial, and nothing should be used with more moderation; for though it may warm and stimulate the stomach, yet, it frequently gives cause to great weaknesses, and generally are the primitive causes of chronic distempers; as it hurries on the chylefaction, and thence is apt to feed the blood with many acrimonious humours.
This little dissertation on depraved appetite I hope will suffice, and doubt not if attended to, that health and longevity will become the intimate acquaintances of the man who wishes to enjoy their blessings.
Of the Colic.
If we consider the length of the ailmentary canal from the mouth to the anus, namely six times the length of the subject they belong to; and if we consider the delicacy of its substance, as also, the office for which it is ordained; we shall not at all wonder, that so many disorders are incident to mankind in that part.
The colic however is the general term for various painful sensations in the intestines; though the causes as well as the seat, and the manner of its affecting the system, is materially different.
The general cause however, is a stimulant, which irritating the inner coat of the intestines to constriction; and whence a spasmodic contraction, and a perverted peristaltic motion is produced.
If the stomach is affected with the pain of the colic, so that a nausea and reaching attends, or has been previously felt, a vomit is the first, and most expedient method to be had recourse to; for by this, not only the crudities in the stomach gets disburdened, but from the joint action on the internal canal, a stool or two is generally produced, by which frequently the offending acrimony is carried off.
When however this avails not sufficiently, and the pain rather increases, particularly if the body at the same time is costive, recourse should be had to clysters; for purges in this case, do not operate speedily enough, and in cases of costiveness, is not always safe. The clyster No. [XXIII]. may be of great benefit, and if necessity requires it, occasionally repeated.
But more frequently, it is from a nervous affection, and then carminatives prove the most effectual; in such cases give the following,
No. XLII
Take essential oil of peppermint (U), six drops on a lump of sugar; elixir proprietatis (H), five large tea spoonfuls; wine or water, half a tea cupful.
Let the patient take this immediately; a little Turlington’s balsam (W) about a tea spoonful, also is very beneficial. If the pain still continues violent; let ten or twelve drops of liquid laudanum (T), be added. Clysters should not be neglected, but plentifully administered; the same medicines as is given to the patient, may also be added to the clyster.
The dry belly-ach, is a spasmodic contraction of the intestines, and throws the patient into the greatest misery imaginable; clysters is the only recourse and anodynes, together with gentle mercurials will likewise prove beneficial; warm clothes and something that can retain the warmth should constantly be put to the bowels; and in great extremities, cold foot baths have often given immediate relief.
The bilious cholic is of a dangerous tendency, and always attended with the bilious belching and vomiting of bile. In this case vomits is the only method to be used with safety; and if properly continued, as long as the bile is brought up, will never fail of success. But bleeding in bilious complaints is ever pernicious. If a fever attends, method must be used accordingly.
Of Looseness, and the Bloody Flux.
A Cholic is often the forerunner of a looseness, and if the looseness is not too violent very often is salutary, and carries off many kind of disorders in the body. But if a looseness continues after twenty-four hours, it is time something should be done, in order to prevent a bloody flux.
If the flux is attended with a nausea at the stomach, and an inclination to vomit, give without delay the following draught:
No. XLIII
Take rhubarb (O) one scruple; ipecacuanha, ten grains; stomach powder (M) fifteen grains; calomel (N) three grains; mix them and make it into a draught or bolus, with sugar and water.
This probably will vomit a few times, and then occasion a few stools; but as the rhubarb has an astringency as well as cathartic quality, it will in general, after the purging has gently carried off the acrimony, act as an astringent; particularly if after the above draught, the following paragoric is taken.
No. XLIV
Take oil of peppermint (U) four drops upon a lump of sugar; liquid laudanum (T) eight drops; sweet spirits of nitre (D) twenty drops; mixt in a glass of wine.
But if the patient still continues after these medicines, with great griping, a succession of stools, together with a tenesmus, (that is a perpetual inclination to go to stool) then give the following:
No. XLV
Take rhubarb (O) ten grains; stomachic powder (M) fifteen grains; essential oil of peppermint (U) three drops; calomel (N) one grain; and make it into a bolus or draught.
Let the patient take this every six hours, for the first two days. If the stools are bloody, slimy, and attended with great pain; recourse must immediately be had to clysters, such as No. [XXXVII], [XXXVIII], [XXXIX]. mentioned in the quincey; for the more nourishing they can be made the better; as thereby they will lubricate the bowels, and strengthen them. In the mean time the white decoction should be used as a constant drink, which make as follows:
No. XLVI
Take chalk (18) pounded small, three ounces; cinamon (16) bruised, two drachms; boil them in two quarts of water for one hour, and strain off the decoction.
Of this let the patient drink for his constant drink; a few drops of oil of peppermint may be dropped upon a lump of sugar, and dissolved in it.
The same decoction may also be given as a clyster when the flux is very violent. After the two first days the rhubarb should be given but sparingly; for if the flux is bloody, we may justly suppose the intestines are in a state of inflammation, and even ulceration. In such extremity, a little calomel mixed with the clyster, as also liquid laudanum, will not only correct the acrimony, but give ease to the emaciated stamina of the intestines.
By this treatment the most inveterate bloody flux may be subdued, especially with the help of patience, cautious diet, and cleanliness.