Aphtha sensitiva. A lady during pregnancy was frequently seized with ulcers on her tongue and cheeks, or other parts of the mouth, without much apparent fever; which continued two or three weeks, and returned almost every month. The thrush in the mouths of young children seems to be a similar disease. These ulcers resemble those produced in the sea-scurvy, and have probably for their cause an increased action of the secerning system from increased sensation, with a decreased action of the absorbent system from decreased irritation. See Class [I. 2. 1. 15].
M. M. Solutions of alum, of blue vitriol. Powder of bark taken frequently into the mouth in very small quantity. See Class [II. 1. 3. 1].
Aphtha irritata. Inflammatory aphtha. A case of this kind is related under the title of suppurative rheumatism. Class [IV. 1. 2. 16].
Aphtha inirritata. Sloughs or ulcers of the mouth, attended with sensitive fever with great arterial debility. They seem to spread downwards from the throat into the stomach, and probably through the whole intestinal canal, beginning their course with cardialgia, and terminating it with tenesmus; and might perhaps be called an erysipelas of this mucous membrane.
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 armeniæ. 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 principally in ventilation and cleanliness; hence the patients should be removed into cottages distant from each other, or into tents; and their fæces buried as soon as may be; or conveyed into a running stream; and themselves should be washed with cold or warm water after every evacuation. For the contagious matter consists in the mucous or purulent discharge from the membrane which lines the intestines; and not from the febrile perspiration, or breath of the patients. For the fever is only the consequence and not the cause of contagion; as appears from [Genus the Fifth] of this Order, where contagion exists without fever.
[19]. Gastritis superficialis. Superficial inflammation of the stomach. An erysipelatous inflammation of the stomach is mentioned by Dr. Cullen from his own observations; which is distinguished from the inflammatory gastritis by less pain, and fever, and by an erysipelatous redness about the fauces. Does this disease belong to aphtha?