Zoonomia; Or, the Laws of Organic Life, Vol. II

by Erasmus Darwin

For the method of cure see Class [I. 1. 3. 8]. to which should be added the use of strong electric shocks passed through the bile-duct from the pit of the stomach to the back, and from one side to the other. A case of the good effect of electricity in the jaundice is related in Sect. XXX. 2. And another case, where it promoted the passage of a painful gall-stone, is described by Dr. Hall, experienced on himself. Trans. of the College at Philadelphia, Vol. I. p. 192.

Half a pint of warm water two or three times a day is much recommended to dilute the inspissated bile.

[5]. Dolor pharyngis ab acido gastrico. The two ends of the throat sympathize by sensitive association in the same manner as the other canals above mentioned, namely, the urethra and the bile-duct; hence when too great acidity of undigested aliment, or the carbonic acid air, which escapes in fermentation, stimulates the cardia ventriculi, or lower end of the gula, into pain; the pharinx, or upper end of it, is affected with greater pain, or a disagreeable sensation of heat.

[6]. Pruritus narium a vermibus. The itching of the nose from worms in the intestines is another curious instance of the sensitive associations of the motions of membranes; especially of those which constitute the canals of the body. Previous to the deglutition of agreeable food, as milk in our earliest infancy, an agreeable odour affects the membrane, which lines the nostrils; and hence an association seems to take place between the agreeable sensations produced by food in the stomach and bowels, and the agreeable sensations of the nostrils. The existence of ascarides in the rectum I believe produces this itching of the nostrils more than the worms in other parts of the intestines; as we have already seen, that the terminations of canals sympathize more than their other parts, as in the urethra and gall-ducts. See Class [I. 1. 5. 9]. [IV. 1. 2. 9].

[7]. Cephalæa. Head-ach. In cold fits of the ague, the head-ach arises from consent with some torpid viscus, like the pain of the loins. After drunkenness the head-ach is very common, owing to direct sympathy of the membranes of the head with those of the stomach; which is become torpid after the too violent stimulus of the preceding intoxication; and is hence removeable by spirit of wine, or opium, exhibited in smaller quantities. In some constitutions these head-achs are induced, when the feet are exposed to much external cold; in this case the feet should be covered with oiled silk, which prevents the evaporation of the perspirable matter, and thence diminishes one cause of external cold.

M. M. Valerian in powder two drams three or four times a day is recommended. The bark. Chalybeates. A grain of opium twice a day for a long time. From five to ten drops of the saturated solution of arsenic two or three times a day. See Class [I. 2. 4. 11]. A lady once assured me, that when her head-ach was coming on, she drank three pints (pounds) of hot water, as hastily as she could; which prevented the progress of the disease. A solution of arsenic is recommended by Dr. Fowler of York. Very strong errhines are said sometimes to cure head-achs taken at the times the pain recurs, till a few drops of blood issue from the nostrils. As one grain of turpeth mineral (vitriolic calx of mercury) mixed with ten grains of fine sugar. Euphorbium or cayan pepper mixed with sugar, and used with caution as an errhine. See the M. M. of the next Species.

[8]. Hemicrania. Pain on one side of the head. This disease is attended with cold skin, and hence whatever may be the remote cause, the immediate one seems to be want of stimulus, either of heat or distention, or of some other unknown stimulus in the painful part; or in those, with which it is associated. The membranes in their natural state are only irritable by distention; in their diseased state, they are sensible like muscular fibres. Hence a diseased tooth may render the neighbouring membranes sensible, and is frequently the cause of this disease.

Sometimes the stomach is torpid along with the pained membrane of the head; and then sickness and inappetency attends either as a cause or consequence. The natural cure of hemicrania is the accumulation of sensorial power during the rest or sickness of the patient. Mrs. —— is frequently liable to hemicrania with sickness, which is probably owing to a diseased tooth; the paroxysm occurs irregularly, but always after some previous fatigue, or other cause of debility. She lies in bed, sick, and without taking any solid food, and very little of fluids, and those of the aqueous kind, and, after about 48 or 50 hours, rises free from complaint. Similar to this is the recovery from cold paroxysms of fever, from the torpor occasioned by fear, and from syncope; which are all owing to the accumulation of sensorial power during the inactivity of the system. Hence it appears, that, though when the sensorial power of volition is much exhausted by fatigue, it can be restored by eight or ten hours of sleep; yet, when the sensorial power of irritation is exhausted by fatigue, that it requires two whole solar or lunar days of rest, before it can be restored.

The late Dr. Monro asserted in his lectures, that he cured the hemicrania, or megrim, by a strong vomit, and a brisk purge immediately after it. This method succeeds best if opium and the bark are given in due quantity after the operation of the cathartic; and with still more certainty, if bleeding in small quantity is premised, where the pulse will admit of it. See Sect. XXXV. 2. 1.

The pain generally affects one eye, and spreads a little way on that side of the nose, and may sometimes be relieved by pressing or cutting the nerve, where it passes into the bone of the orbit above the eye. When it affects a small defined part on the parietal bone on one side, it is generally termed Clavus hystericus, and is always I believe owing to a diseased dens molaris. The tendons of the muscles, which serve the office of mastication, have been extended into pain at the same time, that the membranous coverings of the roots of the teeth have been compressed into pain, during the biting or mastication of hard bodies. Hence when the membranes, which cover the roots of the teeth, become affected with pain by a beginning decay, or perhaps by the torpor or coldness of the dying part of the tooth, the tendons and membranous fascia of the muscles about the same side of the head become affected with violent pain by their sensitive associations: and as soon as this associated pain takes place, the pain of the tooth entirely ceases, as explained in the second species of this genus.