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.