Treatment.—Give a saline purge such as Epsom salts, three or four teaspoonfuls, and let the patient sit in a bath of hot water. If not relieved very quickly, then pass a clean catheter into the bladder, and allow it to empty itself (see Catheters, [p. 272]). After the bladder has been emptied put the patient to bed and give a dose of opium or bromide of potassium to procure rest. When he desires to pass water again let him have another bath, and if this is not effectual, again withdraw the water through a catheter. Patient should be careful to ward off further attacks by avoiding chills, over-drinking, and other exciting causes. If there is inflammation of the bladder, copaiba or sandal-wood capsules should be used; if the urine is irritating, bicarbonate of soda must be given.
Urine, Suppression of.
In this serious condition no urine is secreted by the kidneys, so that on passing a catheter the bladder will be found to be empty.
Causes.—Shock from injury, inflammation and blocking up of the kidneys. Suppression of the urine is a common complication of severe cases of blackwater fever.
Treatment.—Hot baths, hot poultices to the loins, free use of aperients, especially Epsom salts and other saline purges. Bicarbonate of soda in full doses. Keep the skin acting freely by means of sweet nitre, or Warburg’s tincture, or five-grain doses of antipyrine. Injections of hot water into the lower bowel.
Worms.
Worms are introduced into the system chiefly by means of dirty water or imperfectly cooked food.
In the case of hook worms (ankylostomes), contaminated soil is the chief medium of infection.
Of the worms which live in the bowels the most important are the following:
Tape Worms.—These worms may measure many feet in length; and their presence in the body can only be certainly known by the appearance of some of the segments or portions of the worm in the motions although hunger and dyspepsia may be complained of.