Chapter XXI.
Of the Cholic and its different Kinds.
Sect. 296.
he Appellation of a Cholic is commonly given to all Pains of the Belly indiscriminately; but I apply it in this Place only to such as attack the Stomach, or the Intestines, the Guts.
Cholics may and do result from very many Causes; and the greater Number of Cholics are chronical or tedious Complaints, being more common among the inactive Inhabitants of Cities, and Workmen in sedentary Trades, than among Country People. Hence I shall treat here only of the small Variety of Cholics, which happen the most usually in Villages. I have already proved that the fatal Events of some Distempers were occasioned by endeavouring to force the Patients into Sweats; and the same unhappy Consequences have attended Cholics, from accustoming the Subjects of this Disease to Drams, and hot inflaming spirituous Liquors, with an Intention to expel the Wind.
Of the inflammatory Cholic.
§ 297. The most violent and dangerous kind of Cholic is that, which arises from an Inflammation of the Stomach, or of the Intestines. It begins most commonly without any Shivering, by a vehement Pain in the Belly, which gradually becomes still more so. The Pulse grows quick and hard; a burning Pain is felt through the whole Region of the Belly; sometimes there is a watery Diarrhœa, or Purging; at other Times the Belly is rather costive, which is attended with Vomiting, a very embarrassing and dangerous Symptom: the Countenance becomes highly flushed; the Belly tense and hard; neither can it be touched scarcely without a cruel Augmentation of the Patient's Pain, who is also afflicted with extreme Restlessness; his Thirst is very great, being unquenchable by Drink; the Pain often extends to the Loins, where it proves very sharp, and severe; little Urine is made, and that very red, and with a kind of burning Heat. The tormented Patient has not a Moment's Rest, and now and then raves a little. If the Disease is not removed or moderated, before the Pains rise to their utmost Height and Violence, the Patient begins at length to complain less; the Pulse becomes less strong and less hard than before, but quicker: his Face first abates of its Flush and Redness, and soon after looks pale; the Parts under the Eyes become livid; the Patient sinks into a low stupid Kind of Delirium, or Raving; his Strength entirely deserts him; the Face, Hands, Feet, and the whole Body, the Belly only excepted, become cold: the Surface of the Belly appears bluish; extreme Weakness follows, and the Patient dies. There frequently occurs, just a Moment before he expires, an abundant Discharge of excessively fœtid Matter by Stool; and during this Evacuation he dies with his Intestines quite gangrened, or mortified.