Colic. — Symptoms and Diagnosis. — A severe twisting and griping pain in the bowels, accompanied with flatulence, sometimes with vomiting, and always attended with consti- pation. The pain is paroxysmal and comes on suddenly, and is rather relieved than aggravated by pressure, as would be the case in inflammation of the bowels, in which also the manner of the attack is different, being in general less sudden in the onset, and constant. In colic the tongue is not necessarily furred, nor is *he pulse quickened, both of which conditions MEDICINAL 313 will be found in inflammation of the bowels. In one obsti- nate form of colic the action of the bowels becomes reversed, and vomiting of the motions may take place. In such a case it should be clearly made out that no rupture or internal strangulation of the intestines exists. It is to be observed that a mere muscular pain may be mistaken for colic or for inflam- mation— the latter, it may be added, more likelv than the former to be the error that is committed Treatment. — The cause of this painful maiady being generally the irritation of some indigestible or acrid food — such as unripe fruit, poisonous fungi, uncooked vegetables, sour drinks, etc., — these should be removed as quickly as possible, by a full dose of castor oil, with from twenty to forty drops of laudanum for an adult, repeated every three or four hours if need be. At the same time hot fomentations or tur- pentine stupes should be applied over the belly. A hot bath will often relieve pain and relax the spasm which causes both the pain and the constipation. If flatulence be a predominant symptom, it is very likely the cause of the spasm of the bowel. In that case, the following will probably give relief: Rhubarb powder, 20 grains; carbonate of magnesia, 30 grains; spirits of nutmeg (or peppermint), i drachm; spirits of salvolatile, i drachm; water, 2 ounces. Taken as a draught, and repeated in four or five hours if the colic continue. A dose of laudanum may be added. This same i;iixture, in reduced doses (omitting the laudanum), will serve well for the flatulent griping to which infants are liable. Painters' Colic — Being caused by the poisonous influence of white lead (used in their trade), the treatment varies some- what. White lead (carbonate of lead) being the poisonous pigment that forms the basis of most paint, is rendered inert by being converted into sulphate of lead. Treatment. — This consists in the administration of sul- phate of magnesia (Epsom salts) with alum and laudanum. Thus — Epsom salts, 2 ounces; alum, i drachm; laudanum, 80 minims; water, 8 ounces. Mix. Give an eighth part every three or four hours, until the bowels are purged and the pain relieved; other local means, as above mentioned, being also employed. Painters may almost entirely avoid the occurrence of colic by making it a point always to wash their hands before m^als. Strangulation of the Bowel. — Closely allied to colic, and sometimes following upon it, is this accident, although it may occur from several conditions independent of colic. It is more frequently met with in young children than in adults, as an independent affection. Extreme obstruction of the intes- JJ14 MEt)lCiNAL.

AI-modernized reading of the original text

Colic. — Symptoms and Diagnosis. — A severe twisting and griping pain in the bowels, accompanied with flatulence, sometimes with vomiting, and always attended with constipation. The pain is paroxysmal and comes on suddenly, and is rather relieved than aggravated by pressure, as would be the case in inflammation of the bowels, in which also the manner of the attack is different, being in general less sudden in the onset, and constant. In colic the tongue is not necessarily furred, nor is the pulse quickened, both of which conditions will be found in inflammation of the bowels. In one obstinate form of colic the action of the bowels becomes reversed, and vomiting of the motions may take place. In such a case it should be clearly made out that no rupture or internal strangulation of the intestines exists. It is to be observed that a mere muscular pain may be mistaken for colic or for inflammation— the latter, it may be added, more likelv than the former to be the error that is committed Treatment. — The cause of this painful maiady being generally the irritation of some indigestible or acrid food — such as unripe fruit, poisonous fungi, uncooked vegetables, sour drinks, etc., — these should be removed as quickly as possible, by a full dose of castor oil, with from twenty to forty drops of laudanum for an adult, repeated every three or four hours if need be. At the same time hot fomentations or turpentine stupes should be applied over the belly. A hot bath will often relieve pain and relax the spasm which causes both the pain and the constipation. If flatulence be a predominant symptom, it is very likely the cause of the spasm of the bowel. In that case, the following will probably give relief: Rhubarb powder, 20 grains; carbonate of magnesia, 30 grains; spirits of nutmeg (or peppermint), i drachm; spirits of salvolatile, i drachm; water, 2 ounces. Taken as a draught, and repeated in four or five hours if the colic continue. A dose of laudanum may be added. This same mixture, in reduced doses (omitting the laudanum), will serve well for the flatulent griping to which infants are liable. Painters' Colic — Being caused by the poisonous influence of white lead (used in their trade), the treatment varies somewhat. White lead (carbonate of lead) being the poisonous pigment that forms the basis of most paint, is rendered inert by being converted into sulphate of lead. Treatment. — This consists in the administration of sulphate of magnesia (Epsom salts) with alum and laudanum. Thus — Epsom salts, 2 ounces; alum, i drachm; laudanum, 80 minims; water, 8 ounces. Mix. Give an eighth part every three or four hours, until the bowels are purged and the pain relieved; other local means, as above mentioned, being also employed. Painters may almost entirely avoid the occurrence of colic by making it a point always to wash their hands before meals. Strangulation of the Bowel. — Closely allied to colic, and sometimes following upon it, is this accident, although it may occur from several conditions independent of colic. It is more frequently met with in young children than in adults, as an independent affection. Extreme obstruction of the intes-

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