ij^l.' ' ou hard dnnhing. 73 



action, the surface of the belly is diversified xvlth prot- 

 berances and cavities ; soinetimes the spasmodic strictures 

 run transversely, and raise the surface like waves of the 

 sea. The pain continues increasing to such excefs, that 

 the miserable suflferer is obliged to prefs against a table or 

 s/)me hard body, to mitigate his disVrefs, till vomiting 

 brings a respite j or ke hastens this operation, by thru.- , 

 ing his finger into the throat ; and thus relieves himself 

 till the next reception of nouriihment, when the same tra- 

 gedy is repeated. The matter discharged is thin, acrid, 

 sour, sweet, or brackifh. Sometimes instead of constipa- 

 tion, an occasional purging ensues, and mitigates the pain, 

 %7hilst it subdues the constitution 5 and after years of mi- 

 sery, the victim slides into a fatal decay ; but long before 

 this, the powers of the mind have been debilitated, and 

 its recollection and actions impaired. 



*' The second train of distrefsful symptoms which I fliall 

 relate, more generally succeed the free use of spirits, or of 

 •wines, with the admixture of spirits, as Madeira; and espe- 

 cially where late hours and illicit amours have been su- 

 iperaddtd. 



" The early symptoms of complaint are, a pain and op- 

 prefsion about the pit of the stomach after eating, or dis- 

 tension from fluids j this pain extends to the breast and 

 fhoulders j there arc frequent eructations of wind, which 

 sfiem to burn the throat as they ascend j these symptoms, 

 which are usual in affections of the liver, and particularly 

 in bilious effusions, are at first so trivial, as seldom to a- 

 "larm tbe fears of the patient, 01 he slightly mentions them 

 as symptoms of the gout, whilst he attempts to avert the 

 present suffering, by indulging more freely in the very 

 cause of the mischief, till repeated fillips of raw spirits, or 

 a dilution of the poison, render existence miserable. 



VOL. X. J4 -^ 



