DIAIU.HCBA 



DIABTA8E 



DiurhoM ban many 



but tin- whole mix! of more or le*a 'epidemic 

 diarrhoea) disease* present certain relation* in 

 common, which have IHMMI studied of late yeara to 

 a con.siderahle extent from tin- im-\entive or 

 sanitary iMiint of view. Tims it is ODMrtftd of all 

 of these diseases, without exception, tliat they are 

 more apt to prevail during Hummer an<l autumn 

 tliiin during the earlier season-, of the year ; and it 

 is also well established that their prevalence is to a 

 great extent dependent on the in ten-it \ of the solar 

 heat, so that a temperature altove 00" F. seems to 

 be almost essential, under ordinary circumstance*, 

 to their epidemic diffusion. Moreover, it has been 

 shown that the decomposition of organic matters 

 in the neighbourhood of human dwellings, and the 

 introduction of the products of dcconii>osition into 

 the food, drink, or air used by the healthy, has 

 been a direct exciting cause of diarrluca in a great 

 number of instances where the disease has leen 

 locally epidemic ; from which it is inferred that 

 the real source of diarrluual diseases is usually to 

 be found in a morbid poison closely associated with 

 the process of putrefaction, although not, perha]>e, 

 necessarily generated during that process. It has 

 been noticed that cold and wet seasons are the least 

 favourable to the production of diarrhoea, which is 

 explained on the theory above alluded to by the 

 rapid removal in such seasons of all organic debris ; 

 and there is little doubt that this explanation is 

 correct, as the converse is equally true, the com- 

 bination of heat with long-continued drought lieing 

 almost sure to waken into life the epidemic seeds of 

 diarrhtea. Again it is noticed that where drainage 

 is imperfect and drinking water impure, diarrhccal 

 diseases are specially apt to occur (see CHOLERA) ; 

 the class of the population most apt to be affected 

 being those who occupy low levels, or who are 

 otherwise exposed to the influence of this aqueous 

 or gaseous poison. Infants are especially apt to 

 suffer from diarrhoea, and a large numlwr of the 

 infantile deaths in many English towns are caused 

 either directly by this disease, or by the abuse of 

 stimulants and narcotics for ite cure. 



Besides these epidemic diarrhoeas, isolated cases 

 of simpler and more obvious origin are very 

 frequent. In some persons diarrhoea is the usual 

 result of catching cold Le. they suffer from catarrh 

 of the digestive, instead of, as is most usual, the 

 respiratory organs. But far more frequently 

 diarrhoea results from unwholesome or indigestible 

 food or drink, or from excessive indulgence even in 

 what would otherwise not be hurtful. In all such 

 cases the diarrhoea is to be regarded as beneficial ; 

 in fact it is the natural effort of the IntectiaM 

 to rid themselves of their objectionable content*, 

 and should l>e encouraged rather than arrested. 

 Diarrhoea occurring as an incident in prolonged 

 constipation is to be explained in the same way, 

 as due to irritation of the intestines by their 

 hardened contents. 



Acute diarrhoea should almost always be treated 

 first by an aperient, as the unaided action of the 

 intestines is often insufficient to expel irritating 

 material. A full teaspoonful of Gregory's powder, 

 or a tablespoonful of castor-oil with ten or fifteen 

 drops of laudanum are especially useful. The food 

 taken should be small in amount, and as easily 

 digestible as possible. Milk, arrowroot, tfcc., beef- 

 tea, toast, plain biscuits, are among the most suit- 

 able articles of diet. Pain may be alleviated by poul- 

 tices or fomentations sprinkled with laudanum. A 

 small dose of brandy often checks both the pain and 

 the diarrhoea. Should the disease not vield to these 

 measures, opium, carminatives, ana astringent* 

 should be administered. In some cases, especially 

 of febrile diarrhoea, an emetic of ipecacuanha at the 

 very beginning will sometimes remove the disease 



with rrmarkablr rapidity ; and in iuot form* of 

 diarrlio-ii it tuny IN- aJIqgM that thin medicine (in 

 doHOH of from one to lite m ,-\>-n t-n grain*) i* *-ll 

 borne. Sometimes it i- combined with oi.mrn in 

 the form of Dover's powder. In chronic 

 ( not the consequence of erioas organic 

 careful regulation of the dirt in of prime import- 

 ance, and is generally accom|tanitl by the adniini*- 

 trution of astringent*. lint Much cae* are often 

 very intractable, and no rule* can he laid down 

 that would apply to all. In a very large claw of 

 -|..-<-i;ii!\ ! infantile iliarrlii- .;..- 



, 



upon a too aci<I state of the Hecrrtion*, tin- 

 remedy is chalk, either in powder or in the very 

 serviceable form of the mi-n.ta rreta* (mixture of 

 chalk) of the pharnuicoiMJMax, from one to three 

 dessert -h|M>onfuls of which may In- given after every 

 disturbance of the bowels. Lime-water, mixed 

 with milk in the probation of one to four or five, 

 is easily given to very young children, and nerve* 

 nearly the same purpose. 



The axtringenta useful in diarrlura are very 

 various. Those of vegetable origin are usually firat 

 employee!, alone or in combination. The moat 

 important are galls, oak-bark, kino, catechu, log- 

 wood. The mineral astringents are chiefly nalU of 

 the heavier metals, iron, bismuth. copj*.T, lead, &c. ; 

 but also chalk and lime, and alum. Opium, one 

 of the most powerful remedies. ,, \\.-s it* usefulness 

 to other than astringent projK-rties, and is very 

 frequently given in combination with aMrimzeata 



e.g. in chalk and opium powder, compounu kino 

 powder, lead and opium pills. In many state* of 

 the system in which diarrno-a occurs, however, it i* 

 dangerous. It must never be given to young 

 children, or in large doses to any one, without 

 medical advice. In some forms of diarn 

 esj>ecially in children, antiseptics are very uneful 



e.g. carlxilic acid, creatsote ; and it i* probably 

 to it* antiseptic properties that corrosive ub- 

 limate ( bichloride of mercury ) owes it* value when 

 administered in minute doaes. 



Diary (Lat. Hiariiim, 'a daily allowance for 

 soldiers, ' diary, 1 from </iVx, ' a day ' ) means simply 

 a daily record of events or observations made by an 

 individual. In it the man of letter* infcriU-j* the 

 daily results of his reading or his meditation- : to 

 the mercantile man it serves the pur|M*e of an order 

 or memorandum book ; while the physician finds it 

 indispensable as a register <>f n^a^emcnt*. Diane* 

 in many forms and size* are i*ued even- year, 

 containing also >,. much mi-, ellaneoii- information 

 that in one liook we have at once a diary and an 

 almanac. The K/>hemcru of the ancient.* * 

 originally a military record or journal, a day -bonk 

 or account book, also a collection of tablw fliow 

 ing the position of the heavenly bodie*, bul riM*ed 

 into literature to mean a collection of record* of 

 what has hap|tened on the Mime day in variooa 

 years, or a mere general name for any form of 

 periodical books or magazines. 



Diariett have often furnished the historian with 

 invaluable material, supplying thenhneiiceof public 

 records, and furnishing mi'iuito and intimate detail* 

 of niannen* and of motive-, that do fnr mon- to hrlp 

 us to under-tan. 1 the past than morr formal mxmU. 

 Such document* a Robert Hailli?** Jvtirmilt, the 

 />mnof IVp\s ami K\el>n. nnd the Journal* of 

 (ircville are ainong the mo-t vahmMe nouroea of 

 real history, liacon *ay* 'in ea-voyaaca. where 

 there is nothing to be seen but kv and *<, men 

 make diaries; but in land-travel, wherein > much 

 is to be observed, they omit it. but unhappily this 

 no longer holds of modern travellers. 



Diastase i* a peculiar ferment developed during 

 the germination of all seeds. An impure solution 

 of diastase may be procured by adding one part of 



