FUNCTIONAL DISORDERS OF THE LIVER. 21 



the leading remedy in most " Domestic treatises," yet I 

 infinitely prefer, and find I derive more satisfactory results 

 from Aconite in the second or third dilution. 



Merc. Sol ffak.In bilious diarrhoea, attended by 

 bilious colic and flatulent colic, Mercury will be found 

 one of our leading and most effectual remedies. The 

 pathogenetic effects of Mercury on the body in health 

 are remarkably striking, and produce as correct a picture 

 of the disease under consideration as anyone can well 

 imagine. This metallic compound not only increases 

 the frequency of the alvine discharges, but it alters their 

 colour and smell as well : thus we have as symptoms, 

 " bloody mucous discharges, green excoriating discharges, 

 bright yellow, reddish or dark brown discharges, which 

 may be watery or papescent, with slight or very offensive 

 smell ; in addition, we meet with distension and hard- 

 ness of the abdomen ; dull aching pains in the liver ; 

 cutting pinching pains in the bowels ; the hands become 

 cold, the pulse feeble and accelerated ; with tenesmus 

 and a frequent desire to go to stool." 



Ipecacuanha is a very useful remedy in certain forms 

 of bilious di;irrhfca, and may be given alone or in alter- 

 nation with the foregoing medicines, particularly when 

 thu following symptoms are present, which indicate in a 

 marked decree the selection of this drug: nausea, 

 qualmishness in the stomach and bowels ; a flow of water 

 irom the mouth, loss of appetite, and a white-coated 

 te; Moody, liquid, green, foul-smelling and fer- 

 mented evacuations, with pinching, cutting, neuralgic 

 in the abdomen. I generally vary the potency 

 from tin' third to the sixth. 



''-a is another auxiliary remedy of great 



