298 HEALTH AND DISEASE 



combined, will be found most suitable to the case. Where acute pain 

 exists hot fomentations to the abdomen should be applied, or, as an 

 alternative, mustard or turpentine liniment. 



CALCULI (STONES) 



Calculi (calx, lime) are masses of crystalline matter of stony hardness 

 formed in the interior of hollow organs, such as the bladder, the bowels, 

 the pelvis of the kidney, the ducts of glands, &c. Their form, character, 

 and even position varies with the organ in which they are produced. As a 

 rule they are mainly composed of salts natural to the secretion of the organ 

 in which they are found. Why the salts of these fluids should crystallize 

 out and aggregate together to form large stones it is not easy to say, but 

 there is ground for the belief that they are induced to do so in part, if not 

 wholly, for one of two reasons — either that they are in excess of the normal 

 quantity, or that they are brought into contact with some kind of matter 

 by which they are attracted and upon which they gather, or both these 

 conditions may be concerned in the action. 



To what extent, if any, the nature of the food conduces to the formation 

 of stone cannot be stated. It is not found that stone in the bladder, which 

 is chiefly composed of lime, is more prevalent on the chalk formation than 

 elsewhere, and the statement that animals "pastured where lime has recently 

 been laid " become the subjects of calculus requires confirmation. It may, 

 however, be noticed that all conditions which favour the long retention 

 of concentrated saline solutions in an organ predispose to calculus forma- 

 tion, hence it arises that stones or gravel are frequently found to occur 

 where paralysis exists in the bladder or other organs. 



INTESTINAL CALCULI 



Intestinal calculi are dense masses of earthy matter derived from the 

 salts of the food, and by their close texture assume the form of stones 

 — a term by which they are commonly known. They usually present 

 a gray or yellowish appearance, and a smooth surface more or less polished. 

 In form they are either round or angular (figs. 107, 108). 



This difference depends upon the number present. Where they occur 

 in a solitary state they are rounded, but where two or more exist in contact 

 with each other, their constant movement one against the other during the 

 action of the bowels wears away the surfaces of contact, thereby producing 

 flattened facets or concavities and prominent angles. As a rule they 

 are found in a solitary condition, but it is by no means rare to meet with 



