660 INTESTINAL SYMPTOMS AND FUNCTIONAL DISORDERS. 



in inflammatory action. This occurs more frequently than with 

 the primary seizures of a more severe character treated from 

 the outset on a different principle, in which regard is ever had 

 to the earlier and antecedent cause of the pain and disturb- 

 ance. 



The attending to and treatment of the pain, the most char- 

 acteristic feature in all cases, ought not to be neglected ; still, 

 if we go no further than this, the probability is that we shall only 

 have indifferent success. We ought not merely to combat the 

 symptoms, but our efforts ought to reach further ; we ought to 

 attack the cause of these, which in the majority of cases consists 

 in the presence in the intestine of some offending body. 



That it is unwise, unnecessary or inexpedient in an}^ case to 

 employ such agents as tend merely to alleviate pain, is not 

 meant to be maintained. What is particularly insisted upon 

 is, that upon these alone and of themselves it is unsafe and 

 injudicious in any instance to rely for cure of colic, for perfect 

 restoration of function of the intestines, when this is so largely 

 dependent upon accumulation of offending material. 



In all exhibitions of colic except those in which diarrhoea is 

 a prominent symptom, our correct and safe course of treat- 

 ment is first of all, through the administration of such agents 

 and the employment of such means as are appropriate to that 

 end, to ensure an action of the intestinal canal and a removal 

 of the irritating material therein contained. Certainly where 

 pain exists it is both expedient and needful that attention be 

 directed to the removal of such, which may be accomplished 

 in conjunction with the main object, the evacuation of the 

 bowels. In carrying out these principles of treatment our 

 chief reliance must be placed on the action of those agents 

 recognised as evacuants of the canal, assisted by the use of 

 enemata. Of these the best for our purpose is undoubtedly 

 aloes ; oleaginous or saline laxatives are here too uncertain and 

 too slow to satisfy our demands. The beneficial results of the 

 administration of aloes in colic are not to be estimated by, nor 

 do they appear to be dependent merely upon, the evacuant 

 action on the bowel ; for it is certain that in infinitely less time 

 than is requisite to secure this may the beneficial influence of 

 the drug be shown. The medicine is best given in bolus, by 

 which its solution, absorption, and entrance into the circulation 



