118 FLATULENT COLiC. 



FLATULENT COLIC. 



This is altoofetlier a different disease from the former. It is 

 not spasm of the bowels, but inflation of them from the presence 

 of gas emitted by undigested food. Whether collected in the 

 Btomach, or small or large intestines, all kinds of vegetable mat- 

 ter are liable to ferment. In consequence of this fermentation, 

 gas is evolved to a greater or less extent — perhaps to twenty or 



symptoms are these : in colic, although the pain is excessive, there are yet 

 occasional remissions of tlie paroxysms ; whilst in inflammation of the bow- 

 els, the agony continues without remission, but varying in severity according 

 to the violence of the disease. The pulse, too, in the latter disease is rapid, 

 and often small and thready ; whilst in the former, though it becomes more 

 rapid during the paroxysms, it subsides during the intervals of ease. A 

 careful examination of these distinctions will generally be sufficient to pre 

 vent any mistake with regard to the character of the disease. Indeed, we 

 must not rely on any others. 



There appears to be three varieties of colic, spasmodic, flatulent, and ster- 

 coral, or that which proceeds from constipation or obstruction in the bowels, 

 The symptoms vary with the situation of the disease — whether in the siom 

 ach, the small, or the large intestines. Flat ulent colic generally affects either 

 the stomach or the large intestines. When the former, it is extremely dan- 

 gerous, and yet is relieved with greater rapidity than when elsewhere ex- 

 isting. In a case that proved fatal before any remedy was resorted to, the 

 stomach was found by the present writer distended to three times its ordi- 

 nary size. Flatulent may be distinguished from spasmodic colic principally 

 by the great distention of the abdomen which tf^kes place ; whilst stercoi-al 

 colic is marked by the less violent, though more obstinate, continuance of the 

 symptoms of pain. ^ 



For flatulent colic one of the best remedies is sulphuric ether, combined 

 with the tincture of opium, and even in other cases it is preferable to the 

 spirits of turpentine, which is apt to irritate and inflame the throat whilst 

 being administered, and the bowels likewise, if there is any accession of in- 

 flammation. If relief is not obtained in the course of an hour, bleeding 

 should be resorted to; and, if constipation is present, a watery infusion of 

 aloes, or a dose of oil, should be given with the antispasmodic. In stercoral 

 colic, dependence must be placed on relieving tlie ob-truction, and at the 

 same time keeping down pain and irritation by means of an opiate. For 

 these purposes large doses of linseed oil, such as a pint three times a day, 

 with an ounce of tlie tincture of opium, should be given until the desired/ib- 

 ject is attained. It is better, however, after the exhibition of a few doses, to 

 substitute the watery infusion of opium for the spirit, as htftwg less likely to 

 produce inflammation. By steadily pursuing this system of treatment, we 

 have, in many of the most obstinate and formidable cases, succeeded in es- 

 tablishing a cure. Other means, however, such as repeated and copious in- 

 jections, "should be had recourse to in addition ; and, as soon as the bowels 

 become relaxed, means should be used to counteract the excessive purgation 

 which follows, which, if effected by ordinary medicines, would be exceed 

 ngly dangerous, but when produced by means of linseed oil, is compara- 

 tively without danger. Drenches of thick flour gruel should be given ; with 

 two ounces of prepared chalk, and two drachms of tincture of opium, to stay 

 the bowels. 



