COLICA PICTONUM. 121 



COLIC. 



This disease is characterized by severe griping pains in the bowels, 

 with costiveness, (sometimes with diarrhcea,) and frequently with 

 vomiting. CoKc may be produced by a variety of causes, the most 

 common amongst which are, irritating ingesta, flatulency, or a morbid 

 sensibility of the mucous membrane. 



Symptoms. — Severe twisting or griping pain in the abdomen, 

 particularly in the umbilical region or along the course of the colon ; 

 the pain is not increased by pressure, nor is there any fever, — cir- 

 cumstances which distinguish the disease from peritonitis and ente- 

 ritis ; it comes on in fits, and in the intervals there is perfect ease ; 

 it usually comes on quite suddenly ; the muscles of the abdomen are 

 often retracted ; the patient also complains of borborygmi, or rum- 

 bling noises from flatus in the canal. 



Treatment. — The first care of the practitioner should be to deter- 

 mine, if possible, the exciting cause of the colic, and whether it be 

 occasioned by an organic disease, such us hernia, intus-susceptio, 

 tumours, &c. This done, and the complaint having been ascertained 

 to be simple colic, he may at once administer anodynes combined 

 with cordials, and proceed to evacuate the intestinal secretions by 

 the use of enemata and mild purgatives. For this latter purpose, 

 the blue-pill will be sufficient, or castor oil with laudanum, or the 

 tincture of hyoscyamus may be given, either by the mouth or in 

 enema. The abdomen should also be fomented with the decoction 

 of poppy-heads. 



COLICA PICTONUM. 



{Fainter* s Colic.) 



Cause. — Exposure to the poison of lead. M. Andral considers 

 lead colic as a neurosis, in which the spinal marrow and abdominal 

 plexuses of the great sympathetic appear to be the peculiar seat of 

 lesion. The constipation seems to depend either on the abolition of 

 the contractile motion of the intestines, or on the suspension of the 

 secretion of the intestinal mucus. 



Symptoms. — Violent pain at the umbilical region ; sickness and 

 obstinate constipation ; pains in the wrists, ancles, and neck ; head- 

 ache ; bitter eructations ; and occasionally paralysis of some of the 

 voluntary muscles. 



Treatment. — The best mode of treatment consists in the free ad- 

 ministration of purgatives with opiates, such as calomel and opium, 

 followed by castor oil and laudanum ; croton oil will sometimes be 

 required to overcome the constipation. A warm bath should be 

 given, with injections of a large quantity of warm water into the 

 bowels while the patient is in the bath. 



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