122 PRACTICE OF MEDICINE. 



Dilute sulphuric acid, which may be mixed with beer or made 

 into a kind of lemonade, and extreme cleanliness, are the best pre- 

 servatives from the poison of lead. 



Paralysis of the limbs sometimes accompanies lead colic, and re- 

 mains after the removal of that disease. Here great attention must 

 be paid to the bowels, and on the least indication of costiveness the 

 purgative salts should be administered. The diet should be gene- 

 rous ; friction along the limbs with stimulating liniments should be 

 practised, and the extract of nux vomica or strychnine administered 

 internally. Great good is produced by supporting the paralytic limb 

 in splints, 



ILEUS. 



This complaint consists of very severe colic with obstruction of 

 the bowels, and generally ends in inflammation. 



Symptojns. — Violent griping and twisting pains about the umbi- 

 licus, which is retracted; obstinate constipation; nausea, and vomiting 

 of stercoraceous matter ; tension and tenderness of lhe_ abdomen. 

 The pulse is at first natural and the skin cool, but febrile symptoms 

 soon set in, and are followed by hiccup, prostration, cold sweats, 

 sinking, and death. 



Morbid appearances, — Mechanical obstruction in some part of the 

 intestinal canal produced by knots of the bowels; intussusception; 

 adhesions ; bonds of false membrane ; strangulation of the gut ; 

 organic constriction of its calibre ; foreign bodies, such as fruit 

 stones, &c. The parts of the intestine above the obstructed point 

 are generally dilated and inflamed, and in many cases the inflamma- 

 tion has extended to the peritoneum, producing its usual results. 



■Invagination of the intestine most frequently occurs in children, 

 and, in addition to the symptoms already enumerated, may some- 

 times be recognised by the presence of a painful tumour over the 

 invaginated portion of gut. 



Treatment. — The medical treatment of ileus will seldom be of 

 any avail, as may be readily inferred from a consideration of the 

 pathological conditions with which it is connected. The forcible in- 

 flation of air per anum has been recommended. Copious enemata 

 frequently repeated, and mild purgatives given in moderate doses, 

 regularly repeated, may be tried first. If they do not succeed, 

 stronger purgatives may be tried, such as croton oil, or a combina- 

 tion of aloes with sulphuric acid. But if the purgatives add to the 

 sickness and pain, they should be suspended. Crude mercury in 

 large quantities has been given by the mouth, and in some instances 

 with relief. If inflammatory symptoms arise, they should be com- 

 bated by bleeding or leeches, and the warm bath. The operation of 

 gastrotomy has been frequently performed for the cure of ileus, 

 and there are two or three cases of success on record. The great 



