INTESTINAL CATARRH. 579 



ticularly when they occur in a person already cachectic, as is usually 

 the case. 



TREATMENT. The causal indications can rarely be fulfilled in in- 

 testinal catarrhs depending on congestion, as we can rarely succeed in 

 removing the obstruction to the flow of blood from the intestinal veins. 

 But we can frequently give palliative aid in these cases by attention to 

 the exciting causes ; when patients suffer from chronic intestinal ca- 

 tarrh as a result of congestion, we may occasionally, particularly during 

 exacerbations, apply a few leeches at the anus. Sometimes, after repeat- 

 ing this abstraction of blood, at regular intervals, perhaps every four 

 weeks, there may subsequently be periodical loss of blood from the 

 hasmorrhoidal veins, which will greatly relieve the patient. If acute 

 intestinal catarrh has resulted from catching cold, the patient should be 

 put to bed, he should drink a few cups of warm peppermint or camo- 

 mile-tea, and have the abdomen covered with warm cloths. Patients 

 who suffer from chronic intestinal catarrh, caused by a damp, cold 

 climate, should wear woollen stockings, and change these whenever 

 they have cold feet. Abdominal bandages of flannel, also, are very 

 good in such cases ; where women suffer from this disease, they should 

 wear drawers, and in winter these should be made of Canton flannel 

 or some other thick material. (In Greifswald, even the neediest women 

 wear drawers, an article of clothing which elsewhere is only customary 

 among women of the upper classes.) If we neglect this precaution, or 

 if we have too much false modesty, we shall neglect a remedy that is 

 often more important for the welfare of the patient than all other 

 dietetic or medicinal prescriptions. 



When chronic intestinal catarrh in children is due to improper nour- 

 ishment, the causal indications require the regulation of the diet, and 

 attention to this will often be crowned by brilliant success. While 

 the diarrhoea lasts, as has already been explained, the child will rarely 

 stand a milk diet ; meat broths suit him best, but still better, finely- 

 shaved raw beef, taken with a little white bread, and a small quantity 

 of good wine, such as pure Tokay or Malaga. Under this treatment, 

 the diarrhoea, which had previously withstood all remedies, often ceases 

 in a short time, and the emaciated child soon recovers its appearance. 

 Concerning the use of calomel, and other customary remedies in gas- 

 tric and intestinal catarrh, see treatment of gastric catarrh. If the 

 retention of hardened faeces in the colon, or any other part of the in- 

 testines, be the cause of the catarrh, the treatment should be com- 

 menced with a purgative. If we would treat intestinal catarrh success- 

 fully, we should ourselves examine the passages, to see whether there 

 are no hard scybola along with the liquid discharges. The rule of 

 commencing the treatment with a laxative is particularly applicable to 



