INFLAMMATIONS. 73 



mission of the pain, while the frequency of the pulse continues, 

 and at the same time becomes weaker, accompanied with other 

 marks of an increasing debility in the whole system. 



CCCXCII. From the dissection of dead bodies it appears, 

 that the stomach very often has been affected with inflamma- 

 tion, when the characteristic symptoms of it (CCCLXXXVI.) 

 had not appeared ; and therefore it is very difficult to lay down 

 any general rules for the cure of this disease. 



CCCXCIII. It is only in the case of phlegmonic inflamma- 

 tion, as characterized in CCCLXXXVI. that we can advise 

 the cure or resolution to be attempted by large and repeated 

 bleedings employed early in the disease ; and we are not to be 

 deterred from these by the smallness of the pulse ; for, after 

 bleeding, it commonly becomes fuller and softer. After bleed- 

 ing, a blister ought to be applied to the region of the stomach ; 

 and the cure will be assisted by fomentations of the whole ab- 

 domen, as well as by frequent emollient and laxative glysters. 



" We have reason to believe that the blister acts as an anti- 

 spasmodic, and not as an evacuant : there is manifestly a com- 

 munication between the stomach and the abdominal muscles, 

 and even the outer integuments of the abdomen. In Enteritis, 

 and in common colic, we frequently find the abdominal muscles 

 considerably affected with spasm, and the pains especially felt 

 about the navel, which shows that the spasm, oscillation, or 

 what you please to call it, may be communicated from the coat 

 of the stomach and intestines to the peritonaeum, the abdominal 

 muscles, and external integuments : a relaxation, therefore, in- 

 duced in these parts, contributes greatly to take off the spasm 

 of the internal viscera."" 



CCCXCIV. In this disease the irritability of the stomach 

 will not admit of any medicines being thrown into it ; and if 

 any internal medicines can be supposed necessary, they must be 

 exhibited in glysters. The giving of drink may be tried ; but 

 it ought to be of the very mildest kind, and in very small quan- 

 tities at a time. 



CCCXCV. Opiates, in whatever manner exhibited, are very 

 hurtful during the first days of the disease ; but when its vio- 

 lence shall have abated, and when the violence of the pain and 

 vomiting recur at intervals only, opiates given in glysters may 



