SPASMODIC AFFECTIONS. 



409 



cumstance directs, that the medicine should be immediately and 

 largely employed upon the first approach of the disease, before 

 the deglutition becomes difficult ; or that, if this opportunity be 

 lost, the medicine, in sufficient quantity, and with due frequency, 

 should be thrown into the body by glyster ; which, however, does 

 not seem to have been hitherto often practised. 



MCCLXXIII. It is highly probable, that, in this disease, 

 the intestines are affected with the spasm that prevails so much 

 in other parts of the system; and, therefore, that costiveness 

 occurs here as a symptom of the disease. It is probably also 

 increased by the opium, which is here so largely employed ; and, 

 from whichever of these causes it arises, it certainly must be 

 held to aggravate the disease ; and that a relaxation of the in- 

 testinal canal will contribute to a relaxation of the spasms else- 

 where. This consideration directs the frequent exhibition of 

 laxatives while the power of deglutition remains, or the frequent 

 exhibition of glysters when it does not ; and the good effects of 

 both have been frequently observed. 



MCCLXXIV. It has been with some probability supposed, 

 that the operation of opium in this disease -may be much as- 

 sisted by joining with it some other of the most powerful anti- 

 spasmodics. The most promising are musk and camphire ; and 

 some practitioners have been of opinion that the former has 

 proved very useful in tetanic complaints. But whether it be 

 from its not having been employed of a genuine kind, or in suf- 

 ficient quantity, the great advantage and propriety of its use 

 are not yet clearly ascertained. It appears to me probable, 

 that, analogous to what happens with respect to opium, both 

 musk and camphire might be employed in this disease in much 

 larger quantities than they commonly have been in other cases. 



MCCLXXV. Warm bathing has been commonly employ- 

 ed as a remedy in this disease, and often with advantage ; but, 

 so far as I know, it has not alone proved a cure ; and in som,e 

 cases, whether it be from the motion of the body here required, 

 exciting the spasms, or from the fear of the bath, which some 

 persons were seized with, I cannot determine ; but it is allow- 

 ed that the warm bath hath in some cases done harm, and even 

 occasioned death. Partial fomentations have been much com- 

 mended, and I believe upon good grounds ; and I have no doubt 



