410 INFLAMMATIONS. 



mild fainnaceous food, with a small quantity of weak broth. 

 After a time, as the liver begins to act (shown b}' the j^ellow co- 

 lour of the fceces), the disease relaxes, and the mercury may be 

 dispensed with ; but it is usuall}' some considerable time before 

 the stomach recovers its tone. A strong decoction of dandelion 

 roots (made by boiling them for an hour in as little water as will 

 serve to cover them, and then straining) may be given for this 

 purpose, the dose being half a teacupful every morning. 



INFLAMMATION OF THE BOWELS. 



Four varieties of this condition are met with, viz. 1, acute 

 inflammation of the peritona^al coat ; 2, spasms of the muscular 

 coat, attended with congestion or inflammation, and known as 

 colic ; 3, inflammation of the mucous coat, attended by diarrhoea ; 

 and 4, chronic inflammation, almost always followed by constipa- 

 tion. 



Acute inflammation of the peritonajal coat is known as jjerito- 

 ■nitis and enteritis, according as its attacks are confined to the mem- 

 brane lining the general cavity (perifoncewn), or to that covering 

 the intestines (eiitcroii) ; but, as there is seldom one without more 

 or less of the other, there is little practical use in the distinction. 

 The sijDiptoiiis are ver}^ severe, and are shown by shivering, fever- 



