' colic: ITS DEFINITION 



A. Essential, to which may be referred the under- 

 mentioned causes : 



1. CoHc without material cause, as the so-called 



nervous cramp (or rheumatic colic). 



2. Colic consequent upon anomaHes of the intestinal 



contents. Such are : 



{a) Colic produced by overfeeding. 

 {h) Colic brought on by flatulence (wind coHc). 

 (6^) The colic occasioned by stoppages in the 

 intestinal canal. These obstructions 

 may arise from faecal accumulations, 

 stones, concretions, etc. 

 B. Symptomatic. Such are : 



1. The colic produced by worms. 



2. The colic resulting from poisons. 



3. Colic brought on by structural disease and 



changes in the relative position of the 

 intestines; colic occasioned by acute catarrh 

 and croup affecting the delicate mucous 

 membrane of the colon ; colic from carbun- 

 cular formations on the mucous membrane; 

 colic from dysentery, and from so-called 

 internal cramp ; cohc from wounds of the 

 stomach and entrails, and colic from spon- 

 taneous laceration or perforation of those 



organs. 



4. Colic resulting from morbid conditions of the 

 abdomen and the covering of the intestines 

 (peritoneum). 



A mere perusal of this extensive and complete classi- 

 fication of the varieties of colic will serve to impress upon 

 us the absolute necessity of looking for much more than 

 the mere exhibition of pain on the part of our patient in 



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