130 THE TREATMENT OF DISEASES. 



people who suffer from liver complaint are subject to piles. In fact, 

 some doctors have gone so far as to say that, if a person complains of piles, it should 

 make you suspect that his liver is out of order. The two conditions are undoubtedly 

 very frequently associated. 



Often enough there is considerable derangement of the liver it performing its 

 functions very imperfectly without any pain over the region of that organ. In 

 many cases, however, there is a sensation of weight, fulness, tightness, or even 

 burning, just below the ribs on the left side. When the bowels are neglected, 

 or if the patient continue to indulge in rich food and alcoholic stimulants, 

 the pain may become very severe. It is usually increased after meals 'and by 

 lying on the left side. 



Aching pains in the limbs, and lassitude coming on about an hour after a full 

 meal, sometimes associated with an irresistible tendency to drowsiness, are symptoms 

 often resulting from the liver being out of order. Sometimes complaint is made of 

 a dull heavy aching in the right or, more rarely, the left shoulder, or under the 

 shoulder-blade. Burning or scalding of the palms of the hands and soles of the 

 feet a complaint very common with those who indulge largely in alcohol is often 

 an accompaniment of liver disorder. This curious sensation may be persifbeiit, 

 but far more frequently it is transient, coming and going by fits and starts. Cramps 

 in the calves of the legs, the abdomen, and other parts are not uncommon, and are 

 often very distressing. They usually come on during the night, occurring most 

 commonly in cold or damp weather. They seem, in some instances, to be associated 

 with a tendency to gout. 



People whose livers act badly often suffer from headache. It usually takes the 

 form of a dull heavy pain, either in the forehead or more frequently at the back of 

 the head. It is experienced chiefly on awaking in the morning, and may either 

 speedily pass off or last the whole day, or even for several days. This form of 

 headache may in susceptible persons be produced by constipation, or by any little 

 indiscretion in diet. Megrim, or sick head, is not always caused by liver derangement, 

 but it is sometimes. 



Giddiness, dimness of sight, double vision, and many other similar curious symp- 

 toms, are undoubtedly dependent in many instances on congestion of the liver and 

 a deficient flow of bile. An attack may often be excited by certain articles, such as 

 fat and sugar, which, as we have seen, are especially likely to disagree with bilious 

 people. A good purge to rouse up the liver often succeeds in effecting a cure more 

 quickly than anything. The case is recorded of a gentleman who was seized with 

 dimness of sight and giddiness every night while writing. He took iron, quinine, 

 and other tonics, but got worse instead of better. He was told that he must give 

 up his profession for a time, and try the effect of change of scene and air ; but before 

 taking so serious a step, he took a few doses of blue-pill, and the symptoms at once 

 and permanently disappeared. 



People are often met with who complain of numbness, tingling and pricking 

 sensations, as if the part were asleep, or a feeling of coldness or creeping in the 

 arms or legs of one or both sides. These disagreeable sensations often last for 

 months or years, and may be associated with headache, nausea, and depression of 



