232 THE TREATMENT OF DISEASES. 



Lime water is often of great benefit in young children suffering from chronic vomit- 

 ing and diarrhoea, and consequent wasting. It improves the digestion and removes 

 the irritating condition of the urine, which is so common an accompaniment. It 

 neutralises any excess of acid that may be present in the bowels. It may be given 

 in milk : one part of lime water to three of milk. 



Opium is an excellent remedy in almost all kinds of diarrhoea, although it must 

 be confessed that in this, as in the case of several of the following, the indications 

 for its employment are not as yet very strictly denned. It may be given in the 

 form of laudanum in a twenty-drop dose in a little water. This is for an adult ; it 

 must never be given to children. 



Acetate of Lead (sugar of lead) is another good remedy. It should be given in 

 five-grain doses every four hours, as in Pr. 30. It will also arrest bleeding at the 

 same time. * It is suitable for obstinate cases. 



Oxide of Zinc is also useful in diarrhoea. It may be given in the form of the 

 pills (Pr. 66), two to be taken every three hours. 



Sulphate of Copper, or blue stone, is sometimes used in obstinate cases. It is a 

 veiy powerful astringent, and should be used witji a certain amount of caution, and 

 only in severe cases. The same may be said of nitrate of silver. Either may be 

 given in half-grain doses made into a pill. 



Gallic Acid, Tannic Acid, Catechu, and Kino are all useful in simple cases of 

 diarrhoea, and a mixture containing several of these astringents may be given. 



Bismuth is a remedy which often succeeds when everything else has failed. A 

 drachm of the nitrate of bismuth should be given in milk several times a day. This 

 dose is larger than is usually recommended, but it will not disturb the stomach or 

 cause any inconvenience. It is a remedy of which we can speak highly in obstinate 

 cases. We have seen it succeed when almost everything else has been tried in 

 vain. Children do very well with smaller doses, but on the Continent they are 

 frequently given from thirty to sixty grains hourly. 



Ckhrodyne is a remedy not to be despised. It is not a great favourite with 

 doctors because it is a patent medicine, but that is a matter of very little conse- 

 quence if it will cure you. 



These are the remedies to be given by the mouth, but sometimes, when the case 

 is urgent, it is absolutely necessary to give an injection. The quantity of fluid 

 employed for the injection should be small, or the bowel will contract and expel it, 

 whereas it is desirable that it should be retained as long as possible, in order to 

 exert its influence. An injection of an ounce (two table-spoonfuls), or at most two 

 ounces, is sufficient for an adult; and it may be repeated several times a day, 

 according to the urgency of the symptoms. The material used for these injections 

 is starch and water of the consistence of cream, and of about the heat of the body. 

 A starch injection alone is often useful, but its astringent and sedative action is 

 greatly heightened by the addition, for an adult, of twenty drops of laudanum. 

 Five grains of acetate of lead added to the injection will do much to increase its 

 efficacy. An injection will often save a life that appeared almost hopeless. 

 Sulphate of copper or bismuth may at the same time be given by the mouth. 



Many doctors employ cold or tepid packing in diarrhoea, especially in the 



