204 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



drastic mineral acids, putrefactive and zymotic poisons, noxious gases, 

 etc. Rest and warm bandages are the best remedies. The antidotes 

 of corrosive poisons will be named in a separate chapter. The pains of 

 gastric spasms, as a consequence of dietetic sins, may be alleviated by 

 manipulation and friction with a moist piece of flannel ; in extreme 

 cases, indicating the presence of virulent acids, by means of a stomach- 

 pump. Generally a semi-horizontal position, reclining on the left side, 

 with the upper part of the body slightly raised, together with local 

 friction, will considerably ease the distressed organ, though intermit- 

 tent griping pangs may continue till the alchemy of the physiological 

 workshop has neutralized the irritating substance. From a kindred 

 affection colic can be distinguished by a simple test : if pressure 

 against the upper part of the groin increases the pain, the complaint 

 is an inflammation of the peritonaeum, but otherwise due to the pres- 

 ence cf acid fluids or expansive gases. Painter'' s colic may be recog- 

 nized by the discoloration of the gums and lips, and can be cured only 

 by the removal of the cause. A napkin, sprinkled with aromatic vine- 

 gar, and tied loosely across the nostrils, will, however, lessen the effect 

 of the noxious effluvia ; and the Italians recommend the internal use 

 of olive-oil (cotton-seed oil would probably serve the same purpose) 

 and wine. For a few days after a severe attack of colic, pure water 

 should be the only drink. 



Flatulence tends to obviate the proximate cause of intestinal cramps. 

 As a concomitant of dyspepsia, it indicates the accumulation of undi- 

 gested food and the necessity of greater abstemiousness. Burnt mag- 

 nesia absorbs gastric acids, but at the same time impairs the functional 

 vigor of the stomach too often to be, on the whole, a lesser evil. It 

 is, however, one of the very few chemical remedies which act, tem- 

 porarily at least, by a direct removal of the proximate cause. Its per- 

 manent removal can be effected only by a change of regimen. 



In the treatment of hcemorrhoids, too, we have to distinguish be- 

 tween palliatives and radical remedies. If the statistics of the com- 

 plaint could be tabulated, I believe it would be found that its centers 

 of distribution coincide with a prevalence of sedentary occupations, 

 combined with the use of narcotic drinks, especially coffee. Monkeys 

 have posterior callosities, and their habits prove that an occasional sit- 

 ting posture is normal to the primates of the animal kingdom. But, in 

 a state of nature at least, our arboreal relatives are too restless to avail 

 themselves of their sitting facilities of tener than five or six times a day 

 — for about a minute at a time. In menageries they become sedate 

 enough for ten-minutes sessions. But a German chancery-clerk has to 

 sit fifteen hours a day, awaiting promotion and the supper-hour, for 

 he is often required to eat his dinner in situ. If his dinner-basket is 

 sent from a cheap boarding-house, it is sure to contain a selection of 

 highly astringent comestibles — tough beef, leathery potato-chips, all- 

 spice, ginger-cakes, and pickles. The accompanying flask contains 



