DIETETICS. 



rated by aloetic purgatives. Magnesia is 

 seldom useful, whether alone or in com- 

 bination. Calcareous earths often pro- 

 duce febrile heat, and augment the impe- 

 diments to digestion. In some cases, 

 however, of very chronic acidity, and 

 when the bowels are tolerably free, con- 

 siderable advantage may be derived from 

 lime-water prepared with oyster-shells, 

 as a purer form of calcareous earth than 

 that which is dug out of a chalk-pit, and 

 from bark prepared with lime-water. The 

 addition of natron, or aq. kali, to bark or 

 other bitters, is sometimes advantageous, 

 particularly if the case be complicated 

 with glandular affection; in the same 

 manner soda-water is beneficial, and from 

 the tonic power of the light carbonic acid 

 it contains ; the good effect of ammonia 

 taken into the stomach, may depend in 

 some measure on its alkaline nature, but 

 seems principally to be produced by its 

 grateful stimulus, both in the form in 

 which it is taken, and after it may have 

 been combined into a neutral ammoniacal 

 salt, by union with any acid it may meet 

 with. * Nothing, however, can be more 

 capricious than the stomach in hypochon- 

 driacs, and in all those diseases where 

 acidity habitually prevails : it is particu- 

 larly to be noticed that vitrolic acid, with 

 bark or without it, is often essentially 

 useful, and this, where acidity in the sto- 

 mach is continual ; the utility of this acid 

 is certainly in defiance of all chemical 

 reasoning, and may depend upon its as- 

 tringency, whereby it probably prevents 

 the secretion of acid fluid into the sto- 

 mach, or of such fluid as is ready to be- 

 come acid, and in some measure on its 

 power of preventing fermentation. To- 

 nics for the most part are necessary, but 

 it is almost impossible to lay down any 

 form of them to be pursued for any 

 length of time ; the stomach is common- 

 ly soon disgusted with any individual 

 preparations, and it is often very difficult 

 to suit its variation of aptitude by the 

 most judicious changes of medicine, 

 which, however, must always be attempt- 

 ed, since there is not any case of disease 

 which is so frequently aggravated by ne- 

 glect. 



Steel is a doubtful medicine. Where 

 the head is chiefly affected, it is sure to 

 do harm. And even in cases in which we 

 may conceive that some chalybeate water, 

 as that of Tunbridge, or some chemical 

 preparation of steel, may be employed, it 

 will be necessary to discontinue their use 

 for some time, on the first approach or 

 return of the affection of the head. When 



the spasm affects the voluntary muscles 

 of the body, the trial of steel is indicated, 

 and its use appears sometimes considera- 

 bly to contribute to the prevention of the 

 return of dyspeptic symptoms and of pain 

 in the stomach, as well as to the general 

 tone and strength. 



The spasms about the hypochondria 

 very frequently cannot be relieved with- 

 out opium, and in this case also the solid 

 form of it is the best, as it is applied con- 

 stantly by gradual solution to the parts 

 immediately affected, and produces much 

 less injury to the stomach and to the sys- 

 tem than if given in a fluid state. Yet in 

 neither way should we have recourse to it 

 but when impelled by the supreme com- 

 mand of dire necessity; for at best it is 

 but a temporary remedy, and the irrita- 

 bility generally returns with augmenta- 

 tion from its use. In cases of less ex- 

 tremity, the fetid gums, in the form of 

 pills, camphor, aether, and Hoffman's 

 anodyne liquor, will be often found high- 

 ly serviceable, and will prove innocent of 

 the baneful effects of opium. Flatulency 

 is often much relieved by increasing the 

 muscular action of the stomach and in- 

 testines; and mustard, horse-radish, and 

 other such stimuli, are useful, either in 

 the forms in which they are served at 

 table, or the mustard-seed may be taken 

 whole, orthe officinal and other prepara- 

 tions of horse-radish may be employed. 

 In cases of sick -head-ache opium must, as 

 much as possible, be avoided; to in- 

 crease the power of the stomach and re- 

 gulate the bowels are here tha principal 

 objects. 



With regard to external remedies, 

 blisters and other applications, soliciting* 

 discharge, are commonly very unneces- 

 sary torments, and are very seldom just- 

 ly applicable. Frictions on the hypo- 

 chondria with volatile liniments often 

 give very considerable relief. Cold bath- 

 ing has been advised, but generally seems 

 to disagree with persons of a seden- 

 tary constitution, especially if advanced 

 in years. 



Upon air and exercise mti'ch has been 

 written ; and some things have been writ- 

 ten erroneously. The air of large cities 

 is indisputably injurous to all debilitated 

 invalids ; and to hypochondriacs a pure 

 air is peculiarly to be recommended. Yet 

 seclusion is so baneful, that the good ef- 

 fects of a purer air will be more than 

 counterbalanced, if an hypochondriac shut 

 himself up constantly by his fire-side in 

 his country study, or retire from society 

 into indolence and apathy. Cold piercing? 



