DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM. 185 



Crcatmcnt. 



A stimulating application to the belly is indicated. For 

 this iise the ammoniacal liniment, or the fleece may be clipped 

 close and a mustard plaster applied. Purgatives in this disease 

 should never be used. Opium, combined with quinine, and per- 

 haps belladonna and camphor, will often aiiord relief. Give 

 mucilaginous fluids instead of clear water to drink; during con- 

 valescence administer mild diffusible stimiilants, such as solution 

 of ammonia acetate in drachm doses, and should constipation be 

 present use rectal injections to counteract it. On no account 

 use purgatives. A prescription for enteritis may be written as 

 follows : 



Take. Laudanum 1^ ounces 



Spirits of camphor 6 drachms 



Fluid extract belladonna leaves. . .2 drachms 

 Alcohol 6-| ounces 



Mi::. Give one tablespoonful every three hours in quarter 

 pint of warm gruel. The counter-irritation in the form of ex- 

 ternal applications to the belly should not be neglected in these 

 cases, and, as stated above, the application of mustard will afford 

 much relief 



Diarrhoea, or Super-purgation. 



This is an unnaturally fluid condition of the faeces, result- 

 ing from mismanagement and neglect. It exists either as a 

 functional disturbance or a symptom of some other condition. 

 It is caused by some irritant in the stomach or bowels, which 

 produces an increase in their peristaltic motions, an excessive 

 amount of water being extracted from the capillary blood ves- 

 sels in the mesentery, and thrown out into the bowel. This 

 gives rise to an increased thirst, which unless controlled will only 

 increase the trouble. Abundant and watery diet, unripe grasses, 

 sudden changes in the food, exposure to inclement climatic con- 



