MEDICINAL TREATMENT OF "COLICS" 129 



Do not fail to use eserine at the start. 



In a number of cases of intestinal flatulence or gastro- 

 intestinal flatulence, a fever may prevail for several days. 

 This denotes autointoxication and should be combated 

 by a liberal dose of raw linseed oil (one and one-half to 

 two pints), and the administration of naphthalin in two- 

 dram doses, three or four times daily. 



Betanaphthol is also very good as is phenyl salicylate 

 or salol and hexamethylenamine (commonly known as 

 urotropin) ; all may be used in about two-dram doses. 



The first-named is preferred by the writer. 



Impaction of the Bowels 



This ailment is one that, if properly treated, rarely 

 destroys life, yet many losses occur from it, due to treat- 

 ment being forced. I refer especially to the use of aloes 

 and other powerful purgatives. 



When there is impaction, there is paralysis of the 

 bowels; this paralysis differs in no material way from 

 paralysis of a leg. Would you expect to cure paralysis 

 of a leg with repeated doses of aloes? I dare say not. 

 Does the physician expect to overcome paralysis of an 

 arm with irritating purgatives? He certainly does not. 



In impaction, besides the paralysis of the bowels (whole 

 or partial), we have the hard dry mass of feces with 

 which to contend. 



The danger from impaction of the bowels lies in : 



1. Death from starvation and exhaustion. 



2. Death from autointoxication. 



3. Death from gangrene (rare). 



4. Death from enteritis. 



