PREVENTION, SYMPTOMS AND TREATMENT I37 



with glairy mucus, coated tongue, feces hard and containing 

 undigested food, occasional vomiting with or without colic; of 

 intestinal catarrh are diarrhea, borborygmus and slight flatulence. 

 The diarrhea may not be present in case the small intestine is the 

 seat, but the feces will be covered with mucus, contain undigested 

 food, and jaundice is often present. Fever is slight in both the 

 gastric and intestinal forms, in most cases. With high fever and 

 colic, see Gastro-enteritis (p. 90). 



Treatment is symptomatic. In impaction of the stomach with 

 eructations, retching, pain and distention over the stomach, the use 

 of the stomach tube is the most effective measures. With flatulence 

 and fermentation in stomach and intestine a cathartic should be 

 given, as aloes, 4 drams; with calomel, y 2 dram in ball. If there 

 be much pain, see Colic (p. 54). 



Intestinal antiseptics are not of great value, but a ball contain- 

 ing 4 drams of lysol may be given twice daily. A powder con- 

 sisting of nux vomica, sodium bicarbonate and ginger (2 drams 

 of first with 4 drams of two latter) will tend to improve the di- 

 gestive functions, after the first symptoms are relieved. 



The use of diluted hydrochloric acid, 1 dram, with 2 drams of 

 fluidextract of nux vomica, may also be used to stimulate the gas- 

 tric functions. 



Intestinal catarrh with diarrhea is combated with 3ss of cal- 

 omel in a pint of linseed oil. Following this, opium in some form 

 is indicated — as powdered opium and tannin, each 3ii in ball twice 

 daily; or laudanum and tine, camphor, each §i-ii, with 1 dram of 

 tine, capsici. 



If the irritation is in the lower bowel, with escape of much 

 mucus and straining, high enemata twice daily of normal salt 

 solution (one level teaspoon ful of salt to pint), or a 1 per cent 

 tannin solution, may be used. 



The diet is of chief importance in all digestive troubles. Fast- 

 ing is in order at first, for 24 hours or so, and then a little green 



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