MEDICINE. 
creased after eating ; tlie pain remits, and 
is sometimes relieved by pressure upon 
the abdomen : this, however, is frequently 
not the case. After a time the pain in- 
creases, becomes permament, and intole- 
rably excruciating ; there is retraction of 
the umbilicus, the integuments of the abdo- 
hien, and the intestines are violently con- 
tracted, and drawn towards the spine, and 
the spasms are often so obstinate, that it is 
with the greatest difficulty a clyster can be 
thrown into the rectum ; the pulse is hard 
and tense, there is obstinate costiveness, 
and often stranguary ; after several attacks 
paralysis comes on, chiefly of the upper ex- 
tremities, although there are numerous cases 
recorded, in which the lower are affected 
also, and sometimes it terminates in swel- 
lings of the joints, and loss of sight ; some- 
times, but more rarely, the disease is suc- 
ceeded by paralysis after the first attack ; 
the patients cannot rest in bed for the vio- 
lence of the disease, and tliey find relief in 
walking about, if they liave sufficient 
strengtli : those who have once laboured 
under the disease are very liable to relapse, 
in which case the disease comes on in a 
more violent manner than before, and the 
recovery is then more slow, and less com- 
plete. In the removal of this violent dis- 
ease, we must, in the first place, restore 
the intestines to their natural irritability, 
by the exhibition of a large dose of opium j 
we should then administer some cathartic 
medicine at proper intervals, as the sulphate 
of magnesia or soda,or the phosphate of soda, 
dissolved in broth, or some aromatic fluid, 
castor or almond, may be givenj combined 
with tincture of senna ; and if the stomach 
be in a very irritable state, the medicines 
must be exhibited in the form of pills, for 
which purpose the calomel. Joined with ex- 
tract of jalap or colocynth, and a few drops 
of some essential oil, will be the most suit- 
able ; laxative clysters will be necessary, to 
which may he added some cathartic salt, or 
oil ; the pain of the abdomen will be re- 
lieved by nibbing it with tepid oil, or by 
applying spiced fomentations, or by the 
warm bath, or by bags of hot sand, and 
similar antispasmodics ; the application of a 
large blister to the abdomen is, however, a 
much more efficacious remedy. When we 
have relieved the urgent symptoms, the 
disease will, on its first attacks, be effectu- 
ally removed by employing mercury inter- 
nally and externally. Mercury must be 
pushed so far as to occasion some affection 
of the mOuth as soon as possible,' aud the 
system must be kept under the influence of 
mercury, in a greater or less degree, accord- 
ing to the violence of the disease, for two 
or three weeks after every symptom of tlie 
disease has disappeared, as it is very apt to 
return, and with increased force. As a dis- 
position to costiveness often remains, it 
should be obviated by some of the above 
cathartics. It sometimes happens that the 
pain in the bowels shifts suddenly, and at- 
tacks the head, causing extreme misery : 
in this case nothing affords so much relief 
as blisters applied to the back, behind the 
ears, and to the temples, successively, ac- 
cording to the urgency or continuance of 
the pain : opiates may be administered at 
the same time with advantage. The para- 
lytic affections, which are the consequence 
of this disease, and the ileus, will be re- 
moved by the internal and external employ- 
ment of Bath waters. 
■ In Diabetes the most prominent symp- 
toms, according to Dr. Rollo, are vora- 
ciousness and keenness of appetite, or a 
frequent craving for food, without the feel 
of entire satiation ; a parched mouth, with 
constant spitting of a thick viscid phlegm, 
of a mawkish, sw'cetish, or bitterish taste ; 
intense thirst ; a whitish tongue, witli red 
bright sides ; red and swelled gums, with 
the teeth feeling as on edge-from acids, and 
loose in their sockets ; head ach ; a dry hot 
skin, with flushing of tlie face ; a pulse most 
generally about eighty-four or six ; an in- 
crease of clear urine, of a light straw co- 
lour, having a sweetish taste, resembling 
sugar, or rather honey and water ; an uuj 
easiness of the stomach and kidneys ; a wast- 
ing of the flesh, a weariness and disinclination 
to motion or exertion, with the feeling of 
weakness ; an excoriation, with soreness of 
tlie glans, penis, and prepuce, which is 
sometimes swelled, and there is no desire 
of venery : in females there is a peculiar 
uneasiness about the liieatus nvinarius. 
The predisposing causes of this disease 
are at present obscure, but the disease has 
been found to occur in those who have in- ' 
dulged in fruits, sweetmeats, pickles, high- 
seasoned food, warm, stimulating condi- 
ments, wine and fermented liquors, or indul- 
gence even in farinaceous foods, with large 
quantities of small beer, accompanied by 
great bodily exercise, with or without ac- 
tive' mental employment ; moisture, grief 
vexation or agitation of mind ; sudden va- 
riations of temperature may also be regard- 
ed as predisposing or exciting causes. The 
proximate cause is supposed to be a mor- 
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