THERAPEUTICS.-A CRITICISM. 
695 
action, try it in 8 to 12 ounce doses (the granular salt being the 
best), and you may add creolin to the mixture in 3 ij to 3 iv 
doses. In intestinal flatulence the hyposulphite of soda is of no 
value whatever. Try some of the following antiferments: 
Salicylic acid, naphthalin, or creolin, a favorite mixture of mine 
in these cases, being 
o 
1 $ Tr. capsici., 
Spts. amnion, arom., aa §jss. 
Ac. salicylici, 
. Naphthalinum, aa 3 iij. 
M. big. : Give at one dose in a pint or pint and a half of water. 
Of course, such drugs as turpentine, spts. camphor, oil of 
peppermint, sulphuric aether, etc., may be added. Anodynes in 
these cases are rarely needed, as the pain, or rather the distress, 
is caused by the distension of the bowels, and possibly inter¬ 
ference with respiration.; besides, anodynes are apt to produce 
paralysis of the bowels, especially where they have been dis¬ 
tended for some time. Of course, I believe in the use of the 
trocar, and when the pulse is in fair condition and the intes¬ 
tines are not paralyzed, I may use eserine. As to the adminis¬ 
tration of an aloetic purge after cases of colic, I would admonish 
you to be careful. Where the colic was due to congestion of the 
bowels or where great irritation and prostration exist, a purga¬ 
tive may set up enteritis and make a bad ending to what might 
have been a success. Often aloes is administered when oil 
should be used, or perhaps when the bowels should have been 
left alone. In impaction of the bowels, it is well to ascertain 
whether that condition is due to lack of secretion or to paralysis 
of the intestines. 
If to the former the regular purgative may be administered ; 
if to the latter it will be useless and possibly dangerous, except 
oil is admissible ; give something on the plan of the follow- 
ing. Fluid extract belladonna, fluid extract physostigmatis, 
and fluid extract nucis vomica, and I sometimes add fluid 
extract colchicum seminis. This is best administered in small, 
often-repeated doses. As to rectal injections, I prefer glycer¬ 
ine ; inject about two ounces at a time, adding a little water, 
if necessary, to thin sufficiently for your syringe to take it up. 
