circulation, blisters should be applied to the feet, the thighs, and arms; or the Stimulating Poultice, p. 122, to the feet. The room should be kept dark and quiet, and the patient supported with barley-water, acidulated with lemon-juice. Such is the delicate structure of the seat of the inflammation, that no time should be lost in the employment of these means, which, from the feeble state of the pulse, are too often neglected by timid or inexperienced practitioners, till the brain has sustained irreparable mischief. The Saline Mixture may likewise be given every three or four hours, as directed, p. 114, to which six or eight drops of the Prussic acid, or one drachm of the tincture of foxglove, may be added; but, in inflammatory attacks of a part of such delicate structure, and so essential to life as the brain, the advice of the most skilful and experienced practitioner in the neighbourhood should be resorted to in the earliest stage of the attack.* The state of the mind should, in this disease, be particularly attended to. The medical writers of antiquity have, with regard to this, given many very judicious directions. Aretæus remarks several circumstances, apparently minute, but, in reality, very important. Thus he advises, "quiet and calmness both to the sick person and his attendants, and that he should be placed in a chamber of moderate size, with the walls smooth, uniform, and regular, without projections, and not ornamented with variety of colours or paintings, as they are apt to distract the mind, and impose on the patient for realities. He orders even the bedclothes to be smooth, and of a regular surface, that the patient may not be induced to fatigue himself by picking the irregularities. He also directs that some of his most intimate friends may have access to him, and, by amusing discourse and mild expressions, endeavour to pacify and compose his perturbation of mind. He recommends, likewise, a compliance, as far as possible, with all the desires of the patient, especially if he be prone to anger and violence. If light be offensive, or seem to aggravate the disorder, by suggesting objects to the imagination, he orders the chamber to be kept dark; but if darkness, from the uncertain state of mind it induces, cause dread and horror, light is directed to be let in." Coelius Aurelianus, a physician of great celebrity in his time, agrees in most of these points with Aretæus, to which he adds some useful cautions of his own. Thus he directs"the light to be mild and gentle, as of a lamp, or that of Routine physicians, whose practice is governed by the state of the pulse, and the effect more than the cause of disease, too often confound this affection with putrid fever; and, instead of the depleting plan recommended above, treat the phrenetic symptoms as delirium from debility. The pulse, observes the learned Celsus, res fallacissima est; and in this disease it is particularly so. the day, let in through a small aperture, and directed principally to the face of the patient, as an object to fix his attention, and thus prevent the mind wandering in uncertain thoughts and ideas; a precaution frequently useful in modern practice, and known to be of the greatest efficacy in calming delirium when not very violent. He also recommends that such persons should not be admitted to him, to whom he bore any aversion or dislike in his natural state of health; and that those people should be introduced whom he had been accustomed to respect and reverence; but that the visits of these should be only at intervals, in order that the influence of the mind might not be destroyed by habit and familiarity." All these precautions are extremely proper, being founded on reason and experience. These directions, however, more apply to the delirium attendant on low or irritative fever, than active inflammation of the brain; as in the latter instance the patient is for the most part in a state of insensibility. INFLAMMATION OF THE EYE. SYMPTOMS. Pain, redness, heat, and tension of the ball of the eye, or its membranes, accompanied with intolerance of light, and generally with an effusion of hot acrid tears. CAUSFS.- External injury, excessive light, minute examinations, repeated intoxication*, intense heat, and obstructed perspiration, are the most frequent causes of this disease. TREATMENT. The repeated application of eight or twelve leeches to the eyelids or temples, blisters to the nape of the neck, the occasional use of the Purgative Mixture (A), p. 113, the constant application of the Discutient Lotion (D), p. 127 (by means of folded old linen), the Saline Mixture, p. 114, a dark room, and low diet, are all indispensably necessary in the treatment of this disease, and should be speedily employed, to prevent mischief, as opacity of the cornea, &c. If the inflammation continue after the employment of these remedies, the blister should be kept open by dressings of the savin ointment, and the aperient mixture, application of leeches, &c. repeated; and if the patient be of a plethoric habit of body, or suffer from a determination of blood to the brain, producing pulsating or beating pain in the head, or giddiness, the extraction of blood from the jugular Inflammation, or redness of the eyes, is a distinguishing badge of a drunkard, remarked by the vulgar, as if to point him out by the finger of scorn. "Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath abbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes?” says Solomon. "They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine." + This effusion, terminating in adhesions of the layers, of which the transparent cornea consists, produces opacity, and is a very common cause of blindness. vein or arm will also be proper. When the disease occurs periodically, or in a scrofulous habit, the Antiscrofulous Mixture (A), p. 111, should be substituted for the saline mixture, after due evacuations by the means above suggested. In case of much pain, six or eight drops of a strong solution of opium or morphine in water (filtered) may be dropped within the eyelids at bedtime, or twice a day, which will not only allay the pain, but often succeed in speedily dispersing the inflammation, particularly after the operation of the aperient medicine, &c. The electric aura applied to the eyes, is much recommended by Mr. Samuel Cam, an ingenious surgeon of Hereford, in whose practice, at the General Infirmary of that county, it has proved very successful. When the inflammation is deep-seated, and proves obstinate, five grains of blue pill may be administered with the saline mixture three times a day, till the gums are slightly affected, with the occasional abstraction of blood, the constant use of the cooling lotion, and the occasional exhibition of the purgative mixture. If the inflammation arise from venereal taint, the internal use of mercury will be absolutely necessary. A low diet should be strictly observed. When inflammation of the eyes occurs in subjects whose absorbent system is naturally delicate (termed the scrofulous habit), or in gouty subjects, it is generally of a very obstinate nature; and after the system is quieted by the foregoing means, will likewise require the treatment recommended for king's evil to complete the cure, particularly the prepared natron, the alterative pills, and decoction of marshmallow root. (See ALTERATIVES, p. 3.) When the subject is gouty, the ammoniated tincture of colchicum seeds should be given, as directed p. 149. Chronic inflammation of the edges of the eyelids will also require the same constitutional remedies, which, with the use of the following ointment, will effect a cure: Take of Prepared Calomel, 1 drachm. ounce. To be applied to the edges of the eyelids, and particularly within the corners of the eyes, every night and morning, by means of a fine camel-hair pencil. In such cases, an issue in the neck or arm, and the Antiscrofulous Mixture (A), p. 111, will prevent a recurrence. Infants born in winter are very subject to sore eyes, from the action of the cold air on them. All that is requisite in such cases, is to keep the head warm, and wash the eyes with fresh rose-water. If the inflammation should increase, it will be proper to add two grains of white vitriol to four ounces of rose or E E elder-flower water, which should be dropped within the eyelids once or twice a day, and often applied externally by means of some fine lint; the bowels should likewise be emptied by a little magnesia and rhubarb, in mint-water. When the symptoms run high, the application of leeches to the eyelids, and a blister to the nape of the neck, or behind the ears, will be necessary. Infants are sometimes attacked with sore eyes a few days after birth, attended with a discharge of thick matter, which, if not skilfully treated, may terminate in blindness; and, being very rapid in its progress, the advice of an experienced surgeon should be taken on its first appearance. In this case, the bowels should be emptied twice or three times a week, by one or two grains of calomel, with or without rhubarb, as the state of the bowels may indicate; and folds of fine old linen frequently immersed in the following lotion, should be kept constantly to the eyes, and a little poured between the eyelids two or three times a day : Take of Acetate of Zinc, And Acetate of Ceruse, of each 4 grains. For this species of inflammation of the eyes, a respectable surgeon recommends, in the Monthly Gazette of Health, a few drops of the following solution to be dropped within the eye-lids every night and morning: Take of Sulphate of Copper, 1 grain. 4 ounces. In some cases he increased the quantity of the sulphate of copper to three grains. PREVENTION. People subject to inflammatory attacks of the eyes or eye-lids, should pay particular attention to the state of the digestive organs, and on any symptom of indigestion, or determination of blood to the head, should immediately take the Purgative Pills (A), p. 117. The eyes should likewise be washed every morning with cold water, to which a little brandy may be added on the appearance of redness or fresh irritation; but the most effectual preventive is, an issue in the arm or nape neck. of the High-seasoned dishes, strong wines, and spirituous liquors, should be avoided. The feet should be kept warm by the use of thick worsted socks. OF INFLAMMATION OF THE INTESTINES. — SYMPTOMS. This disease is distinguished by a fixed pain in the belly, which is increased by pressure, attended with the usual symptoms of fever, costiveness and vomiting. The pain is felt in different parts of the bowels, according to the seat of the inflammation, and very often it spreads over the whole belly, and is felt more especially about the navel. The pulse is quick, hard, and small; the urine high-coloured; the abdominal muscles frequently contracted. CAUSES. It may be occasioned by external contusion; by acrid articles of various kinds taken into the stomach; frequently by very cold drink, swallowed when the body is warm; or cold applied to the lower extremities, or belly itself: it is sometimes produced by costiveness; and often supervenes in the progress of colic; or is also occasioned by the strangulation of a protruded portion of the intestines in a rupture, or what is commonly termed a broken belly. TREATMENT. Copious bleeding, the frequent exhibition of an emollient clyster of starch, fomentations, the warm vapour bath or sudatory, a large blister on the belly, small anodyne clysters, occasionally injected, are the most effectual remedies in the first stage of this violent disease. If vomiting be an attendant, great care must be taken not to aggravate it either by the quantity or quality of any thing thrown into the stomach. Such is the nature of this complaint, that we cannot be too cautious either in administering medicines or diluents by the mouth; for the capacity of the intestinal canal is often so diminished, as to be sometimes nearly obliterated or shut up; and a quantity of any kind of liquid or aliment, however simple in itself, must, by distending the intestines, or being forced against the obstruction, necessarily increase the irritation and mischief. The propriety of administering aperient medicines is to be questioned, as the irritation they produce may aggravate the inflammation; the frequent use of emollient clysters will supersede their necessity, and at the same time act as a fomentation to the parts. Almond emulsion, with a little gum arabic dissolved in it, is the only medicine that can be admitted with safety. The solution of acetate of morphine may, in some cases, be employed with great advantage; but in others, it may prove as injurious:clysterwise it is generally more efficacious than when given by the mouth. When the pain remits, and the violence of the symptoms abates, mild diluents may be allowed, as chicken broth, linseed tea, &c.; and if such liquors be retained without aggravating the symptoms, a little fresh castor oil may be given every three or four hours till it procure a pas sage. If that state of the intestine be suspected to exist, technically termed volvulus or introsusception that is, a preternatural ingress of one portion of the intestine into the other, or a reduplicature of the intestine quicksilver, in the quantity of an ounce, should be given; and, as its effects are entirely mechanical, |