ice water, as hot as
bearable. _Never apply cold water_ to _any_ inflamed surface, much less
a _mucous_ surface. All food should be withheld as far as practicable
and not starve, until the symptoms abate.

Colic.

The symptoms of this are cramping pains in the abdomen, without fever or
looseness of the bowels. The colic sometimes occurs after the cessation
of a diarrhoea that had been induced by severe cathartics. The pains
are cutting and straining, drawing the bowels into knots, relieved
temporarily by pressure.

TREATMENT.

For a male, _Nux Vom._, and for a female, _Pulsatilla_ will generally
afford immediate relief. In children, especially, where diarrhoea
exists, _Chamomilla_ should be used. If it is the result of severe
cathartics, or if there is a soreness or a bruised feeling, _Colocynth_
is the remedy. Hot injections into the rectum, and large quantities of
warm water taken into the stomach, will often _cure colic_.

Bilious Colic.

This disease, in addition to the symptoms of cutting, cramping pains in
the bowels, as in common colic, has great distress in the stomach, with
nausea and vomiting, the bowels being costive, the feet and hands cold,
sometimes cold sweats occur. There is also considerable fever, and
frequently headache is present. The substance vomited is at first dark
bilious matter, but if the case continues a long time, stercoraceous
(fecal) matter will be thrown up.

TREATMENT.

_Colocynth_ is the most important remedy, and should be given early and
constantly. _Podophyllin_ is next in importance, and it should be given
in alternation with the former, the dose to be repeated as often as
every half hour at first, and as the patient becomes easy, at longer
intervals. In this, as in the former case, great benefit will be derived
from large injections of quite warm water, and let it be taken into the
stomach freely, as hot as can be safely swallowed. I have given a gallon
of hot water in the course of two hours, to a patient suffering under
this disease, the first half pint being rejected, but the balance
remaining, perfect relief having been experienced. If fever continues
after the colic and nausea cease, _Baptisia_ and _Aconite_ should be
given alternately every hour until the fever subsides. If the patient
is, and has been, for some time, costive, _Nux Vomica_ should be given
once in six or eight hours until the bowels move. Injections may also be
used.

Cholera Morbus.