r, which sounds on being struck with the finger, these
patients seldom recover. Opiates given along with the cathartics I believe
to be frequently injurious in inflammation of the bowels, though they may
thus be given with advantage in the saturnine colic; the pain and
constipation in which disease are owing to torpor or inactivity, and not to
too great action.
III. Violent errhines and sialagogues. 1. Turpeth mineral in the quantity
of one grain mixed with ten grains of sugar answers every purpose to be
expected from errhines. Their operation is by inverting the motions of the
lymphatics of the membrane, which lines the nostrils, and the caverns of
the forehead and cheeks; and may thence possibly be of service in the
hydrocephalus internus.
Some other violent errhines, as the powder of white hellebore, or Cayan
pepper, diluted with some less acrid powder, are said to cure some cold or
nervous head-achs; which may be effected by inflaming the nostrils, and
thus introducing the sensorial power of sensation, as well as increasing
that of irritation; and thus to produce violent action of the membranes of
the nostrils, and of the frontal and maxillary sinuses, which may by
association excite into action the torpid membranes, which occasion the
head-ach.
2. A copious salivation without any increase of heat often attends hysteric
diseases, and fevers with debility, owing to an inversion of the lymphatics
of the mouth, see Class I. 1. 2. 6. The same occurs in the nausea, which
precedes vomiting; and is also excitable by disagreeable tastes, as by
squills, or by nauseous smells, or by nauseous ideas. These are very
similar to the occasional discharge of a thin fluid from the nostrils of
some people, which recurs at certain periods, and differs from defective
absorption.
IV. Violent diuretics. 1. If nitre be given from a dram to half an ounce in
a morning at repeated draughts, the patient becomes sickish, and much pale
water is thrown into the bladder by the inverted action of the urinary
lymphatics. Hence the absorption in ulcers is increased and the cure
forwarded, as observed by Dr. Rowley.
2. Cantharides taken inwardly so stimulate the neck of the bladder as to
increase the discharge of mucus, which appears in the urine; but I once saw
a large dose taken by mistake, not less than half an ounce or an ounce of
the tincture, by which I suppose the urinary lymphatics were thrown into
violent inverted motions, for the p
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