tronger
by an accumulation of sensorial power during its decreased action. This
decreased action of the stomach may be either induced by want of stimulus,
as in the sickness which attends hunger; or it may be induced by temporary
want of irritability, as in cold fits of fever; or from habitual want of
irritability, as the vomiting of enfeebled drunkards. Or lastly, by having
been previously too violently stimulated by an emetic drug, as by
ipecacuanha.

M. M. A blister. An emetic. Opium. Warmth of a bed, covering the face for a
while with the bed-clothes. Crude mercury. A poultice with opium or
theriaca externally.

5. _Cholera._ When not only the stomach, as in the last article, but also
the duodenum, and ilium, as low as the valve of the colon, have their
motions inverted; and great quantities of bile are thus poured into the
stomach; while at the same time some branches of the lacteals become
retrograde, and disgorge their contents into the upper part of the
alimentary canal; and other branches of them disgorge their contents into
the lower parts of it beneath the valve of the colon; a vomiting and
purging commence together, which is called cholera, as it is supposed to
have its origin from increased secretion of bile; but I suppose more
frequently arises from putrid food, or poisonous drugs, as in the case
narrated in Sect. XXV. 13. where other circumstances of this disease are
explained. See Class II. 1. 2. 11.

The cramps of the legs, which are liable to attend cholera, are explained
in Class III. 1. 1. 14.

6. _Ileus._ Consists in the inverted motions of the whole intestinal canal,
from the mouth to the anus; and of the lacteals and absorbents which arise
from it. In this pitiable disease, through the valve of the colon, through
the pylorus, the cardia, and the pharinx, are ejected, first, the contents
of the stomach and intestines, with the excrement and even clysters
themselves; then the fluid from the lacteals, which is now poured into the
intestines by their retrograde motions, is thrown up by the mouth; and,
lastly, every fluid, which is absorbed by the other lymphatic branches,
from the cellular membrane, the skin, the bladder, and all other cavities
of the body; and which is then poured into the stomach or intestines by the
retrograde motions of the lacteals; all which supply that amazing quantity
of fluid, which is in this disease continually ejected by vomiting. See
Sect. XXV. 15. for a further expla