Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 2, 1802).djvu/256

226&#93; 226] EMO blood to the head, breast, stomach, or liver; 2. In actual inflamma- tion of •the intestines 5 3. Instates of extreme languor and debility ; 4. In every species of ruptures, and prolapses; 5. In violent pain pro- ceeding from stones confined in the bilious or urinary passages j 6. In obstructions of the bowels, and other abdominal parts ; 7. In persons of very rigid fibres, for in- stance, the aged and emaciated; 8. In a very weak or affected state of the lungs, liver and stomach ; 9. In a deformed structure of the body, or some particular parts ; for which reason emetics might prove dangerous to persons trou- bled with a hump-back, a very short neck, narrow chest, Sec. Having stated the principal cir- cumstances, which either indicate or prohibit the taking of emetics, we trust the reader will agree with us, that they are potent remedies, and that it requires the judgment of an expert medical practitioner to determine their utility. With respect to the different substances employed to induce vo- miting, we refer to those heads of the alphabet under which they are treated, such as Ipecacuanha, Tartar Emetic, See. — One of the mildest emetics may be made, ac- cording to Dr. Lixn, by plunging red-hot pebbles into weak wine, or flint glass thus heated into cold wat< r ; a tea-spoonful of either may be taken every five or ten minutes, till it produces the desired effect. — ■ Another easy way to induce vomit- ing, is, a strong infusion of green tea. drunk lukewarm, without milk or sugar, and assisted by the occa- sional irritation of the fauces and larynx, by means of a soft feather. • — See Vomiting. EMOLLIENTS are those me- EMU dicines which are supposed to soften and relax the fibres of the bodv, either by mechanically dis- tending such as before were too closely, that is, preternaturally combined; or, by penetrating into the interstices of the elementary fibres, and supplying those parti- cles, from a deficiency of which they were too intimately united. Among the remedies of the former class are chiefly heat, and all unctu- ous applications ; such as lard, wax, fat of venison, &c. : to the latter belong all juicy, mucilagin- ous, and saccharine substances, serving both as nutriment and me- dicines. Of this description are the expressed vegetable oils, fresh but- ter, decoctions of the marsh-mal- lows, infusions of linseed, &c. Emollients are indicated: 1. When the fibres are in too rigid a state ; 2. When they are spasmo- dically contracted; 3. In all active inflammations ; and 4. In obstinate cosliveness, or accumulations of feces in the intestines. EMULSION, a form of medi- cine resembling milk, and which is often prescribed with a view to sheath and neutralize acrid hu- mours, especially in heat of urine and stranguries, as well as for ner- vous and irritable habits in general. Emulsions are frequently made* by boiling the oily and farinaceous seeds contained in kernels; in which case they are soon decomposed, on standing. In short, we cannot even approve of almond-milk, as it soon becomes rancid in summer, and is, upon the whole, inferior to emulsions made of gum-arabic, or merely of decoctions of pearl-bar- ley, blanched oats, wheat, rice, Sec. — If these simple medicines are ex- pected to be productive of any ad- vantage, they ought to be taken in draughts,