Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 3, 1802).djvu/353

331&#93; PAL Cure, li the patient be of a full ^abit, veneiieclion will produce immediate relief; after which he ouglit to drink, libt-Tally, weak and warm liquors; and to take mode- rate exercise in the open air. The tirst passages bhould likewise be cleansed, by niCLUis oi infusions oi rhubarb, and senna, or similar mild laxatives. Clysters will also be found occasionally servicea "^le : and considerable benefit has been de- rived from frequent bathing of the .jcet in warm water. — In spasmodic cases, where the palpitation is in- duced by HYPOCHONDRIAC AF- FECTION, HYSTErLics, &:c. it may be relieved by employing the reme- dies pointed out, under the respec- tive heads of those disorders. PALSY, or Pa/alijsis, a disease in which the patient is partly de- prived of the power of voluntary motion; and which is often attend- ed with sleep. One of the most frequent forms of the palsy is that, in which all the muscles on one side of the body are attacked, when the disorder is called a hemiplegia. If the power of motion and sense of feeling in the lower half of the body be impaired, the complaint is denominated paraplegia. Some- times, aho, it affeds the tongue, Jips, or other parts, in which cases . it is termed Local Palsy. PecuUayilics : All the varieties of this complaint, more generally ap- pear in the agt d than in the young 3nd robust : — the left side is in most instances the seat of the dis- ease. Its hereditary nature is evi- dent, from cases in which the fingers have been found paralytic from tlie birth ; and it has also, though sel- dom, assumed a periodical state. Causes : Palsies are induced by whatever prevents the nervous power ffom acting on any particu- PAL hi^ lar part of the human frame. Th« mope remote causes are, intoxica- tion, the immoderate use of tobacco, coflee,or tea 3 chronic rheumatism ; w^ounds of the brain, or spinal mar- row ; suppression of custoinary evacuations ; extreme coldness or dampness of the atmosphere ; and indulgence in any of the violent passions : to these may be added, the inhaling of the noxioijs vapours of lead, quicksilver, or arsenic ; or the injudicious medicinal use of those n)inerals, &c. Persons liable to Apoplexy, are peculiarly disposed to the attacks of palsy ; and likewise such as lead sedentary and luxurious lives, or who are often engaged in intense studies during the Uigiit, or have suffered great distress and anxiety, are frequently subject to this ma- lady. Cure : As paralytic strokes of- ten occur without any previous symptoms, though the patient ge- nerally feels a considerable degree of languor, restlessness, and gid- diness in the head, it will be ad- visable to pay the greatest atten- tion to the nature of the disorder, and immediately to consult a pro- fessional man. h young and ple- thoric persons, the treatment must be similar to that pointed out in the sanguineous apoplexy(vol.i.p.82); but, if blood-letting become neces- sary, small quantities only should be drawn at one time ; beside which, stimulating blisters ought to be applied, and brisk purgatives administered. — In the aged or de- crepid, a contrary course must be adopted : the parts aflc^led ought to be rubbed either with ti e Resh'^ brush, or with the hand ; blisters, warm plasters, and volatile lini- ments, should likewise be employ- ed. Considerable advantage has, some-