Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 4, 1802).djvu/127

Rh already exhausted.—Where spasms are occasioned by the taking of mineral or animal poisons; or, if the patient labour under an acute fever, the event is generally fatal.

Cure:—The first step will be to remove the irritating cause; and next, to restore tone to the organs: thus, if the spasm originate from an injury by a sharp instrument, such as a needle, especially if a piece of it remain in the wound, it ought to be immediately extracted.—During the fit, clysters made of a decoction of chamomile flowers, with a dram of ipecacuhanaipecacuanha [sic], asafœtida, or other antispasmodics, to be repeated every two or three hours, will afford the greatest relief: beside these, recourse may be had to warm-baths, frictions, and the application of volatile liniments.—If the teeth are not too closely shut, half a tea-spoonful of either the tinctures of castor, asafœtida, or valerian, diluted with a table-spoonful of water, may be introduced through the mouth.—Next, it will be necessary to regulate the treatment according to the cause of the malady. If it arise from a suppression of cutaneous disorders, blistering plasters, and other artificial issues, will be the most proper means of restoring the discharge of humours: if it proceed from too tight shoes, or other garments, the part should be rubbed with warm oil, till it become soft; and then a tight bandage be applied around it: the leg should afterwards be bathed in cold water impregnated with scales of iron, or rubbed with volatile liniment:—if induced by (which see) suitable remedies must be administered.—But, where it originates from mental causes, the cure itself ought to consist of moral remedies; as physical means would, in general, be found inadequate.

With a view to re-invigorate the system, and to prevent future attacks, decoctions of quassia, wormwood, chamomile, Peruvian bark, valerian, and other antispasmodics, may be taken with advantage, especially when conjoined with cold bathing; and, in cases of worms, with the liberal use of red-port; a glass of which may, for that purpose, be drunk every morning, on an empty stomach.  SPATLING-POPPY,, or , Cucubalus Behen, L. a native perennial, which grows in corn-fields, dry meadows, and pastures: it flowers in July and August.—The leaves of this vegetable, when boiled, possess the flavour of pease; and are by the Gothlanders advantageously applied to erysipelatous eruptions. The flowers are eagerly visited by bees, as well as by the most beautiful butterflies, in twilight.  : See.  : See.  : See.  SPEARWORT, the, or Ranunculus Lingua, L. an indigenous perennial, growing in wet pastures, and at the sides of lakes: it flowers in the months of June and July.—The stem of this poisonous plant is very thick, and attains the height of two feet; the leaves have no stalks; and the large bright-yellow, glossy flowers, appear on the extremities of the shoots. The whole is extremely acrid, and if any part of this herb be eaten by cattle in a fresh state, it is apt to produce fatal distempers. SPEAR-