Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 4, 1802).djvu/160

138] crysipelatous, which occurs more frequently than is generally understood: the signs by which the existence of this affection may be ascertained, are as follow: the mouth and fauces appear inflamed; there is pain at the pit of the stomach, attended with frequent vomiting, and a slight fever. The disorder often changes its place, and sometimes spreads through the whole alimentary canal, where it occasions vomiting or diarrhœa. In most instances, it proceeds from acrid substances introduced into the stomach, and from internal causes, the nature of which has not been hitherto discovered; though it also frequently appears as a symptom of putrid fevers, and during convalescence in general.

Cure:—When this inflammatory complaint arises from acrid substances, it will be necessary to take copious draughts of warm, bland liquids, wilh a view to excite vomiting, by which it may be removed; or, if it proceed from mineral poisons, recourse should be had to the antidotes mentioned under their respective heads.—Bleeding, in this case, is neither advisable nor safe, especially if the patient be in a debilitated state: on the contrary, small quantities of vegetable acids, and the careful use of the Peruvian bark, will be productive of good effects.

With respert to the method of treating, we refer the reader to that article.  STONE, or Lithiasis, is a concretion of calcareous matter, formed in different organs of the body, but particularly in the kidnies, urinary passage, and biliary ducts; though other parts are not exempt from its influence: thus, accumulations of this kind have frequently been discovered, upon dissection, in the heart, brain, lungs, intestines, &c. of various size, shape, weight, and number. There are instances, where more than 200 small stones have been gradually voided by stool.

An inquiry into the nature of these morbid productions being foreign to our purpose, we shall briefly state, that they probably originate from a deposition of certain particles of the blood, which cohere to any small body they may find in their passage, thus forming the nucleus or basis. Hence we shall confine our attention to the practical treatment of this dreadful malady, in the instances before mentioned; and commence with the urinary stones, as being the most frequent. These are situated either in the kidnies, urinary ducts, bladder, or urethra.

Symptoms of the stone in the kidnies:—An obtuse pain about the loins; nausea and vomiting; small pieces of calcareous matter are discharged with the urine; but, if the concretion be settled in the bladder, an uneasiness will be felt at the end of the urinary passage, especially in emitting the water, which suddenly stops; or, it can be passed only when lying on the back: the urine is of various colours, and often tinged with blood; and, if the accumulation be of a considerable size, a fixed pain prevails about the neck of the bladder. More certain signs, however, for ascertaining the presence of a stone, are the following: 1. when the discharge of urine is accompanied with small pieces of such stony matter; and, 2. by sounding, which is performed, either by the in-