ENTERITIS

(Gr. tvrcpa, the intestines.) Inflammation of the bowcl-i. This disease is frequently occasioned by incautious exposure to cold, by acrid substances or hardened faeces in the bowels. Its symptoms are, pain over the abdomen; thirst, heat, and exce ive restle ne and anxiety; sickne ; obstinate constipation; and a hard, small, and quick pulse. The pain increases as the disease proceeds, especially about the navel; there is great difficulty in voiding the urine, which is small in quantity and high-coloured; and the abdomen is so tender as not to endure the slightest pre ure. It often terminates in a few hours in mortification of a part of the intestinal canal; in which case the pain suddenly ceases, the belly becomes tumid, the pulse sinks rapidly, and the countenance acquires a peculiar ghastline : it also proves fatal during the inflammatory stage. Favourable symptoms are, a gradual diminution of pain and of tenderne on pre ure, natural evacuation by the bowels, moist skin, equal and firm pulse, and a copious discharge of urine depositing abundance of red sediment. This is a disease which requires prompt and decided treatment, more especially as relates to bleeding, which should be carried as far as the strength will allow upon the first acce ion of Ihe inflammation. Leeches should be applied over the abdomen, and the patient should be put in a hot bath, or fomented with hot water: the lower bowels should be evacuated by a glyster of castor oil and gruel; and small doses of saline purgatives, or of calomel and cathartic extract, should be administered to clear the bowels. The stomach, however, is very apt to reject these remedies, and sickne should be avoided: it must be quelled by the effervescing draught, with a very few drops of tincture of opium. In some cases pretty large doses of calomel and opium have been given with succe . When the urgent symptoms give way, and the bowels have been cleared, diaphoretic saline medicines and gentle aperients may be used, and a mild nourishing diet allowed; but great care is requisite in ascertaining that all relics of the inflammatory action are got rid of, and that it is not lurking in some one spot in a chronic form. [s. 419]