COLIC

is a severe abdominal pain due to the irregular muscular contraction of some abdoostcal organ. There are three chief forms (1) intestinal, (2) renal and (3) biliary colic. The first form results from irritation of an obstruction within the bowel; the second is caused by the pa age of a stone from the raza to the bladder; the third is caused by the pa age of a gall stone from the gall bladder to the intestine. he a re are similar in al] three forms. Intense abdominal pain of sudden outset is combined with sweating, coldne of the extremities and vomiting. The pain may double the sufferer up or he may roll on the floor in agony and unlike the pain of peritonitis it is relieved by pre ure. The treatment should always be in medical hands, more especially as a small rupture may have become nipped by the abdominal wall through which it pa es and be the real cause of the colic, for in such a case every hour of delay diminishes the chance of recovery. Before the doctor's arrival an olive oil enema at a temperature of 102° F. and about a pint in quantity may be injected and linseed poultices applied to the abdomen. A special form of intestinal colio occurs in om and other lead workers due to the irritation of a daily dose of lead over long periods. The malady can be largely prevented by carefully cleansing the hands before meals and by avoiding the per a of an atmosphere laden in dried paint. (See Poisoning.} The treatment of an attack is a good dose of castor oil containing ten drops of laudanum, an olive oil enema and poultices to the abdomen. [s. 344]