Haydn's dictionary of popular medicine and hygiene : comprising all possible self-aids in accidents and disease being a companion for the traveller, emigrant, and clergyman as well as for the heads of all families and institutions / edited by Edwin Lankester ; assisted by distinguished members of the Royal Colleges of Physicians and Surgeons.

Date:: 1874

Credit: Haydn's dictionary of popular medicine and hygiene : comprising all possible self-aids in accidents and disease being a companion for the traveller, emigrant, and clergyman as well as for the heads of all families and institutions / edited by Edwin Lankester ; assisted by distinguished members of the Royal Colleges of Physicians and Surgeons. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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COLCHICUM as employed in medicine, is either the bulbous underground portion (more correctly termed a corm) or the seeds of the meadow saffron. From the corm are prepared an extract and a wine of colchicum, and from the seed a tincture. Whatever preparation is used, colchicum seems to have the effect of increasing the flow of bile, of diminishing the force and rapidity of the heart’s action, and if large doses are used causes vomiting and purging. The specific action of colchicum is, however, on the pain of the gouty paroxysm, which it relieves in a marvellous manner. Nor is the mode in which this is brought about at all well known, for small doses will have this effect even without any purging, which is ordinarily beneficial to the disease. Its use is nevertheless followed by some prostration, and a tendency to faintness which is far from agreeable, even though the pain has gone. It is sometimes used in acute rheumatism, but does not produce the same wonderful effects as in gout, what good it does being probably due to its reducing action on the heart. There is, however, one fact which is of vital interest to those who suffer from gout, they may kill the pain with colchicum, but they do not cure the disease, and in all probability this will return sooner and more violently after being chocked off with colchicum, than had it been allowed to exhaust itself, or other remedies, as alkalies and alkaline purgatives, employed. Of the ordinary extract, about a grain should be given for a dose, of the wine and tincture ten or fifteen drops every four hours, COLD, of which catarrh is the most prominent symptom, is perhaps the most frequent malady in this country. Its causes are manifold, and as its causes, so the consequences of catching cold are infinitely various, from merely a slight temporary inconvenience to speedy death. A fatal result is not, however, likely to happen except damaged organs be attacked, but then a very slight cause may suffice to bring about fatal results. Colds are frequently felt to date from some particular period, but frequently their onset is not appreciated for a time. Very likely there is some shivering and sneezing, with lassitude, pains in the back, loins, and limbs, with tightness of the forehead, and an unnaturally dry state of the lips and nostrils. These speedily give way to excessive discharge from the nostrils, first watery and acrid, later mucus or mucous and purulent matter. There is hoarseness and slight sore throat, the eyes water, feverishness, loss of appetite, thirst, and quick pulse. Sometimes small vesicles called herpes, appear on the lips or about the nose. These symptoms do not last long; they either pass away, or become aggravated if the inflammation passes onwards into the interior of the lung. If the latter, there will probably be some difficulty in swallowing from the pain of the inflamed parts, and there may be loss of voice—temporary merely—and some difficulty in breathing. Not much treatment is required for such cases, though most people do something for them ; as already pointed out, in a great majority of cases they pass away in due course, though they may recur again, and if the individual is subject to them, not only must greater care be taken to escape catching cold, but every endeavour must be used to get rid of them speedil}q lest they affect the lungs. Various plans are used with various success ; perhaps the best is for the patient to put his feet in hot water, take ten grains of Dover’s powder, or three grains of James’ powder, with a good glass of “something hot,” and get straight into bed. If the throat is bad, a water compress had better be used. Most likely the patient feels better in the morning, whether from the attack passing away, or the result of the remedies. A seidlitz powder, or some such slight laxative had better be taken, and the patient may return to his usual routine. COLIC is a form of disease characterised by a severe twisting pain in the bowels, especially in the region of the navel, and occurring in paroxysms. This pain, though severe for the time being, and alarming, is not really of a dangerous character. It indicates no inflammatory mischief, and whereas the pain of colic is relieved by firm pressure, that from inflammation in the same region is greatly aggravated thereby. The complaint is accompanied by constipation, and frequently by vomiting, but there is no fever, and no quick pulse as in inflammation. Such attacks commonly arise from some indigestible article of food, or some portion of the food has decayed in the bowel, and given rise to foul gases, which distend the bowel and give rise to pain. As a rule such painful conditions are signs of intestinal disturbance which necessitate some opening medicine, of which for this purpose castor oil is best. An ounce may be given with a few drops of laudanum, not more than ten—or a little spirit of chloroform—or yet again it may be followed by a glass of hot spirit and water. Such means speedily give relief. See Flatulence. Besides this simple form of colic, there are others associated with the introduction of mineral poisons into the body. Chief among these is lead colic or painter’s colic, to which also other names have been given. It was at one time common among the cider drinkers of Devonshire. Its cause was long unsuspected. Among painters, especially

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