Volume 1

The standard physician : a new and practical encyclopaedia of medicine and hygiene especially prepared for the household / edited by Sir James Crichton-Browne [and others].

Date:
1908-1909
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: The standard physician : a new and practical encyclopaedia of medicine and hygiene especially prepared for the household / edited by Sir James Crichton-Browne [and others]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Colic Consciousness Till': STANDARD PHYSICIAN JJ*- of the blood-vessels of the skin, up to the point of sweat-formation ; this may he (lone by means of packs, hot baths, hot beverages, elder-tea, etc. The patient should also take an enforced rest, preferably in bed, in order to permit the readjustment of the circulation in the various organs of the body. COLIC.—A painful state due to the s])asmodic contraction of the mus- cles of any hollow organ of the body. It is })articularly })revalent in the intestine, constituting a very annoying, sometimes even extremely painful manifestation of various disorders of the bowels. Here it is due to irrita- tions of the wall of the intestine, caused by the ju'esence of undigested food, b)' fermentation, or by intlammation. The ])resence of the gases of decom- posing and fermenting food is one of the most ])otent factors in the pro- duction of intestinal colic, which is usually extremely severe if constipated masses prevent the egress of these gases. The characteristic of colic is its occurrence in acute attacks, the bowel being cpiiet during the intervals. The duration and intensity of these attacks may vary greatly according to the character of the original disease. Colic is a very ambiguous symptom. It may be the manifestation of a simple irritation of the intestine, due to dietary indiscretions ; it may be due to a tumour narrowing the lumen of the bowel ; or it may be caused by adhesions of the intestine. It may, therefore, be of very little or of very serious importance in the individual case. In acute disorders colic passes off in a few hours or days ; but in chronic affections it may persist for months or years. A special form of intestinal colic is due to lead-poisoning. The incarceration of gall-stones and of renal stones in the bile-ducts or ureters is often accompanied by colicky pains. Hot compresses to the abdomen, or over the site of the pain, act bene- ficially in most forms of colic ; relief is sometimes obtained also by hot hip- baths or full baths. Certain medicines are likewise capable of rapidly removing the irritative condition of the intestinal musculature, sometimes more rajiidly than any other measure. Hot-water or soap enemas are par- ticularly valuable in relieving colicky pains in the intestine. Later, when the violent pains have been allayed, it is necessary to treat the causative disorders. COLLODION. -A solution of gun-cotton in alcohol and ether. It is a clear, colourless fluid of a syrupy consistency, and smelling strongly of ether. Wdien painted over a ])art, the ether and alcohol eva])orate, leaving a thin, trans- ]')arent coating which serves as an air-tight dressing. Colkxlion is some- times rendered more flexible by the addition of 5 per cent, of Canada turpentine and 3 per cent, of castor-oil. The him left by the evaporation of this mixture does not contract as does pure collodion, and is more likely to stay in position. Cantharides is sometimes applied in collodion. The strength may be varied to produce merely a reddening of the skin or