The Field Book: or, Sports and pastimes of the United Kingdom: compiled from the best authorities, ancient and modernMaxwell, W. H. (William Hamilton)
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The Field Book: or, Sports and pastimes of the United Kingdom: compiled from the best authorities, ancient and modern
Maxwell, W. H. (William Hamilton)
Amusements -- Great Britain; Sports -- Dictionaries; Sports -- Great Britain
The antispasmodic having been given, the necessity of bleeding should be
next taken into consideration: if the case be one of very acute
features, I would recommend that it be proceeded with without delay,
and, according to the degree of intensity, or duration of the complaint,
do it more or less liberally. Extensive bleeding, it should be
remembered, is one of the most powerful relaxers of spasmodic
constriction with which we are acquainted, and instead of its being an
antagonist to the antispasmodic treatment usually adopted, by internal
remedies, its relaxant qualities are found to be infinitely increased in
efficacy when conjoined with large doses of opium. I have had so many
opportunities of witnessing the effect of this combination, that I
cannot too strongly recommend it: and although most of the ordinary
cases of spasmodic colic will yield to the common stimulant treatment,
and many would even go off without any treatment at all, yet bleeding,
in mild cases even, is always safe and precautionary against
inflammation; and in the more aggravated, it is essentially necessary,
both to combat the inflammatory tendency, and to promote the relaxation
of the spasmodic irritation on the muscular fibre. It is likewise
particularly indicated in these violent or protracted cases, to
counteract the irritative qualities of the antispasmodics used, which,
though in other instances of simple spasm are innocuous, however large,
yet may not prove so when reaction is at hand, or already begun. It
should, however, be remembered, that though I advocate bleeding, it is
not that useless and non-medical practice of bleeding by the palate or
sublingual vessels; and though, with Mr. Peal, I would most strongly
condemn violent, and particularly long-continued exercise, yet I have so
often experienced the good effects of a brisk trot for ten minutes, that
I cannot but recommend its adoption. Friction to the belly is also to be
employed, by means of a brush, or if with a heated coarse woollen cloth
it will be better; but the practice of rubbing with a stick is, I
apprehend, worse than useless, and often hurtful. Fomentations of very
hot water are also sometimes singularly efficacious; and in every case
we should, by means of the patent syringe, throw up considerable
quantities of relaxant clysters; and where costiveness is present, until
the bowels are relieved of their fæcal matter, the clysters should be of
a mild watery solution of aloes, or, by preference, of a solution of
sulphate of magnesia (Epsom salts) in broth, gruel, &c. Afterwards the
clysters may be made media of applying antispasmodics to the bowels, as
decoction of poppy heads, or even tinct. opii, largely diluted with warm
water, &c.—_Vide_ _Outlines of Vet. Art_.
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