Vomer

“ That the act of nausea and vomiting is a decreased exertion of the fibres of the stomach may be thus deduced; when an emetic medicine is administered, it produces the pain of sickness, as a disagreeable taste in the mouth produces the pain of nausea; these pains, like that of hunger, or of cold, or like those, which are usually termed nervous, as the head-ach or hemicrania, do not excite the organ into greater action; but in this case I imagine the pains of sickness or of nausea counteract or destroy the pleasurable sensation, which seems necessary to digestion, as shewn in Sect. ”

“ You may also provoke vomiting by tickling your throat with your finger, or the feather-end of a goose quill; but the cloth round a skewer maketh one vomit with more ease, which is done with no trouble when the stomach is full. And by this way of vomiting, which will be all performed in an hour’s time, that viscous and ropy phlegm in the stomach, which causeth the sickness, will be cast up, so that the party in that time will be free from all that inward disturbance, if you use the remedy at first ”

“ If the Party is much oppress'd at his Stomach, and strains to vomit, or else with vomiting throws up bitter and stinking Matter; let him presently take a large draught of Carduus, or Camomile Posset-Drink, and in it either half a Dram of Salt of Vitriol, or two Ounces of Liquor of Squills, and with his finger or a Feather, fetch up what is contain'd in his Stomach; but take no Antimonial Medicine, that will work beyond the Stomach. ”

“ Sixthly, Since vomiting is excited by disagreeable and painful impressions in the stomach, and requires the contraction of the diaphragm, and abdominal muscles, it agrees well with the notion, that sensory vibrations run into the neighbouring muscles for contracting them. I suppose also, that both orifices of the stomach are strongly contracted, previously to vomiting; and that the upper orifice, being most sensible, is contracted most strongly. Hence its power of contraction may be soon exhausted, and consequently it may open of itself in the action of vomiting. ”

“ Twelve Hours after the Patient has been let Blood, a Vomit may be usefully prescribed, to evacuate the noxious Humours of the Stomach, that may hinder the Operation of Remedies, or by being absorbed by the Blood, may joyn with the Matter of the Disease, and encrease the Putrefaction, as well as to agitate and shake the Frame of the Nerves, and express from the Glands their putrid Contents. ”

“ There is nausea, with vomiting of the contents of the stomach. These matters are sometimes mixed with blood and stringy masses of mucus. The sickness is accompanied by diarrhœa or dysentery, swelling of the abdomen, and increased pain. The countenance becomes flushed and often swollen, though it is occasionally pallid and anxious; the lips and tongue get white and shrivelled; there is frequently some dyspnœa, while the pulse is small, or wiry and frequent; and death is preceded by faintness, cramps, insensibility, or convulsions. ”

“ Common soap (hard or soft) , chalk, whiting, or even mortar from the wall mixed in water, may be given, until magnesia can be obtained. Promote vomiting by tickling the throat, if necessary, and when the poison is got rid of, flaxseed or elm tea, gruel, or other mild drinks. The inflammation which always follows wants good treatment to save the patient's life.
Vegetable Acids—Acetic, Citric, Oxalic, Tartaric.—Symptoms: Intense burning pain of mouth, throat and stomach; vomiting blood which is highly acid, violent purging, collapse, stupor, death. ”

“ In general however, a vomit is what nature points out; and which gives not only relief to the stomach, but assists in giving a general effort to the whole animal fabric. In short, there are so very few cases where bitters are of any benefit at all, except where the stomach has injuriously been used to those stimulants, that I have entirely exploded them from my catalogue; being persuaded that every body will do better without them. ”

“ If a poisonous substance is received into the stomach, [8] the action of vomiting is frequently excited, or if it passes into the bowels, nature still endeavours to carry it off by an increase of the peculiar motion of the intestines, and of the secretion from their surface ”

“ Those sort of disorders puzzle the physicians every where; and they are merciless dogs in purging or vomiting to no purpose, when they do not know what to do. I heartily wish you would try the Bath waters, which are allowed to be the best medicine for strengthening the stomach; and most distempers in the head proceed from thence. Vomits may clean a foul stomach, but they are certainly the worst things that can be for a weak one. ”

“ The perpetual vomiting in ileus is caused in like manner by the defective excitement of the sensorial power of association by the bowel, which is torpid during the intervals of pain; and the stomach sympathizes with it. See Enteritis, Class II. 1. 2. 11. Does this symptom of vomiting indicate, whether the disease be above or below the valve of the colon? Does not the softer pulse in some kinds of enteritis depend on the sympathy of the heart and arteries with the sickness of the stomach? ”

“ The contents of the stomach are speedily discharged by vomiting; the distension of the abdomen is removed; the smell of smoke in the breath is mitigated, and the accompanying fever with (its concomitants) of sneezing, languor, thirst, cough, laboured breathing etc. is abated, and the patient is restored to consciousness. Gargles having a sweet, saline, acid or pungent (katu) taste restore the sense-perception of the patient, and gladden his mind. ”

“ Presently vomiting, also profuse, at first perhaps of food, but very soon of the same rice-water description, supervenes. Cramps of an agonizing character attack the extremities and abdomen; the implicated muscles stand out like rigid bars, or are thrown into lumps from the violence of the contractions. The patient may rapidly pass into a state of collapse. In consequence principally of the loss of fluid by the diarrhœa and vomiting, the soft parts shrink, the cheeks fall in, the nose becomes pinched and thin, the eyes sunken, and the skin of the fingers shrivelled like a washerwoman's. ”

“ Sickening odor of the breath, sour taste, with burning heat in the throat, stomach, and bowels; frequent vomiting, often bloody; copious bloody stools, great pain in the stomach, with burning sensation in the bladder and difficulty to urinate, followed with terrible convulsions, delirium and death.—Treatment excite vomiting by drinking plentifully of sweet oil or other wholesome oils, sugar and water, milk. or slippery elm tea; give injections of castor oil and starch, or warm milk. The inflammatory symptoms which generally follow must, be treated by a medical man. ”

“ Common Form.—At the moment of swallowing, a disagreeable taste and smell are generally experienced, and there may be immediate and intense pain in the throat, gullet, and stomach, and almost immediate retching and vomiting. The throat and tongue also may become swollen and painful; but in a considerable number of cases the symptoms are not at once apparent, but are delayed from one to six hours—rarely longer. The person’s breath may be phosphorescent before he feels in any way affected, and he may go about his business and perform a number of acts requiring both time and mental integrity. ”

“ It sets in with great pain in the bowels, sickness at the stomach, and vomiting of large quantities of dark greenish bitter tasting substance. At first, the vomiting will seem to afford relief, but sooner or later the stomach and bowels cramp, and the cramping may extend to other parts of the body, the feet, hands, calves of the legs, and the arms, cold sweats come on, and death terminates his sufferings. ”

“ A mustard plaster at the base of the brain with a hot foot-bath often helps. Some people by stroking the forehead and temples have the power to ease the pain, producing quiet and sleep. If the bowels are costive, salts should be taken to move them, or they can be moved by an enema, if salts are not at hand. If the stomach is full, or tastes sour, drink a lot of warm water and vomit, or produce vomiting by tickling your throat with your finger, after having taken a large quantity of warm water for sometimes warm water thus taken fails to cause vomiting. ”

“ If some poisonous or very irritating food is swallowed, as soon as it begins to hurt the cells lining the stomach, these promptly telegraph to the vomiting centre in the brain, we begin to feel "sick at the stomach," the brain sends the necessary directions to the great muscles of the abdomen and the diaphragm, they squeeze down upon the stomach, and its contents are promptly pumped back up the gullet and out through the mouth, thus throwing up the poisons. ”

“ Symptoms.—Pain in the epigastrium, gradually extending over the abdomen, violent vomiting—the vomited matters being of a blue or green color—and diarrhœa, are the symptoms which set in the most speedily. Then there is usually dyspnœa, great depression, coldness of the extremities, headache with giddiness, and slight tetanic convulsions. Sometimes there is suppression of urine. Jaundice very frequently occurs—a symptom the more important, as it is rarely met with in most other forms of poisoning. Occasionally stupor, coma, and paralysis supervene. ”

“ Next, a gentle emetic is to be introduced, and the throat stimulated with a feather dipped in oil: after vomiting, the patient generally falls into a profound sleep, from which he awakes weak, trembling, and affected with a violent heart-burn, and acidity of the stomach; especially if wine has been the favourite liquor. ”

“ It is attended with languor of the stomach, nausea, and loathing of food, bringing on vomiting of bile or phlegm, anxiety, and pains in the stomach. All these symptoms arise, they say, from a sanguineous plethora, brought on by a suppression of the menstrual discharge. They, therefore, recommend a restricted diet, and moderate exercise when the woman was accustomed to it. When the humour which infests the stomach is of an acid, acrid, or saltish nature, they direct draughts of tepid water, to encourage vomiting; they forbid all sweet things; and recommend an old sub-astringent wine. ”

“ If you cannot, and there are no stains about mouth or lips and no burning sensation in mouth and throat, give an emetic or tickle throat to make patient vomit. Emetics are: three-teaspoonfuls of mustard in pint of tepid water; salt and water, two tablespoonfuls to pint of warm water. (See First Aid for Poisoning.)
When there are stains, etc., give cream, white of eggs, olive or linseed oil (no oil with phosphorus poisoning) . Antidotes to follow.
GRIT IN THE EYE.—Do not rub the injured eye. By rubbing the other eye you will bring tears, which may wash the grit out. ”

“ Fresh pills of quinine and red pepper uncoated and therefore producing definite effects on the taste before swallowing and on the mucous membrane of the stomach after swallowing, often prove the best remedy for persistent vomiting or for enduring nausea. A drop of nux vomica, taken every half hour with the definite warning that the patient must by no means take more, and that the bottle must be carefully protected lest anyone else should be poisoned, is often very efficient. ”

“ A physician should be called at once if the vomiting continues, and not until the vomiting has entirely ceased for a number of hours and water is easily retained, should food be given, and even then it should be begun on very weak mixtures. ”

“ Pain in the stomach (which, in some of the cases, takes the form of violent cramp and vomiting) succeeds; the matters vomited may shine in the dark, and are often tinged with blood. Diarrhœa is sometimes present, sometimes absent; sleeplessness for the first night or two is very common. The pulse is variable, sometimes frequent, sometimes slow; the temperature in the morning is usually from 36·0° to 36·5°, in the evening 37° to 38°. ”

“ The cases where vomiting must not be used are those where the skin has been taken off, and the parts touched irritated and inflamed by the poison taken, and where the action of vomiting would increase the evil. ”

“ When the patient vomits every thing he eats or drinks, is extremely restless, has a hiccup, with an intermitting pulse, and frequent fainting fits, the danger is very great.
REGIMEN.——All acrimonious, heating, and irritating food and drink are carefully to be avoided. The weakness of the patient may deceive the bystanders, and induce them to give him wines, spirits, or other cordials; but these never fail to increase the disease, and often occasion sudden death. The inclination to vomit may likewise impose on the attendants, and make them think a vomit necessary ”

“ His recovery from this fit of intoxication is marked with several peculiar appearances. He opens his eyes, and closes them again; he gapes and stretches his limbs; he then coughs and pukes; his voice is hoarse; he rises with difficulty, and staggers to a chair; his eyes resemble balls of fire; his hands tremble; he loathes the sight of food; he calls for a glass of spirits to compose his stomach ”

“ The symptoms appear soon after the ingestion, and consist of a feeling of burning in the mouth, spreading downwards to the stomach, increased secretion of saliva, and difficulty of swallowing; then follow violent vomiting and diarrhœa, with great pain in the bowels, often tenesmus; there is also headache, giddiness, a feeling of anxiety, and the pupils are dilated. The consciousness is ordinarily intact; the pulse is weak and slow, and the breathing embarrassed ”