The store-house of physical practice being a general treatise of the causes and signs of all diseases afflicting human bodies : together with the shortest, plainest and safest way of curing them, by method, medicine and diet : to which is added, for the benefit of young practicers, several choice forms of medicines used by the London physicians / by John Pechey ...

CHAP. LXXIII. Of the Iliack Passion.

THis dreadful Disease being hitherto almost in the Opi∣nion of all Mortal, takes its Rise from the inverted and preposterous Motion of the Intestines, to wit, the Fi∣bres of the Intestines, which ought to be contracted from the Superior toward the Inferior, are drawn to the Superi∣or; and whatsoever is contained in the Intestines, is not protruded to the Belly, but towards the Stomach, and is violently regurgitated to the Mouth, so that Glisters, how sharp soever become vomitive; and also Catharticks taken by the Mouth are suddenly cast up by Vomit. And in my Opinion, the exquisite and intollerable Pain coming upon this Disease, is only occasioned by the foresaid preposterous Motion of the Intestines; for whereas those Folds, which the many Circumvolutions of the Intestines make, are so formed by Nature, that they should most fitly conduce to the carrying down of the Faeces: When they, I say, are forced to give way to a Motion contrary to their Fibres, the aforesaid Pain is occasioned from thence, which is fixed to one part, and is like the boreing of an Auger, when either the Valve, which is placed at the Beginning of the Colon, hinders the going back of the Excrements to the Ilion, or any other Membrane belonging to the Sinus sustains alone the Force of this preposterous Impulse.

We may assign a twofold Cause of this Inversion, from whence the Pain arises, viz. Obstruction and Iritation.

First therefore, Whatever violently obstructs the Inte∣stines, so that nothing can pass downwards, necessarily pro∣duces this contrary Motion in them. Among these Authors are wont to reckon the Excrements hardened, gross Wind collected in a great quantity, and tying up as it were the Intestines, the Constriction of them in a Rupture: And lastly An Inflammation, and other great Tumours, which stop up the Internal Cavity of the Intestine. In the mean time we must not deny, that this contrary Motion, owing its

rise to these Causes, is rather to be accounted the Motion of these things taken in, than of the Intestines; nor is this an Inversion of the whole Duct of the Intestines, but only of those which are situated above the Seat of that Obstruction; wherefore I call an Iliack Passion proceeding hence spurious.

Secondly, I think that in the Iliack Passion, the cause of the Inversion of the Peristaltick Motion of the Intestines, is most commonly after this Manner, viz. Sharp and malig∣nant Humours are cast upon the Stomach, and the Guts that are next to it, by which the Motion of the Stomach is inverted, and forced violently to cast up what is contain∣ed in it; at length the small Guts that are joined to the Stomack being weakned, yield to the violent Motion of it, and with them at last the greater follow by Consent; the Stomach Vomiting, leading as it were the Dance, this I call a true Iliack Passion, and which is treated of now.

The Method of cureing it has been hitherto in a man∣ner unknown, whatever some boast of the use of Quick∣silver and Bullets, which besides that they do little good, are very oft injurious.

I have successfully used the following Method,

When it appears by Glisters cast up by the Mouth, and other Signs, that it is a true Iliack Passion, I endeavour these three things.

First, That the contrary Motion of the Stomach, which causes the like Motion of the Guts, may be hindred. Secondly, That the Intestines being weakned by the sharp Humour may be corroborated. Thirdly, That the Sto∣mach and Guts be freed from these Humours. And that I may Answer these Indications, I institute the Cure after this Manner. First, I prescribe one Scruple of Salt of Wormwood in a spoonful of Juice of Lemons to be taken Morning and Evening; but at other times of the Day I order some spoonfuls of Mint Water, without Sugar or any thing else, to be taken twice in an Hour; by the repeated use of which alone, the Vomiting and the Pain arising from thence will soon vanish. At the same time I order a living Kitling to lie continually upon the naked Belly. But after the Pain and Vomiting has wholly ceased for the Space of two or three Days, I give one dram of the Pill Coch-major

dissolved in Mint-water, which I also order to be used very often, all the time of the working of the Pills, that I may the more certainly hinder the Return of the Vomit∣ing; nor is the Kitling to be removed, before the Patient has taken the Pills.

I have observed, that it is to no purpose to give these Pills, or any other Purge, how strong soever, until the Stomack is strengthned, and reduced to its Natural Motion, and the Guts also to that which is proper to them; for otherwise all Catharticks taken inwardly would prove Emetick, and so do more hurt than good, and therefore I do not use Purging Medicines, until for some Time I have used those Medicines which respect the Stomach.

I prescribe a very thin Diet, for I allow onely some spoonfuls of Chicken-broath to be taken twice or thrice a day; in the mean while I order the Patient to keep his Bed all the Time of the Sickness, till the Signs of perfect Health appear; and when he is well I appoint him to persist in the use of the foresaid Wa∣ter for a long Time, and to keep his Belly warm with Flannels doubled, that there may not be a Relapse where unto this Disease is very prone.