The doctor at home and nurse's guidebook / edited by George Black.

Date:
1909
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: The doctor at home and nurse's guidebook / edited by George Black. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    76/684 (page 52)
    BILE BILIOUS ATTACKS BILE (Latin, bi'lis, “bile”). The bile is a liquid secreted or produced by the liver, whence it passes either direct or after storage in the gall-bladder to the upper part of the intestines. From the fact that it enters the digestive canal so nearly at its commence- ment it will at once be seen that the bile has work to do in the body, and is not, as is often supposed, an ex- cretion or waste product to be got rid of as soon as possible. This view is confirmed by the fact that when from any cause the bile is diverted from its natural course and does not enter the intestine emacia- tion results, consequent on the non- digestion of fat. This is indeed the principal function of the bile, though it promotes also to some extent the digestion of proteids and sugar as well. The bile contains certain?pigments to which its yellow- ish-green colour is due, and when for any reason the passage of bile is obstructed this yellow colouring is distributed throughout the body, and is especially noticeable in the “ whites ” of the eyes. This con- dition is known as Jaundice. BILIOUS FEVER This is another name for remit- tent fever, a disease which has its origin in malarial poisoning. BILIOUS FEVER, SYMPTOMS OF The symptoms of bilious fever resemble those of intermittent fever or ague, with this exception, that there is no cessation of fever, but just a diminution or abatement. The length of the remission varies from six to twelve hours, the remis- sion ordinarily taking place in the morning. Bilious fever may last for fourteen or fifteen days, and 52 terminate in an attack of sweating, or it may merge into low fever. BILIOUS FEVER, TREATMENT OF The first thing is to diminish the fever by giving the patient cold drinks, sponging the body with cold water, and acting mildly on the bowels by means of cream of tar- tar water. Ten grains of quinine should be administered during the remission. Should the patient be much depressed, let him have raw eggs, nourishing broth, and stimu- lants. The treatment of remittent fever should always be entrusted to a physician. The same course should be pursued in convalescence as in intermittent fever, and care should be taken to prevent a relapse. To provide against this the patient should continue to take Peruvian bark for some time after his recovery. He should also limit himself to a simple diet, avoiding confections and all sorts of flatulent food. BILIOUS ATTACKS, TREATMENT OF A bilious attack being essentially a digestive disorder, the process of digestion being practically arrested for the time, and the appetite com- pletely lost, the first principle of rational treatment consists in entire abstinence from food. The lining wall of the stomach becomes covered with mucus, and the micro- organisms which cause or accom- pany fermentation are very active. It is therefore important to take steps to wash out the stomach by taking large draughts of water or soda water, to get rid of the un- digested fermenting material by means of purgatives, and to control the processes of fermentation by means of antiseptics. The following pill may be taken at night: pil. hydrarg. three grains ; ext. aloes.