CHAP. VIII.
Of CHOLICKS and GRIPES.
THO’ the Cholick derives its Name from the Gut Colon, I mean by it not precisely that Pain which affects This only, but that also which usually invades other Guts, whether thin or thick; because one Gut seems not to be more subject than another to this Pain; the Contexture of all of them being the same every where. So that the Cholick is nothing else than a sorrowful Sensation of a very sharp Pain, infesting the Guts, or the Nervous Plexus, or Membranes in their Neighbourhood, proceeding from wandering Winds and Flatulencies in the Abdomen, or lower Belly; arising from the Humours aggregated about the Womb: which, dissipating themselves, distend the Intestines, and excite most severe Pains about the Navel.
THESE Effects may also proceed from indurated Excrements in the Rectum; or from any other Matter, which either compresses, obstructs, or erodes the Intestines: Hence Physicians commonly take notice of Three different Sorts of Cholicks; namely, the Flatulent, the Bilous, and the Pituitous.
NOW These are All thus distinguished: The Wind-Cholick traverses the Belly, and gives an excruciating wandring Pain in the Viscera, or Bowels, &c. The Bilous induces a certain Pain, with a very sensible Mordacity; and is generally attended with Thirst and a Bitterness in the Mouth: The Pituitous gives a most sharp penetrating fixed Pain, resembling (as it were) a driven Stake, or perforating Instrument; attended with a Nausea, Vomiting, and Retention of Excrements, &c. This last Sort Galen calls the most cruel Cholick.
HOWEVER I take it to be the First of these, which most commonly afflicts the Conceiv’d Woman; generated of improper Diet, or proceeding from an irregular Regimen: And This is also sometimes so excessive, that I’ve seen the PATIENT fall by its Extremity into a Lipothymia, or Swooning-Fit, which generally presages ABORTION, if not seasonably prevented by proper Discutients, and convenient Diet, &c.