Diseases > Domestic medicine

302 buchan’s
happens. Sometimes the pain is so inconsiderable,
that an inflammation is not so much as suspected;
but when it happens in the upper or convex part of the
liver, the pain is more acute, the pulse quicker, and
the patient is often troubled with a dry cough, a
hiccup, and a pain extending to the shoulder, with
difficulty of lying on the left side, &c.
This disease may be distinguished from the
pleurisy by the pain being less violent, seated under
the false ribs, the pulse not so hard, and by the
difficulty of lying on the left side. It may be dis¬
tinguished from the hysteric and hypochondriac
disorders by the degree of fever with which it is
always attended.
This disease, if properly treated, is seldom mortal.
A constant hiccuping, violent fever, and excessive
thirst, are bad symptoms. If it ends in a suppura¬
tion, and the matter cannot be discharged outwardly,
the danger is great.—When the scirrhus of the liver
ensues, the patient, if he observes a proper regimen,
may nevertheless live a number of years tolerably
easy ; but if he indulge in animal food and strong
liquors, or take medicine of an acrid or irritating
nature, the scirrhus will be converted into a cancer,
which must infallibly prove fatal.
Regimen.—The same' regimen is to be observed
in this as in all other inflammatory disorders. All hot
things are to be carefully avoided, and cool diluting
liquors, as whey, barley-water, &c. drunk fretly.
The food must be light and thin, and the body, as
well as the mind, kept easy and quiet.
Medicine.—Bleeding is proper at the beginning’
of this disease, and it will often be necessary, even
though the pulse should not feel hard to repeat it.
All violent purgatives are to be avoided; the body