Diseases > Domestic medicine

DOMBSTIC MEDICINE ; 315
slate of the blood, which makes too great a quantity
of it run off by the urinary passages.
Symptoms.—In a diabetes, the urine generally ex¬
ceeds in quantity all the liquid food which the patient
takes. It is thin and pale, of a sweetish taste, ana
an agreeable smell. The patient has a continual
thirst, with some degree of fever; his mouth is dry,
and he spits frequently a frothy spittle. The strength
fails, the appetite decays, and the flesh wastes away
till the patient is reduced to skin and bone. There
is a heat of the bowels; and frequently the loins, tes¬
ticles, and feet are swelled.
This disease may generally be cured at the beginning;
but after it has continued long, the cure becomes
very difficult. In drunkards, and very old people, a
perfect cure is not to be expected.
Regimen.—Every thing that stimulates the uri¬
nary passages, or tends to relax the habit, must be
avoided. For this reason the patient should live
chiefly on solid food. His thirst may be quenched
with acids ; as sorrel, juice of lemon, or vinegar. The
mucilaginous vegetables, as rice, sago, and Salop,
with milk, are the most proper food. Of animal sub¬
stances, shell-fish are to be preferred; as oysters,
crabs, &c.
The drink may be Bristol water. When that can¬
not be obtained, lime water, in which a due proportion
of oak bark has been macerated, may be used. The
white decoction, with isinglass dissolved in it, is like¬
wise a very proper drink.
The patient ought daily to take exercise, but it
should be so gentle as not to fatigue him. He should
lie upon a hard bed or matrass. Nothing hurts the
kidneys more than lying too soft. A warm dry air,
the use of the flesh brush, and every thing that pro¬
motes perspiration, is of service. For this reason the
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