Colic -(colica; enteralgia):

Infant colic.

Description of disease
Griping; severe pains in the abdomen, occurring in paroxysms, relieved by pressure, and attended generally with constipation, flatulence, sickness, or vomiting.

Bilious Colic. -See Colic, under Bilious Attacks.

Colic from a chill or cold:
medicinal treatment
Chamomilla
Is a valuable medicine in colic from a chill, especially if it arises from a slight degree of cold and there are violent pains with much restlessness.
Dose. -Two drops in a dessertspoonful of water, every half hour to two or four hours, according to the severity of the attack.
Colocynthis
If the pains are very violent and of a griping or cutting character.
Dose. -As Chamomilla.
Nux vomica
If the pains are cramp-like, pinching, or spasmodic.
Dose.-As Chamomilla.
Accessory treatment
As hot bath for eight or ten minutes, and promoting perspiration by hot drinks. -See under Spasmodic Colic. -Also holding the soles of the feet to a hot fire until the body is thoroughly warm. The feet should be kept dry and warm, and flannel worn over the bowels.

Colic with Diarrhoea. -See under Diarrhoea.

Flatulent colic:
Symptoms
Acute pain in the bowels with occasional partial remissions, an occasional rumbling sensation, distension from wind or spasmodic contractions, or both at the same time, relieved by pressure and the expulsion of wind.
medicinal treatment
China officinalis
If it arises from eating flatulent food, and there is much flatulence, or great distension and fullness in the abdomen.
Dose. -Three drops in a little water every half hour to three or four hours, according to the symptoms.
Cocculus indicus
See under Spasmodic Colic.
Nux vomica
When there is griping with flatulence and distension, or much rumbling in the abdomen, and is frequently a useful remedy to begin with.
Dose. -Two drops, as China.
Pulsatilla pratensis
If the colic is oppressive, with much rumbling and fermentation in the abdomen, or with disagreeable distension and tightness, and if the pain is worse on lying down or sitting.
Dose. -Two drops, as China.
Accessory treatment
A small quantity of good brandy, or a few drops of essence of ginger on lump sugar, will frequently relieve. Friction over the abdomen should be had recourse to, and care should be taken to avoid all foods likely to produce the ailment, as acidulated drinks, raw vegetables, etc. -See Flatulence.

Colic of infants:
Symptoms
Crying; the legs are bent towards the stomach, writhing, the body is twisted, and the infant cannot suck in a recumbent position. The pain is relieved by pressure.
Medicinal treatment
Belladonna
If the face is pale.
Dose. -Four drops to be mixed in four teaspoonfuls of water, and on teaspoonful given every half hour or hour until relieved.
Chamomilla
If the legs are drawn up and the face is red.
Dose. -As Belladonna.
Accessory treatment
Given a warm bath, or apply flannels dipped in hot water to the bowels, and keep the child warm and dry.

Inflammatory colic:
Medicinal treatment
Aconitum napellus
If there is much fever, with violent cramp-pains, and great sensitiveness of the abdomen.
Dose.- Two drops in a dessertspoonful of water every half hour to two hours.
Mercurius solubilis
If these are shooting or violent contracting pains, especially around the navel, with much tenderness of the abdomen.
Dose. -Two grains repeated as Aconitum.
Nux vomica
If the abdomen is very sensitive to pressure or contact, and feels raw and sore. -See under Colic from a Chill.
Dose. -As Aconitum.
Accessory treatment
Heat must be applied in the form of hot cloths, if a warm bath cannot be borne; or spongio-piline dipped into hot water and laid over the abdomen. Hot bottles must be placed in the bed down the sides of the patient and at his feet. -See under Spasmodic Colic.
Colic after or during a Meal. -See Indigestion.

Menstrual colic:
Symptoms
Violent pains in the abdomen, cramps, bearing-down pains which may be so violent as to induce fainting. Frequently attendant upon the appearance of the menstrual discharge.
Medicinal treatment
Chamomilla
May be given if the pains resemble labour-pains with pressure from the small of the back, or if the abdomen is very sensitive to the touch.
Dose.-Two drops in a dessertspoonful of water every half hour to one or two hours, until the pain ceases.
Cimicifuga racemosa
Is a good medicine in most cases, particularly if aching in the limbs accompany the pains.
Dose. -As Chamomilla.
Cocculus indicus
If there are spasms with nausea of faintness, or with pressive pains and spasms in the chest.
Dose. -As Chamomilla.
Pulsatilla pratensis
Is a valuable remedy in many cases of menstrual colic, especially when it is caused by wet or cold.
Dose. -As Chamomilla.
Accessory treatment
See under Painful Menstruation. -The application of heat to the feet or stomach.

Colic during pregnancy:
Symptoms
Colic or spasms from flatulent distension of the bowels, or from a chill, is apt to occur during the first months of pregnancy.
Medicinal treatment
Chamomilla
May be first administered, especially if it arises from a chill.
Dose. -Two drops in a dessertspoonful of water every half hour to three or four hours.
Nux vomica
If Chamomilla does not relieve, or if the pains are of a griping or cramp-like character, and the bowels are very costive.
Dose. -As Chamomilla.
Pulsatilla pratensis
If the pains are worse on sitting or lying down, or with disagreeable tension in the abdomen.
Dose. -As Chamomilla.
Accessory treatment
See under Menstrual Colic, Colic from a Chill, and Pregnancy.

Spasmodic colic:
Medicinal treatment
Belladonna
If there is violent colic-like clutching, or as if the bowels were grasped with the nails.
Dose. -Two drops in a dessertspoonful of water every half hour to three or four hours.
Cocculus indicus
If there are cramp-like spasmodic pains and much flatulency, or violent pains relieved by emission of wind.
Dose. -As Belladonna.
Colocynthis
In very violent, griping or cutting pains, sometimes with great tenderness or bruised feeling in the abdomen; the pains almost oblige one to bend double.
Dose. -As Belladonna.
Nux vomica
If there is much constipation with cramp-like pains, or much griping and flatulence.
Dose. -As Belladonna.
Accessory treatment
A warm bath at 98 or 100 degrees should be taken, or warm fomentations applied over the bowels. In all severe colics the patient should take a warm bath; or being seated in a bath with warm water up to the stomach, should be covered with blankets and steamed for ten or twelve minutes, then to be quickly wiped down and laid between warm blankets and covered with plenty of clothes, maintaining the heat with bottles filled with hot water to the feet, or with spongio-piline dipped in hot water and applied to the abdomen. In general a profuse perspiration is produced, which relieves the patient.

Colic arising from worms:
Medicinal treatment
Cina andMercurius sol. Are the best medicines. -See under Worms.