PAINTER'S COLIC, called also Devonshire colic, and colic of Poitou, from its former frequency in those parts, is a peculiar and well-known variety of colic, to which load-miners, painters, and others who use that metal are subject. The symptoms are, severe pain in the belly, with obstinate constipation and occasional vomiting, which is generally followed by partial palsy, and in violent cases by apoplexy. The palsy mostly affects the upper extremities, so that the arms hang powerless by the sides, the extensor muscles being the most impaired. Emaciation and paleness of the muscles affected are of very frequent occurrence.
" A first attack, taken under timely management, is for the most part easily made to terminate favourably. In such circumstances it rarely endures beyond eight days. But it is exceedingly apt to recur, especially if the patient return to a trade which exposes him to the poison of lead. Sometimes the primary stage of colic is wanting, so that the wasting of the muscles and loss of power are the first symptoms." (Christison.) A peculiar livid line along the gums close to the teeth, is an invariable concomitant characteristic of lead-poison ing from the habitual exposure to it.
The principles to be observed in the treatment aro, to remove the pain and constipation, and to obviate or lessen the remote effects. In first attacks it is not very difficult to effect the former object, but with every succeeding attack these symptoms aro found more obsti nate. Inflammation is rarely a primary symptom, but may ensue, as in other kinds of colic. Want of power in some portion of the bowel, by which it, becomes distended, and excessive contraction of another portion, are the usual conditions.
By saline purgatives, such as sulphate of magnesia, sulphate of alumina and potass, or phosphate of soda in solution, followed shortly by a large dose of opium, the constipation may be removed in the milder cases. To counteract the occurrence of inflammation, calomel and opium are preferable means to bleeding, in a disease where debility is one of the usual consequences. The constipation has been known to last for a month. In such a case it was customary to give the patient three or four pounds of crude mercury, in the hope that by its mechanical properties it would force a passage. Nothing is more
reprehensible, as it irritates the contracted part of the bowel, and dis tends yet further the enfeebled and dilated part. Most cases of con stipation will yield to pills of aloes and sulphuric seid, in the proportion of one.drop of strong sulphuric acid to four grains of powdered aloes. Two of these pills every four or two hours will speedily remove this state.
The paralysed arms must be supported by splints. It is however of little use to cure a first attack, if the sufferer bo immediately the subject of a second, which he certainly will be without the greatest care. Should he be uuablo to change his employment, he must be very strict in the observance of the following rules : he should never eat without first thoroughly washing the hands and face; and never take his meals in the workshop. " Yet it is the common practice of the smelters of lead," says Dr. Percival, " and others also who live in the neighbourhood of smelting-mills, to broil mutton, beef, and pork steaks on the hot pigs of lead, by which the flesh acquires a peculiar agreeable flavour." When leaving work, a different suit of clothes should be put on, and when baths are attached to the manufactory, a complete immersion in these, after work, is advisable. The miners of Alston Moor derive great benefit from the saline mineral waters of Cartncll Holywell. to which they annually resort. Hero, besides the chemical constitution of the waters being appropriate, an action on the bowels is caused, and it is observed that an open state of the bowels is always a great protection. On this secount many masters keep a supply of castor oil on the premises, to which the workmen have free access. Fat and oily food is likewise a great safeguard. Sobriety is still more effective as a safeguard, for it is observed that among miners, potters, and all persons working among lead, drunkards suffer soonest and most severely. In all cases where the dust of the lead can be kept down by watering, this should be done, as it proves a very valuable means of exemption. Wherever it is practicable, other more innocent articles should be substituted for lead, in the various manufactures where it is now used. [Lean.] (Chriatison On Poisons; and Thaekmh On the Effects of Arts, Trades, and Profeseions.)