-Vomiting may be brought about by many causes. It is often merely one symptom of many that the patient is ill, and must never be regarded as a disease in itself, unless after careful examination of the patient, all other disorders have been found to be absent. Cold may cause vomiting without any other symptoms, and strong emotions may do the same.
For special kinds of vomiting see under DYSPEPSIA, pREGNANCY, sEA- SICKNESS.
General Treatment.-Vomiting is very often an effort of nature to relieve the stomach of a mass of food it is for some reason unable to digest-as when a chill has been taken during digestion; or after fright or vexation. In these cases the only thing to be done is to assist the stomach to get rid of what has become to it a foreign body. The simplest method to induce vomiting is to tickle the back of the throat with a feather, or the patient may be made to swallow a few draughts of tepid water. When vomiting occurs from other causes, or when it continues after the contents of the stomach have been discharged, remedial measures will be needed. Little lumps of ice may be given to suck, Koumiss, or milk and soda-water (iced if necessary), may be given to drink until the stomach is able to retain other food. Cream, gruel, arrowroot with sugar, and afterwards strong broth or beef-tea, may be tried. Only very little at a time must be given at first, and very frequently.
Medicines.-(Every ten minutes, or less often according to urgency, ceasing to repeat as soon as the desired effect is produced.)
Arnica 3.
-When caused by a fall or blow on the head; vomiting of blood.
Ipecac. 3.
-When the tongue is clean or very lightly coated; When the symptoms appear after cold, and especially when a ash has been suppressed;vomiting of blood.
Belladonna3.
-After Ipecac. vomited matter sour or bitter, with empty eructations.
Cocc. 3.
-Vomiting from cold; worse after exercise, eating, speaking; when riding, after sleep.
Carbo vegetabilis 3.
-AFter eating cold fruit, or drinking ice-water. Frequent eructations of wind. Vomiting of blood.
Arsen. 3.
-Vomiting returning from every motion of the body, and yet the patient is unable to keep quiet; is very weak, thirsty, but every drink makes him worse.
Aconite3 -Vomiting caused by a fright.
Pulsatilla 3.
-Vomiting after every meal; only very little food can be taken; the least surfeit causes vomiting with spasms and cutting pain in the bowels, or giddiness and vomiting of white, tough mucus:Diarrhoea, weakness of the limbs, and sometimes fainting.
Nux v. 3.
-After Pulsatilla, or when vomiting is brought on by over- indulgence in alcohol or tobacco.
