Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1857-05-14
LIVER DISEASE-IIVIR CDNP[AUT.

reSarueu as "nOuSenOlQ WOrus -teEmS tuht uafe
been used hundreds and thousands Of times by
men, women, and children, by those out of the
profession and by those in it and with the latter
especially, have the terms become so ingratiated
into their good will, favor and affection, that they
have as much fondness for their use as have the
Fejee Islanders for roasted Missionaries, and GER
ta;nly one can have as much charity for these
South Sea barbarisns, and can recognize with as
much christian consideration their canibal propen-
stiles, as the physician who will make use Of so
mysterious, unmeaning terms as silver disease"
silver complaints. How often has the physician,
with his long, sanctimoneous, and exceedingly
wise looking phiz, said to his patient 'you have
the liver disease" What does he mean by it?
does he mean nervous disease, and inhammatory
disease, an engorged condition of the liver, on
anemic condition, condition where the secretion
is too profusc or the same too little, swollen
diton, an enlarged condition, an indurated condi
ton, q softened condition, or what does he mean
his patient certainly must he Mt loss to con-
lecture. Perhaps he means "slight touch" Of
the whole combined-"von grand combination"
Now if he meant that patient had congested, or
infamed enlarged, swollen, or indurated liver, and
Ind said so, he then would have been understood
at once and the pathological condition compre-
hended.
Now the first question to be solved, is, what is
the cause of the above pathological conditions Of
the Liver. Thsssettng aside this one simple ques-
ton, with no attempt to ascertain a knowledge Of
causes, has led to q treatment to say the least,
very preudcial to the health of thousands, and it
might be said that o want Of knowledge as regards
the true cause Of those conditions of the liver and
the treatment that has been instituted in conse
quence has been the total ruination Of the health
and constitution of tens of thousands in every
ton of the country. allude to the blue pill treat
ment-a treatment that has too long been relied
upon where no good results have been discovered
a treatment that is daily hurrying hundreds and
thousands to o premature grave. Previous to
speaking Of the cause of those conditions of the
liver, let us bear in mind that the same network
of nerves that are distributed to the stomach are
also distributed to the Liver and let US also bear
in mind that the same mucus membrane that lines
the stomach, passes down into the duodenum, the
first bowel, and on through the ducts that lead
from this bowel to their remotest ramifcations
throughout the entire substance of the Liver -
What are the symptoms of a congested or inAamed
condition of the liver? The very same symptoms
that exhibit hemsslres in congestion Of the mucus
membrane Of the digestive organs. And now what
are the causes Of the sbove mentioned pathology
cal condition of the liver? answer, q congested,
irritntedend infamed condition of the mucus mem
brane of the digestive organs. This is the cause,
and the only cause Of those diseases. From ex-
haustion and over stimulation Of the capillary
vessels of the mucus membrane of the stomach,
brought about by stimulating food, bad woter,
spurious liquors, exposure, mental exertion, &C.,
&c. and last, but not least the pernicous habit Of
continually swallowing down stimulating medi-
cines, such as "tonic bitters" ''cathartic pills."
O. .,1 ftal ss,f l,oy
membrane. From the very close connection be-
tweon the stomach and liver, by not only the same
work of nerves that are distributed to the one
being also distributed to the other, but also the
mucus membrane of the other, an extension Of
disease, very readily through that chief charac-
terstic of living body-sympathy-ta place
from the stomach to the liver, producing con-
gested state of that organ.
The cause continuing, viz the infamed state of
the mucus membrane Of the stomach, (which is
too often the case by the taking Of the many spe-
cifcs, such as blue pill, calomel, "cathartc pills."
and other ''patent" pills, &c. &c.. the congested
condition of tue liver passes on into another con-
dition, viz swollen liver-a condition where there
is no actual addition Of substance, but where its
own legitimate tissue is in state of expansion,
or puffed out These two pathological conditions
70 the liver, ore very readily durable under judi
cious treatment; but if at this stage Of the dis
sease stimulation is resorted to for the purpose Of
forcing secretons, by ealomel, blue pill, or the
thousand and one different ''anti- bilious" and
other "putent' pills that are scattered broadcast
throughout thelwhole civilized world there will be
deposited into its texture from the pent.up blood
that the organ contains, hard. yellowish white
substance, and produce that condition known as
enlarged liver pathological condition which no
time or remedy 63emove, but which will SOON
er or later, pass into still another pathological
condition, viz: that Of indurated Liyer-a state
where it becomes shrunken, shrivelled, and hard
mass, from wasting of its cellular tissue, and
hangs pendulously, dangling and rafting abOunt
in the side like seeds in dry squash, with its
functions entirely suspended
With this condition of the Liver, there are now
throughout the United States, thousands and tens
of thousands lost to every hope Of recovery, for
no time, circumstance or remedy, can ever change
the conditions condition, Which l am sorry to
say, is in ninety nine cases out of every hundred,
brought about by the pernicious habit Of dosing
with calomel, blue pills, and the thousands of
specifics in shape of patent pills, to be found in
every nook and corner Of the Union.
As regards these pathological conditions Of the
liver being brought about and kept up through
the stomach, there need not be the slightest shade
of the shadow of doubt by closely watching the
symptoms. and making close inquiries concerning
the early history eff the case, for in my bslefthere
nerer pas eren single isolated case Of either of the
aJoue mentioned pathological conditions Of the Liver
but that there tras previously 10 IL, or concomitdnty
mith il, a disease Of the digestive organs.
Believing these notions correct ones, let us be-
fore we quit the subject, take cursory glance at
the system of calOmel, blue pill, and patent pill
medication. And why are they exhibited? why.
rs the pill venders say, to stimulate the secrc-
tions of the liver which means the liver to pour
out more bile Now, hoW do they stimulate the
liver for they don't touch the liver ut a and it is
impossible that they should. If they
don't come in contact with the liver, how is it
possible for them to stimulate that organ? I'll
tell YOU how they do it. They cannot, for it is
impossible for them to stimulate the liver
to not, except Jy previously stimulating the mucus
Of the stomach und by extension Of trritd-
t,ou from the stomach TO the llrer. This is the way
the liver is stimulated to act by the use of those
remedies. They irritate the mucus membrane of
the stomach, the very membrane which, bear in
mind, is already in an Orer-erctted and trritated
condition. and from achich condition Of membrane,
the lver, through sympathy ,c'th the diseased mem
Jrane, became originally diseased. Now it strikes
me this is curing oliver Disease" with venge-
ance-curing it by still father irritating and in
flaming mucus membrance which was the whole
cause of the disease in the first place.
NV pill friends may say that their pills don't ir-
ritate the mucus membrane Of the stomach. If
thew don't irritate the stomach and bowels, how is
it that they cause the bowels to move? The bowels
would not move unless they were stimulated to &C
ton, and that the bowels do move is proof posi-
tive that they have been stimulated to action.
They may say that the silver disease is not
caused by previously diseased and irritated
stomach. Well, if they don't believe that IN in