MARINE SALT. 285 
acids and alkalies are mixed. It would feem probable 
that part of the marine falt is hereby decompofed. 
That vegetable acids and marine falt are antifeptics, has 
long been known, but their effets when mixed I appre- 
hend to be but lately difcovered. 
Without farther preface, I fhall proceed to the particu- 
far difeafes in which they have been adminiftered, pre- 
pared as above. 
Or tHe DYSENTERY. 
The dyfentery is a very frequent diforder in this and 
other We(t-India iflands; and fometimes is epidemic, par- 
ticularly in the rainy feafons, or when provifions are fcarce. 
Amongft other caufes of dyfenteries, I have often known 
the eating of yams not arrived at maturity, as alfo unripe 
alligator pears, produce a bloody flux. 
Dyfenteries commonly begin with frequent loofe ftools 
for a day or two, attended with gripings: by degrees, the 
gripes grow more tevere, nothing is voided by ftool but - 
a {mall quantity of mucus, mixed with blood ; a tenefmus 
comes on and is exceedingly troublefome. 
The appetite fails, the patients are low fpirited, and fuf- 
fer a great proftration of ftrength. The mouth and tongue 
are much furred and flimy, and the tafte is like that of 
rotten butchers meat. The defire of drink is fometimes 
exceflive, but for the moft part very moderate. The pulfe 
is very low, feeble and undulating; and rarely rifes fo 
high, as to indicate the ufe of a lancet. Such was the 
dyfentery in 1771. It proved fatal to many people, both 
old and young, though treated according to the moft ap- 
proved methods of cure, and the lofs of feveral patients 
of mine, convinced me of the neceflity of ufing antifep- 
tics early in this difeafe. 
A vomit feemed neceffary to clear the ftomach, and 
fome gentle purge, to carry off part of the offending mat- 
Oo ter 
