178 ' Reviexu. 



stipated state of the bowels. In pursuance of this object, 

 I began to try the effects of purgative medicines, given 

 regularly in moderate doses. 



" At first, I confess, I acted with all that caution and 

 diffidence w^hich the adoption of a line of practice, at va- 

 riance with that which had been long approved and esta- 

 blished, naturally inspires. But experience had convin- 

 ced me of the safety of exhibiting purgative medicines in 

 Typhus fever : I therefore did not think any great risk 

 would ensue from a cautious use of them in the most debi- 

 litated state which Chorea might induce. The conjecture 

 proved to be well founded ; the success of the practice 

 confirmed the justness of the opinion on which it was 

 formed, and encouraged me to persevere with steadiness 

 and activity. 



** The purgatives employed in the first instance were 

 of the weaker kind, and inadequate to the object to be 

 obtained. Stronger ones were found to be necessary to 

 move and discharge the indurated and fetid I'eces. 



*' I found thfe quantity of feculent matter collected, to 

 vary in different subjects, and at different periods of the 

 complaint. I could not ascertain this by any prcvir^us 

 circumstance. One would think, that, in proportion to 

 the fulness and prominence of the abdomen, and in pro- 

 portion to the age and vigour of the patient, the accu- 

 mulation ceteris paribus would be ; but I do not observe 

 that this is so. Perhaps the lengtheiicd duration of the 

 complaint, and the reduced state of the patient, the con- 



