344 AN ACCOUNT OF 



whole night through, with frequent and violent 

 tenesmus. On the third day the same symptoms 

 returned, but in rather a less degree. The food 

 he took caused sickness at the stomach, and vo- 

 miting. I took this disease for dysentery, (^Fluxus 

 cceliaciis,) and gave stimulants and analeptics, which 

 did not help the disorder, but made it worse. The 

 Linimentum volatile^ which was at the same time 

 rubbed on the belly, had a better effect, because 

 it acted as a purgative. I resolved, therefore, to 

 give the patient tamarind-fruit, as a gentle purg- 

 ative, upon which he grew visibly better, only he 

 was very weak ; but as soon as I attempted to give 

 him any thing strengthening, he was again as ill 

 after the first small dose as he had been a week 

 before. I, therefore, continued the tamarinds, 

 only giving them less and less frequently. On the 

 21st of March, at the hour of full moon, he felt 

 a stitch in the side, and from that day grew better. 

 He was still weak, and his appetite bad, when we 

 arrived in Table Bay. 



