44 PAYSIC, &c. 



operation of cathartic raedecines conveyed in 

 a liquid form ; for the joint qualities and 

 force of the different ingredients being let 

 loose at the same moment upon the internal 

 coat of the stomach, without the stimulative 

 powers being covered by aromatic or carmi- 

 native ingredients, may (exclusive of the dis- 

 agreeable sensation excited by their action 

 upon the irritability of the stomach) be pro- 

 ductive of spasms, or very severe griping 

 pains, previous to the laxation of the har^ 

 dened fa:^ces in the intestines. 



And where such pains are evidently predo- 

 minant, (the proper time being more than 

 expired) and there is no palpable sign of the 

 physic's beginning to operate kindly, (which 

 for the consolation of those unacquainted 

 w^ith the ceremony is very seldom the case, 

 particularly if the medicines are carefully 

 and accurately prepared) so far from applaud- 

 ing the rashly recommended system of oiling 

 ** a small hand^' and extracting the excrement 

 from the fundament, I relinquish every ex- 

 pectation of finding *' a very small hand'* 

 amqng farriers or grooms, and consequently 

 disclaim the idea of encoura^ino^ anv such 

 practice;, unless the rectum should be abso- 



