342 S C O U R I N G, &c. 



colour (inclining to that of a new guinea,) 

 moderate in coniiflence, regular and adhelive 

 in form, coming away without great efforts 

 and an extenlion of the fundament, approach- 

 ing to pain, the body may then be confidered 

 in a proper and healthy ftate; but when the 

 dung comes away with feeming labour, is 

 remarkably hard in fubftance, very dark in 

 colour upon falling, and ftrong or foetid in 

 fmell, it may be fairly concluded, the contents 

 of the inteftines are indurated, and nearly ap- 

 proaching a ftate ofdifeafe. When they are 

 obferved to be in this condition, a gentle pro- 

 motion of evacuations or courfe of purgatives 

 may be premifed, as very falutary preventives 

 to danger, expence, and trouble. 



SCOURING, OR LOOSENESS. 



An aphorifm of the juftly celebrated Boer-* 

 haavey^ that '' Nature never purges herfelf but 

 *' when fhe wants purging," is fo firmly fixed 

 upon the bafis of truth, that is has been very 

 feldom fubjeft to exception. But there are, in 



