344 SCOURING, &c. 



the attention of the maiier, and the interpo- 

 fition of art, would fometimes do well to re- 

 move. And this is the more neceflary to be 

 retained in memory, when it is recoliefted 

 that where Nature fails in, or is inadequate 

 to, the produdion and completion of this 

 effort, in her own defence, fhe becomes 

 gradually overpowered ; the inteftines are 

 enormoufly loaded, and the over-repletion at 

 length inevitably conftitutes the Gripes, or In- 

 flammatory Cholic, on which we lail: treated. 

 But where Nature is fortunately adequate to 

 her own work, and the accumulation is fpon- 

 taneoufly carried off, Boerhaaves maxim is 

 fiddly verified; and it becomes palpably clear 

 to every obferver Nature does not purge her- 

 felf till fhe wants purging. 



This kind of Lax, or Loofenefs, is moft rea- 

 dily diftinguifhcd from fuch as arife from other 

 caufeSj the horfe is previoufly dull, heavy, and 

 inadive, feemingly oppreffed, and vifibly over- 

 loaded, though without any appearance of 

 extreme pain, but fubjed to a general difqui- 

 etude; the dung firft comes away with a de- 

 gree of folidity; the evacuations then become 

 more frequent, and at laiT: loofe; the difcharges 



are 



