686 DYSENTERY. 



at first apprehend auglit serious until tlie continued diarrhoea, 

 with dry unthrifty coat and skin, the general depression and 

 wasting, with impaired appetite and elevation of internal 

 temperature, direct our attention to a careful examination of 

 the discharges from the bowels. Voided with only occasional 

 a,nd irregularly occurring pain, these on examination will be 

 found to contain a moderate amount of true ftecal matter, which 

 is either soft, or more rarely contains, amongst excess of liquid, 

 hardened masses of ingesta ; the liquid portion is composed 

 largely of mucus and a jelly-like material mingled with shreds 

 of membrane or blood, the whole being of a tenacious gluey 

 character, and emitting a peculiarly offensive smell, which 

 seems to depend on the amount of necrotized tissue and blood 

 which are present. 



The more severe cases gradually but steadily tend to a fatal 

 termination. With lessening appetite but increasing thirst, 

 abdominal pain and more foetid discharges which no treat- 

 ment seems to alleviate, marasmus, exhaustion, and fever 

 ■of an adynamic type shortly destroy the sufferer. The cases 

 which have come under my observation have none of them 

 been of an acute type, all continuing over three weeks. 

 Although in some the mucous membrane of the mouth was 

 sodden and pasty, in none did I detect rupture of the buccal 

 structures; all exhibited striking marasmus with anxiety of 

 countenance. 



Treatment. — In all cases of disturbed bowels when structural 

 changes are dreaded, and particularly where symptoms indicate 

 that such exist, the greatest amount of good is likely to result 

 from perfect rest, both to the body as a whole and to the 

 intestinal canal in particular. In addition to good location 

 and healthful sanitation in every respect, we ought to enforce a 

 dietary of an essentially moist and emollient character, material 

 easy of assimilation, fairly nutritious, and not likely from its 

 physical characters to irritate the tender or abraded mem- 

 brane ; this I am more disposed to rely upon than extensive 

 dosing with medicines. 



Whenever retention of fa3cal matter is feared, a liberal allow- 

 ance of linseed-oil in the food is to be used so as to facilitate its 

 removal. From astringents of any class, the most frequently 

 employed remedies, I have received less benefit than from a 



