274 PRACTICE OF PHYSIC. 



Stahl and his followers ; and has had a great deal of influence 

 upon the practice of physic in Germany. 



DCCCCXLVIII. The question arises with respect to hae- 

 morrhagy in general, and indeed it has been extended so far by 

 the Stahlians. I have accordingly considered it as a general 

 question (DCCLXVIL DCCLXXX.) ; but it has been 

 more especially agitated with regard to the disease now under 

 our consideration : And as to this, although I am clearly of 

 opinion, that the haemorrhois may take place in consequence of 

 the general state of the system (DCCLXIX.), or, what is 

 still more frequent, that by repetition it may become connected 

 with that general state (DCCCCXLIII.), and in either case 

 cannot be suppressed without great caution ; I must beg leave, 

 notwithstanding this, to maintain, that the first is a rare case ; 

 that generally the disease first appears as an affection purely 

 topical (DCCCCXXXV. DCCCCXLII.),andthatthe allow- 

 ing it to become habitual is never proper. It is a nasty dis- 

 agreeable disease, ready to go to excess, and to be thereby very 

 hurtful, as well as sometimes fatal. At best it is liable to acci- 

 dents, and thereby to unhappy consequences. I am therefore 

 of opinion, that not only the first approaches of the disease are 

 to be guarded against, but even that, when it has taken place 

 for some time, from whatever cause it may have proceeded, the 

 flux is always to be moderated, and the necessity of it, if pos- 

 sible, superseded. 



DCCCCXLIX. Having delivered these general rules, I pro- 

 ceed to mention more particularly, how the disease is to be 

 treated, according to the different circumstances under which it 

 may appear. 



When we can manifestly discern the first appearance of the 

 disease to arise from causes acting upon the part only, the 

 strictest attention should be employed in guarding against the 

 renewal of these causes. 



DCCCCL. One of the most frequent of the remote causes 

 of the haemorrhoidal affection, is a slow and bound belly 

 (DCCCCXXXVI.) : and this is to be constantly obviated by a 

 proper diet, which each individual's own experience must direct ; 

 or, if the management of diet be not effectual, the belly must 

 be kept regular by such medicines as may prove gently laxative, 



