276 PRACTICE OF PHYSIC. 



of all kinds must be a chief means of obviating and removing a 

 plethoric state of the body ; but upon occasion of the haemorr- 

 hoidal flux immediately approaching, both walking and riding, 

 as increasing the determination of the blood into the haemorr- 

 hoidal vessels, are to be avoided. At other times, when no such 

 determination has been already formed, those modes of exercise 

 may be very properly employed. 



DCCCCLV. Cold bathing is another remedy that may 

 be employed to obviate plethora, and prevent haemorrhagy ; but 

 it is to be used with caution. When the haemorrhoidal flux is 

 approaching, it may be dangerous to turn it suddenly aside by 

 cold bathing ; but during the intervals of the disease, this re- 

 medy may be employed with advantage ; and in persons liable 

 to a prolapsus ani, the frequent washing of the anus with cold 

 water may be very useful. 



DCCCCLVI. These are the means for preventing the 

 recurrence of the haemorrhoidal flux ; and in all cases, when it 

 is not immediately approaching, they are to be employed. When 

 it has actually come on, means are to be employed for moderat- 

 ing it as much as possible, by the person's lying in a horizontal 

 position upon a hard bed ; by avoiding exercise in an erect pos- 

 ture ; by using a cool diet ; by avoiding external heat ; and by 

 obviating the irritation of hardened faeces by the use of proper 

 laxatives (DCCCCL.). From what has been said above, 

 as to the being careful not to increase the determination of the 

 blood into the haemorrhoidal vessels, the propriety of these 

 measures must sufficiently appear ; and if they were not so gen- 

 erally neglected, many persons would escape the great trouble, 

 and the various bad consequences, which so frequently result 

 from this disease. 



" Purgatives are truly indigestible matters, not assimilated 

 to our fluids, and for the most part passing off entire by the 

 anus ; but in doing so, they, in a particular manner, irritate the 

 rectum. This observation applies to all of them, but especially 

 to the Aloes. We must obviate this, therefore, by the kind, as 

 well as by the means of managing the purgatives ; while aloe is 

 constantly forbid, another laxative has been mentioned as a 

 specific, viz. the Sulphur. I cannot learn that this is a specific 

 with regard to the piles, but it is a laxative not apt to go to ex- 



