PROFLUVIA. 319 



invigorating the system of the aorta, for which I hold the bark 

 and riding to be the most effectual means. M.M* 



CHAP II. OF THE DYSENTERY. 



MLXVII. The dysentery is a disease in which the patient 

 has frequent stools, accompanied with much griping, and fol- 

 lowed by a tenesmus. The stools, though frequent, are gen- 

 erally in small quantity ; and the matter voided is chiefly mu- 

 cus, sometimes mixed with blood. At the same time, the na- 

 tural faeces seldom appear ; and when they do, it is generally in 

 a compact and hardened form. 



MLXVIII. This disease occurs especially in summer and 

 autumn, at the same time with autumnal intermittent and re- 

 mittent fevers ; and with these it is sometimes combined or 

 complicated. 



MLXIX. The disease comes on sometimes with cold shiver- 

 ings, and other symptoms of pyrexia ; but more commonly the 

 symptoms of the topical affection appear first. The belly is 

 costive, with an unusual flatulence in the bowels. Sometimes, 

 though more rarely, some degree of diarrhoea is the first appear- 

 ance. In most cases, the disease begins with gripings, and a 

 frequent inclination to go to stool. In indulging this, little is 

 voided ; but some tenesmus attends it. By degrees, the stools 

 become more frequent, the griping more severe, and the tenes- 

 mus more considerable. Along with these symptoms there is a 

 loss of appetite ; and frequently sickness, nausea, and vomiting, 

 also affecting the patient. At the same time, there is always 

 more or less of pyrexia present, which is sometimes of the re- 

 mittent kind, and observes a tertian period. Sometimes the fe- 

 ver is manifestly inflammatory, and very often of a putrid kind. 

 These febrile states continue to accompany the disease during 

 its whole course, especially when it terminates soon in a fatal 

 manner. In other cases, the febrile state almost entirely disap- 

 pears, while the proper dysenteric symptoms remain for a long 

 time after. 



1 



