PROFLUVIA. 323 



will explain the whole phenomena of the disease. With regard 

 to the pustules which have been lately discovered by dissection 

 in the whole of the great guts (See Stark, Hist, et Sectiones 

 Dysenteric.), they are rather to be considered as the effect 

 than as the cause of the disease. 1 ' 



MLXXVIII. I apprehend, therefore, that the proximate 

 cause of dysentery, or at least the chief part of the proximate 

 cause, consists in a preternatural constriction of the colon, occa- 

 sioning at the same time those spasmodic efforts which are felt 

 in severe gripings ; and which efforts, propagated downwards to 

 the rectum, occasion there the frequent mucous stools and tenes- 

 mus. But, whether this explanation shall be admitted or not, 

 it will still remain certain, that hardened faeces retained in the 

 colon are the cause of the griping, frequent stools, and tenesmus : 

 For the evacuation of these faeces, whether by nature or by art, 

 gives relief from the symptoms mentioned ; and it will be more 

 fully and usefully confirmed by this, that the most immediate 

 and successful cure of dysentery is obtained by an early and 

 constant attention to the preventing the constriction, and the 

 frequent stagnation of faeces in the colon. 



MLXXIX. In this manner I have endeavoured to ascertain 

 the proximate cause of dysentery, and therefore to point out also 

 the principal part of the cure, which, from want of the proper 

 view of the nature of the disease, seems to have been in several 

 respects fluctuating and undetermined among practitioners. 



MLXXX. The most eminent of our late practitioners, and 

 of greatest experience in this disease, seem to be of opinion, that 

 the disease is to be cured most effectually by purging, assidu- 

 ously employed. The means may be various; but the most 

 gentle laxatives are usually sufficient ; and, as they must be 

 frequently repeated, the most gentle are the most safe; the more 

 especially as an inflammatory state so frequently accompanies the 

 disease. 



" The common notion is, that purgatives ought to be 

 given with a view to evacuate the morbific matter ; and perhaps 

 there is some foundation for that ; but this is very much at ran- 

 dom ; and if we render the passage clear and easy, such morbific 

 matter is very soon washed out of the body. Sir John Pringlc 

 has come nearer to the truth : he observes, that the evacuation 



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