SPASMODIC AFFECTIONS. 479 



at least some days after the first attack, the irritability of the 

 intestines, and their disposition to fall into painful spasmodic 

 contractions, seem to continue. In this situation, the repeti- 

 tion of the opiates, for perhaps several days, may come to be 

 necessary ; and as the debility commonly induced by the dis- 

 ease favours the disposition to spasmodic affections, it is often 

 useful and necessary, together with the opiates, to employ the 

 tonic powers of the Peruvian bark. 



CHAP. XI. OF DIARRHCEA OR LOOSENESS. 



" It is with difficulty that I have employed this genus, as it 

 is not very consistent with our plan to let it stand in our Noso- 

 logy. Diarrhoea is universally symptomatic of a great variety 

 of diseases, many of which are different from one another ; so 

 that a genus formed from all these is a very complicated one, 

 and comprehends very dissimilar affections and diseases, and 

 there is no use in uniting these under the title of a genus. 



" I allow that Nosology is of very little service except in assist- 

 ing us to investigate the different species of diseases, so that there 

 is little use in establishing genera, unless we arrive at taking in 

 view the whole of the species together, and establish a generic 

 method of cure. That cannot be done in the case of diarrhosa; 

 but I introduce the disease as a piece of pathology rather than 

 of nosology ; and I have one particular purpose, that is, to 

 point out its opposition to dysentery, to which distinction the 

 character which I have given to it is almost entirely directed." 



MCCCCLXV. This disease consists in evacuations by stool, 

 more frequent, and of more liquid matter than usual. This 

 leading and characteristic symptom is so diversified in its de- 

 gree, in its causes, and .in the variety of matter evacuated, 

 that it is almost impossible to give any general history of the 

 disease. 



MCCCCLXVI. It is to be distinguished from dysentery, 

 by not being contagious ; by being generally without fever ; 

 and by being with the evacuation of the natural excrements, 

 which are, at least for some time, retained in dysentery. The 



