482 PRACTICE OF PHYSIC. 



the stomach, are disposed to undergo an undue degree of fer- 

 mentation there, and thereby become stimulant to the intestines. 

 Thus acescent aliments are ready to produce diarrhoea; but 

 whether from their having any directly purgative quality, or 

 only as mixed in an over-proportion with the bile, is not well 

 determined. 



MCCCCLXXVI. Not only the acescent, but also the pu- 

 trescent disposition of the aliments, seems to occasion a diarr- 

 hoea ; and it appears, that even the effluvia of putrid bodies, 

 taken in any way in large quantity, have the same effect. 



Are oils or fats, taken in as a part of our aliments, ever the 

 cause of diarrhoea ? and if so, in what manner do they operate ? 



MCCCCLXXVII. The other matters introduced by the 

 mouth, which may be causes of diarrhoea, are those thrown in 

 either as medicines or poisons, that have the faculty of stimu- 

 lating the alimentary canal. Thus, in the list of the Materia 

 Medica, we have a long catalogue of those named purgatives ; 

 and in the list of poisons, we have many possessed of the same 

 quality. The former, given in a certain quantity, occasion a 

 temporary diarrhoea ; and given in very large doses, may occa- 

 sion it in excess, and continue it longer than usual, producing 

 that species of diarrhoea named a Hypercatharsis. 



MCCCCLXXVIII. The matters (MCCCCLXXIV. 2.) 

 poured into the cavity of the intestines from the excretories 

 opening into them, and which may occasion diarrhoea, are either 

 those from the pancreatic or biliary duct, or those from the ex- 

 cretories in the coats of the intestines themselves. 



MCCCCLXXIX. What changes may happen in the pan- 

 creatic juice, I do not exactly know ; but I suppose that an 

 acrid fluid may issue from the pancreas, even while still entire in 

 its structure ; but more especially when it is in a suppurated, 

 scirrhous, or cancerous state, that a very acrid matter may be 

 poured out by the pancreatic duct, and occasion diarrhoea. 



MCCCCLXXX. We know well, that from the biliary duct 

 the bile may be poured out in greater quantity than usual ; and 

 there is little doubt of its being also sometimes poured out of a 

 more than ordinary acrid quality. It is very probable, that in 

 both ways the bile is frequently a cause of diarrhoea. 



Though I have said above that diarrhoea may be commonly 



