PURGATION. 267 



the NEUTRAL SALTS; medicincs fo exqulfitcly 

 fitted by nature to the intention, as to leave us 

 nothing to defire. I cannot avoid mentioning 

 here, that I have repeatedly feen very rough 

 draftic efFefts from fenna, (particularly if the 

 patient be very coftive) which is reckoned 

 among the milder purgatives. The "laft in- 

 ftance I knew was of a pregnant woman, to 

 whom an old nurfe prefcribed fenna, which, 

 although the dofe was moderate, had fo un- 

 favourable an effe6i, that a mifcarriage was ap- 

 prehended in confequence. I have been fince 

 informed of fimilar inftances. 



Since writing my Firil Volume, where, in 

 conformity to the opinions of my refpefted 

 mailers, Gibfon and Bracken, and from the 

 refults of my own experience, I entered my 

 proteft againft the ufe of Barbadoes aloes, I 

 have converfed'On the fubjeft with feveral ve- 

 terinary pra6litioners ; they agree with me as 

 to the fuperior virtue and mildnefs of the fine 

 aloes, but complain of its backwardnefs of 

 operation upon the horfe, and of the largenefs 

 of the quantity required ; for fuch reafons, they 

 have been induced to continue the ufe of the 

 common ; but to obviate its draftic effefts, it 

 has become the cuftom to exhibit it a few 

 drachms at a time, which method it feems has 

 fucceeded. I have not however feen any rea- 

 fon to depart from my former opinion ; and 



whatever 



