PURGATION. 291 



ter. Mr. Taplin, although apparently of great 

 (l^ill in all matters of medical adminiflration, 

 has, I think, very much failed in decrying the 

 advantages of thus extrafting the excrement, 

 frequently a matter of the utmofl: neceflity in 

 both brute and human bodies; in the latter, 

 it is ufually performed with a filver inftrument, 

 formed like a marrow fpoon. It mull furely 

 be a great point gained, where we can make 

 direft application to the feat of the com- 

 plaint ; as for inflance, to the blood vefTels 

 by phlebotomy, in a flate of plethora and in- 

 flammation. In a laxative glyfler, the quantity 

 may be as much as three quarts ; but in thofe 

 of a reftringent, anodyne, or nutritious kind, 

 which are to be retained, from a pint to a quart 

 is fully fufficient. I have already, in Volume I. 

 page 1^6, entered Gibfon's excellent caveat 

 againft the too liberal ufe of purgative articles, 

 particularly coarfe aloes in glyiliers, and have 

 only to recommend, in general, in this intent, 

 oils,,falts, lenitive eleftuary, and other mild laxa- 

 tives. Let your liquid, in refpctl of warmth, 

 be as nearly as pofFible of the common tempe- 

 rature of blood, which beino^ difcharsred with 

 all due caution againft alarm, hold down the 

 tail a few minutes. Glyfters thus carefully 

 given, create fo little uneafmefs to a horfe, that 

 they may be repeated very often, if necefi'ary, 

 without much trouble. I cannot avoid rcpeat- 



u 2 ing 



