DYSENTERY. 369 



may occasion it ; and, not unfrequently it is the effect of 

 drastic and improper purgatives, in which cases it com- 

 mences in diarrhoea. One other cause also remains to be 

 noticed, but which is seldom taken into the account, and 

 that is metastasis, or the translation of the virus of fever 

 to the intestines ; and which is, we are disposed to believe, 

 i'ar more frequent than is generally imagined. It also has 

 been brought on by eating improper herbage ; and appears 

 now and then the produce of some low marshy situations, 

 particularly in cold rainy seasons ; in which cases it par- 

 takes of a typhoid type. 



Treatment. — There will be liquid or mixed evacuations of 

 the natural faeces and the intestinal mucus. It will, in 

 such cases, be the practitioner's duty to form a true dis- 

 tinction between inordinate diarrhoea and dysentery ; and it 

 is from the mucus quality of the stools, mingled with 

 membranous masses, that he must assure himself of the 

 dysenteric character : in which case, notwithstanding the 

 odium which castor oil has lately obtained, it will here 

 prove his sheet anchor, with the following accompani- 

 ments : — 



Castor oil eight ounces. 



Chloroform one drachm. 



Powdered ipecacuanha one drachm. 



Powdered opium two drachms. 



Powdered chalk one ounce. 



Rice water half a pint. 



Mix, and repeat once or twice, after intervals of six 

 hours. After which, should the discharge continue un- 

 checked, for the castor oil substitute thick boiled starch, 

 and continue to give night and morning, till the discharges 

 have returned to their usual state. Should this not suc- 

 ceed, calomel a scruple, with opium a drachm, may be 

 given every hour, and the following drink at night time : — 



Sulphuric ether one ounce. 



Laudanum one ounce. 



Chalk one ounce. 



Tincture of catechu one ounce. 



Liquor potass£e one ounce. 



Tincture of capsicums two drachms. 



Cold water one pint. 



If green meat can be procured, it should be tried, but with 

 some caution. It has proved the best remedy ; and the 

 same has been observed of carrots in the winter season : 

 but succulent food has done harm ; in which cases sub- 



Bb 



