174 COLD. STATE OF THE BOWELS. [BOOK II. 



The latter, or local kind of inflammation, is the 

 effect of the former, or continued internal fever, 

 with its concomitant unfitness for the purposes of 

 life ; and whenever such a tumour or abscess makes 

 its appearance near the surface, the general inflam- 

 mation or fever subsides ; when it discharges offen- 

 sive matter, the fever is cured. If such a tumour 

 appear without previous general fever of the system, 

 we repress it, so that it may disperse and pass off 

 by stool. It may usually, however, be considered 

 as an effort of nature to relieve itself of offensive 

 viscid matter that lurks in the system ; and in this 

 case only, when well ascertained, would that re- 

 duction of the system which we shall shortly insist 

 upon as proper in all inflammatory attacks, be least 

 advisable ; as nature would then require aid to as- 

 sist her in her efforts, rather than subtraction from 

 her powers, by the bleeding, purging, &c. so re- 

 commended. 



But whenever a cold is caught, whereby the trunk 

 is affected, one of two evils is experienced that is 

 quite contrary in its effects : 1st, Either the bowels 

 lose the power of retaining their contents, and of 

 contributing their aid to the purposes of digestion, 

 chylification, and sanguification, i. e. the making of 

 fresh blood, and diarrhoea ensues ; or, 2d, The ex- 

 treme heat of the body causes the dung to harden ; 

 the stomach then throws up its fumes to the head, 

 and if the obstruction be not speedily removed, 

 the most distressing consequences usually ensue. 

 Either extreme may come on gradually and imper- 



