4 
ON THERAPEUTICS. 
By Professor Brown, M.R.C.V.S., 
Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester, 
t Continued from vol . xxxiii,^?. 701.) 
Constipation may arise, first, as a consequence of an accu¬ 
mulation of indigestible food. In such a case purgatives, by 
increasing the secretion and movements of the canal, at once 
furnish the condition for a cure, as the object is to soften the 
mass, and consequently enemas, and agents in solution, or 
oleaginous purgatives, are to be preferred. 
Secondly, constipation occurs from defective or perverted 
action of the liver, as instanced in the well-known disease 
called redwater, in cattle. In this affection the object is to 
increase the natural secretion from the gland, and in so 
doing to remove the constipation. But to purge merely for 
the sake of opposing such constipation w r ould be exceedingly 
empirical treatment. It may be the case that a violent 
purgative action shall sympathetically affect the liver, and 
thus excite the secretive function of that organ, but the cure 
of the disease does not necessitate the employment of strong 
cathartics. The action of the Extract of Taraxacum we have 
always found sufficiently decided, given in doses of half an 
ounce, with three or four ounces of sulphate of magnesia, 
and continued once a day until a relaxed state of the bowels 
results, after which the purgative may be with advantage 
omitted. 
Thirdly, in the fever attending all active disease and 
excitement of the system, constipation is frequently present; 
also in the dry stage of catarrh, in inflammation of various 
parts, in cases of wounds or injuries of any kind, and after 
operations. The general defect of secretion is sufficiently 
proved by the dry condition of the skin and external mem¬ 
branes. Under these circumstances, presuming no contrary 
indications are present, mild purgatives, and particularly 
those of a saline nature, may be resorted to with the view of 
restoring the defective secretion. At the same time we must 
be allowed to observe, that very rarely in these cases is pur¬ 
gation indispensable, as the dry condition of the membranes 
yields as readily to the use of aconite, diluents, and a moist 
diet. Purgatives, in the ordinary acceptation of the term, 
would very often be exceedingly injurious at the time when 
