6 
ON THERAPEUTICS. 
cations are suggestive of a plan of treatment directed to th. 
removal of the excited muscular irritability by sedative 
agents. How frequently do purgatives fail to act in tetanus 
at all; and although it is generally considered that the chances 
of recovery are much greater when purgation is established, 
may this not be owing to a spontaneous amelioration of 
disease before the action commences? an idea exceedingly 
reasonable when we consider how rarely any action is per¬ 
ceived while the affection continues unabated. 
In the therapeutic system of a now defunct school, 
bleeding, purging, blistering, and clystering, were the four 
corner stones. A more enlightened age refuses to submit 
its sick and wounded to such merciless handling as they were 
wont to meet with. A growing perception of the fact, that 
all disease is connected with debility, is leading to the 
adoption of more humane, less active, and more successful 
methods of treatment. The restorative power of the organism 
is becoming more understood, and among the qualifications 
of the physician patience begins to rank highly; patience 
to investigate and to watch for the opportunity of afford¬ 
ing the assistance that might embarrass if volunteered 
injudiciously. 
During our discussion upon cathartics, we have rather 
opposed their exhibition in cases where they are usually 
employed, than suggested the occasions where their action 
would be beneficial. Our conclusions upon this part of the 
subject may be concisely given. 
Purgation we deem advisable when it is desired to remove 
something from the intestinal canal; therefore, in cases of 
poisoning by mineral or vegetable agents that are not imme¬ 
diately absorbed, or when any insoluble body has been acci¬ 
dentally swallowed, or when any inconvenience follows the 
consumption of a large quantity of food, or during the 
existence of parasites in the stomach or intestines, cathar¬ 
tics, more or less active, are indicated. 
In cases where any habitual evacuation is suddenly 
arrested, as instanced in the cessation of discharges from 
ulcers, or from morbid growths, or even from setons or 
rowels that have been continued for very long periods, the 
compensating action of a purgative is often beneficial. 
Saving in these cases and those of a similar kind, we con¬ 
sider purgative action fully developed to be unnecessary or 
injurious. It is so we have endeavoured to show during 
debility, even though constipation be present. 
In spasm and tetanus we have not advocated the employ¬ 
ment of cathartics, from the conviction that the principal 
