DYSENTERY, OR BLOODY FLUX.

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The astringents best adapted for the cure of a dysentery are thedifférent preparations of catechu, gum kino, logwood, «fcc, whichmay be given as below,* the patient at the same time taking portwine properly diluted with water for his ordinary drink. Lime-water mixed with an equal quantity of milk has been recommend-ed as a useful remedy towards the latter end of the disease.

In the advanced and chronic state of the disease, at which timeacidity of the stomach is apt to prevail, absorbents, as the chalkmixture, compound powder of chalk, lime-water, &c. conjoinedwith opiates, will be serviceable.

Pei sons who have been cured of this disease are Very liable torelapse ; to prevent which, great circumspection with respect todiet is necessary. The patient must abstain from all fermentedliquors, except now and then, a glass of good wine ; but he mustdrink no kind of malt liquor. He should likewise abstain fromanimal food, as fish and flesh, and live principally on milk andvegetables.

Gentle exercise and wholesome air are likewise of importance.The patient should go to the country as soon as his strength willpermit, and should take exercise daily on horseback, or in a car-riage. He may likewise use bitters infused in wine or brandy, andmay drink twice a-day a gill of lime-water mixed with an equalquantity of new milk.

When dysenteries prevail, we would recommend a strict atten-tion to cleanliness, a spare use of animal food, and the free use ofsound ripe fruits, and other vegetables. The night air is to becarefully avoided, and all communication with the sick. Badsmells are likewise to be shunned, especially those which arisefrom putrid animal substances. The necessaries where the sickgo are carefully to be avoided.

There are various other fluxes of the belly, as the Lientery andCceuac Passion, which, though less dangerous than the dysentery,yet merit consideration. These diseases generally proceed from arelaxed state of the stomach and intestines, which is sometimes sogreat, that the food passes through them with hardly any sensiblealteration ; and the patient dies merely from the want of nourish-ment.

When the lientery or coeliac passion succeeds to a dysentery,the case is bad. They are always dangerous in old age, especial-ly when the constitution has been broken by excess or acute dis-eases. If the stools be very frequent and quite crude, the thirstgreat, with little urine, the mouth ulcerated, and the face markedwith spots of different colours, the danger is very great.

The treatment of the patient is in general the same as in the

* Take Extract of Logwood, 3 drs.

Water, "7 oz.

Spirit of Cinnamon, 1 oz.

Tincture of Catechu, 2 drs.Mix, and give two tabie-spoonsful everyfour hours.

or

Take Extract of Logwood, 1 drm.

Chalk Mixture, <t oz.

Tincture of Catechu, 2 drs.

Spirit of Nutmegs, 1 oz.

Mix. — Dose, three table-spoonsful or moreevery hour.

orTake Extract of Catechu, 15 grs.

Pimenta Water, 1¿ oz.

Tincture of Kino, 1 drm.

---------- ofOpum, 10 drps.

Make a draught to be taken every fourhours.