The Wilmingtonian, and Delaware register., 1825-07-21

acquainted with this horrid disorder, having
been remarkable for your successful treat
ment of it, as recollect often to have heard
some years ago when you were actively en-
gagged in the practice of medicine. Few dis
eases have led to greater coDtrariety Of
practice than this, in every instance pre-
sume founded upon opposite theories as to
the remote and hroTim0tc causes.--It must
be viewed, however, as a remark able fact
that, in those particular instances and sea-
SONS of the year that dispose the system to
bilious disorders, dysenteries are apt to en-
sue; and it is quite likely that the rcmotr
causes of both complaints are the same.
X is certain, however, that in most cases of
dvscntery, which have fallen under my OBJ
servation, a considerable degree of Aefatic
arrangement has been very evident, aid the
functions of that important viscus the liver
morbidly affected. But. whatever idea NAV
be entertained of the remote Hro1imafe eau
scs of dysentery, one thing is very certain.
that the villous coat of the large intestines.
is in state of considerable inflammation at
tended with fcve-, and all the well known
distressing train Of symptoms that take
place from obstinate construction. Most
practitioners discern two stages Of the dis
case; in the early stage have generally
used the lancet with the best effect, togcth-
er with free and copious purging, for which
purpose I have found nothing to compare
with calomel, together with antimonial dia-
phorctice Viewing dcyscnterv as present
ing an infamcd state of the lower intestncs
/ have been led to adopt practice pretica.
ted upon that view; which, although novel
in great degree, has been attended in every
, instance with the most certain success I
use very COLD WATER, (rendered SC
even by ec,) thrown upon the bowels in
form Of an enema, every half hour. This
course, in some instances, | have directed
TO be continued for twenty four hours or
more without intermission. The effect has
more than cquaicd my expectations. Every
distressing symptom is speedily alleviated.
the tenesmus subsidies, the fever abates, and
i the objections assume better aspect.
would not be understood as depending upon
this remedy alone, but as part of the plan of
cure it has proved of infinite advantage liz
every instance where | have employed ii.
This practice appears to me to be sanction
ed by the soundes reason; for, ii the gut
be topcaly affected with heat and inhan~
nation what, let me ask, can be more likely
to allay that Inflammation than bathing the
inhamed coats of the intestincs with cold
water, We use il to infamed eyes and other
parts, then why not OH the bowels! Nor
has cold water, thus applied to the lower
intestines, at anv time forbid me the use OF
all the other remedies constantly employed.
I bleed, give calomel with other purses
use diaplforetics, the warm bath, or what
ever the particular symptoms may at the
moment call for, without any interruption to
the injections of cold water. And here |
will Just stop to remark, how often have ]
witnessed, in the course of my professional
! -. ia, n.gn
fevers; when the unhappy patient, parched
with heat and draught, would give king
dom if he owned it, for draught of cold
water This by many too fastedous phy-
sicians, is cruelty denied him, for what good
reason know not, and warm insipid teas,
at which his stomach revolts, urged in its
stead. In course of twenty years prac-
tice, can assure you, sir, / have never, in
any instance, seen injury from an indulgence
III cold water under such circumstances;
on the contrary, the good effects OF it have
often been strikngly apparent, and Away
allow it, unless, indeed, some medicine may
have been taken which might forbid drink
ing it for the time. 1t is to be hoped, thai
the day is not distant, when old dogInas,
medical as well as political, viii yield to INC
good sense of mankind, when reason shall
stand forth disenthralled from the fctters q
4 OlU Dre1uQICto 1ni iltl)ilS. Dul tO ICluiH'
am very much inclined to think that too
much dependence in dyscntcry is often pla-
ced upon opium, and that it is generally
resortcd to too early in the disease. nc
temporary ease it procures is dclusirc, whi!r
the iilamnatory diathesis is heightened py
its stimulating as well as its costive lniu-
ence. Sydenham seems to have regardedlt
merely as tranquilzer: for he expressly
says, "W acifcet sy@ftomatum fcr0clam
de6eiiaret, a'que mdncias imfefFe'ef'
dnm cum hnmore feccante r-rfermNaNa@
ihSi res c8set." He would hold, by means
of opium, a sort of truce with the disorder
until he could resume more potent remedies
The idea Of using cold water in dysentcry
first occurred to me in the summer ct 49,
directed its use, with ice, in the case OF an
interesting little boy, the grandson or W.
Davis, formerly innkeeper in Washington
This child was extremely i'll, and almost
dispaired of him, but he recovered. nave
prescribed it since with undertaking success
IN many cases, in conjunction with other
remedies Very recently have given II.
perfect tria! in the family of Mrs. trantt, oi
your neighborhood, whose little sons wef-
dangerously i'll with this disease, but WlilciA
has happily yielded to the remedies employ
ed. 1t has seldom, however, fallen to tac
lot of a physician to have his prescriptions
and directions attended to with 80 mucE
4 promptitude and punctuaty, directed by $"