Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1825-07-28
BLADEssBuRc. July 10, 1925.
Messrs. GALES S. SgAToN,
Washington.


| To HE Honorable Joseph Kent, M ID.
/ DEAR StR-Tfe heat OF the weather
in the latter part OF last month, has al
ready brought about number Of cases
, Of Dysentary, which is unusually early
for the appearance Of this disease Ii
is more apt, as you know 10 appear in
autumn, or the last summer month, and
particularly after dry and sultry weather.
Ii do hot mistake you are well acquain-
ted with this horrid disorder, having
been remarkable for your successful
treatment oft, as recollect often 10
have heard some years ago when you
were actively engaged in the practice
OF Medicine. Few diseases have led to
a greater contrariety of practice than
this, III every instance presume founded
upon opposite theories as to the remote
and prorimate causes. Thrust be view
ed, however, as a remarkable fact, that
in those particular instances and seasons
of the year that dispose the system to
bilious disorders, dysentaries are apt 10
ensue and il is quite likely that the re-
same. 1t is certain, however, that in
most cases OF dysentary, which have
fallen under my observation, a consider
able degree ofhepatic arrangement has
beenvery evident, and the functions of
that IMPORTANT yiscus the liver morbid
~ affected. But, whatever idea may
be entertained of the remote or the pror-
imaie causes Of dysentary, one thing'is
very certain that the yillous coat OF the
large in estines, is in a state ofconsider-
able inflammation, attended with lever,
and all the well known distressing rain
of symptoms that take place from OBJ
stinate constructions. Most practitioners
discern two stages, Of the disease; in the
early stage | have generally used the
lancet with the best effect, together with
free and copioaspnIging, forNhich pnr-i
pose have found nothing to compare
with calomel, together with antimonial
disaphoreiics. Viewing dysentary as
presenting an infamed STATE the low
er intestines, / have been led TO adopt
o practice prededicated upoa that view,
which although novel in a great degree,
has been attended in every instances
with the most certain success. use
very COLD WATER, treadered so
even by ice,l thIowp up the bowels IN
form of an enema, every half hour.
This course, Ia some instances, | have
directed to be continued for twenty four
hours or more without intermission.
The effect has more than equalled my
expectations. Every distressing symp-
tom is speedily ,alleviated, the tenesmus
subsidies, the fever abates, and the de-
jections assume better aspect |
would not be understood as depending
upon this remedy alone, but as part Of
the plan Of cure il has proved Of inf
mite advantage 10 every instance where
| have employe d it. This practice ap.
pears TO me to be sancti,nelby the SCUM
dest reason; for, II The gut be topically
affected with heat and inilamatiep, what,
let me ask, can be more likely to allsy
that inflammation than bathing the infia-
med coats of the Intestine with cold wa
ters we use IT to inhamed eyes ando other
parts, then why not on the bpwels!-
Nor has cold water, thus applied to the
lower intes,ines, at any time forbid me
the use of all the other remedies COM
monty employed. Ibleed, give Gallo
melw purges, use diachoretics, the
warm bath, or whatever the particular
symptoms NAV 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 career,
the sufIe cs from thirst in ardent fe.