The principal distinctions of dysentery into inflammatory, putrid, and malignant, are without foundation, as will be obvious from the following short description. It is evident that these are inflammatory or putrid fevers, with inflammation in the bowels, or putrid diarrhoeas.

The inflammatory dysentery approaches with a violent fever, and a hard pulse, which in other dysenteries is generally small, and that (only in the progress of the sickness) becomes full; an almost continued and intolerable pain in the belly, which increases on the part being touched, and still more after vomiting; stools very inconsiderable with respect to quantity; a head-ach, red face, and sometimes a distended belly.

A putrid dysentery is distinguished by a bitterness in the mouth, which appears directly on the first attack; a vomiting of bilious matter, which is sometimes also mingled with worms; a shivering that returns in the course of the disorder; the slightnessof the fever, the paleness of the countenance, and the variegated colour of the excrements.

Dysenteria maligna. A malignant dysentery is attended in the beginning, or whenever any other kind degenerates into it, by a sudden weakness, great anxiety about the pit of the stomach, heaviness in the head, a heavy, oppressed, sunk countenance, frequent slight convulsions, a weak voice, frequent faintingst miliary eruptions, petechiae, aphthae, sickness, and a very weak pulse.

Having distinguished dysentery from diarrhoea, we need not add to the length of the article by enlarging on the distinction between this disease, a bloody flux from piles, or an abscess of the intestines. The description of Sydenham is alone sufficient to establish the diagnosis. The scirrho-contracted rectum sometimes produces symptoms not unlike dysentery. The absence however, of pain, of fever, of the mucous dejections, and the troublesome tenesmus, sufficiently points out the difference.

The explanation of the symptoms, from what has been said, is not difficult. The appearance of the fatty matter, which is less easily explained, seems owing to the diseased state of the glands, from the continuance of the disease, for, apparently, it is not hardened mucus. The skins, in the stools, are probably abrasions of the villous coat. Aphthae are a symptom of low, long continued fever, from whatever cause it may proceed.

A dysentery commonly begins as an acute disease; but it degenerates, after some time, into a chronic complaint; and, in that case, to the other symptoms, a decayed appetite, dryness of the skin, sunk features, a lividly yellow complexion, great weakness, and emaciation, are added.

In general, the prognostics are taken from the intense-ness of the symptoms, the colour and smell of the stools, the strength of the patient, and the length of the disorder's continuance. It is never without danger, and never to be slightly regarded; for nature alone contributes very little to its cure. There is always danger of a mortification of the bowels, until the disease gives way. When the excrements are of various colours, and of an offensive smell, there are probably ulcers in the intestines, and the danger is increased. If blood appears on the first day,or the irritation great, the danger is in proportion. When the fever is urgent, when the cause is contagion, the patient already reduced by previous sickness, or sinking under any other disorder, the danger is proportionably enhanced. An hiccough, delirium, the pain and thirst ceasing at once, the excrements passing involuntarily, convulsions, coldness of the extremities, with vomiting, are among the mortal symptoms.

To prevent the complaint, those who are in warm climates should carefully avoid the coldness of the evenings, and the chilling dews which succeed the sultry days; those who are confined in jails, or in camps, should avoid the vapours from putrid faeces; and if any-putrid disease is prevalent, the bark, with laxatives, may be taken at proper intervals. If there is any suspicion of the disease approaching, an emetic should be given immediately; a warm sudorific should succeed; and, in the morning, a dose of some gentle purgative, to promote the proper discharge from the intestines.

In the progress of this complaint, the air should be kept as pure as possible, and moderately warm: cleanliness is absolutely necessary; the excrements should be immediately removed; the linen, and every thing about the patient, frequently changed. The diet may be of rice, salop, panada, the broth of lean meat acidulated with lemon or orange juice, jelly of animal substances with cinnamon. Dr. Rutherford advises a few hand-fills of wheat flour to be boiled, tied up tight in a rag, for six or eight hours. It will then be hard, and two or three table spoonfuls, when grated, may be boiled, in milk and water, to the consistence of pap: this may be made agreeable to the palate with sugar, and used both for the general food, and for the substance of clysters, which in this disorder are frequently required. For drink, milk and water, butter milk, the white decoction, or, what is still preferable, a decoction of mallows in milk and water, may be freely used. Frequent dilution with mucilaginous drinks of every kind is highly proper.

It was usual with Sydenham, and some other judicious practitioners, whose success justified their proceeding, to begin, if called in early after the first attack, by giving a gentle emetic, and copious draughts of some thin fluid, to cleanse the stomach: clysters of the same were frequently injected, to lessen or dilute the irritating matter if it existed; but more certainly to soften as a fomentation.

Sydenham ordered bleeding, if the symptoms required it; then directed a large quantity of cold whey to be drunk; and clysters of the same to be injected and repeated until the pains were abated: these were administered warm. After this the patient was put in bed, and a sweat promoted. When the patient was greatly exhausted, endeavours were used to check the evacuation,