thefe fluxes, few efcape, particularly in fouthern climates, where the humours are more exalted and acrid. But the prognostic is various according to the particular circumftances. For, 1. a recent is lefs dangerous than an inveterate flux. 2. According to the fpecies, for a ftercoral is not fo dangerous as any other flux; and those of the colliquative kind, are of all others the most fatal. 3. The fymptoms caufe fome variety; for the fluxes which are attended with many and violent fymptoms, as lofs of taste, gripings, &c. are more dangerous than fuch as have. few and flight fymptoms. 4. According to the patient's age, for these fluxes are more fatal in very young and tender subjects, than in fuch as are farther advanced, because the former are lefs able to bear the weakness and other misfortunes which these fluxes bring on. 5. According to the nature of the cause." for a tranfitory caufe is lefs to be apprehended. than a permanant one; thus worms, dentition, crinones, &c. are lefs dangerous, than an inflammation, ulceration, &c. of the ftomach or guts.

CURE. Few medicines are employed in thefe diforders, both because of the delicate

conftitutions

conftitutions of children, and the repugnance they have to drugs; fo that a proper regimen is the only thing a phyfician can depend on.

I. Therefore a fuitable diet fhould be prescribed. If the infant fucks, part of his milk should be retrenched, and its quality carefully examined: if it be not good, the nurse should be treated with proper remedies. If the child be weaned, he fhould abstain from his pap, flesh meat, &c. and must be confined to a little foupe, which should be very light, for meat foupes, fuch especially as are fat, are very subject to putrifaction, wherefore fome pot-herbs fhould be boiled therein; you may alfo add the yolk of an egg to the soupe, or fimple broth.

II. After these remedies, you proceed to purgatives, or emetics; the laft of which are generally the most efficacious; But they are to be ordered principally when the patient is inclined to vomit, and when his stomach is over-charged. Purgatives are useful in the dyfentery, especially the Ipecacuana; because it evacuates, and at the fame time attenuates the vifcid and mucous humours. It may be. ordered from two to ten grains, according to the infant's agę, beginning always rather

by an half, than a full dofe; and if the first does not operate, you may the more fafely proceed to a ftronger; you may order by the fame gradation and caution, the stibiated tartar. Among the purgatives, rhubarb should be principally employed if the patient's age can bear it. As these remedies are the most efficacious in these fluxes, they should be now and then repeated.

III. After purgatives, we are to order. mild ftomachics, as the confections of alkermes, that of hyacinth, and the theriaca, to 12, 15, or 20 grains. The two first should be exhibited in the morning, and the theriaca at night, because of the laudanum it contains, which difpofes the patient to reft; or the following ftomachics may be employed ås myrrh, or maftichs, to 3 or 4 grains, or oriental faffron, which is anodyne and ftomachic at the fame time.

IV. After the ftomachics, abforbents are prescribed, as are also aftringents, as crabbs eyes, or harts-horn, to eight grains twice a-day. Thefe abforbents may be combined with aftringents in the form of bolufes, electuaries, &c. with fyrup of myrrh, or that of quin

ces.

V. If

V. If all these remedies be ftill employed in vain, and the patient is very much griped, narcotics are to be prescribed, milder or stronger, according to the child's age.

As to bleeding, it is commonly useless in thefe fluxes. But if the pains be very violent, it be instituted, drawing more or less blood, according to the patients age, ftrength, &c.

may

Finally, anodyne clyfters fhould be prefcribed; they are made of the decoction of tripes, or of veal, and the oil of sweet almonds, or a decoction of mullein, in which is boiled a poppy-head, or they may be made of whey and brown fugar.

CHA P. XIX.

Of RUPTURES, and firft of the UMBILICAL RUPTURE.

THESE are divided into ruptures by diflocation, and ruptures by congestion. The former are ruptures properly fpeaking, and are produced either by the epiploon, or omentum, or the intestines, or by both. The M 2

first

first species or ruptures by diflocation, is twofold, viz. umbilical and inguinal ; which latter is alfo two-fold, viz. annular and crural; the former in the annuli or ringlets of the abdominal mufcels, the latter under the arch which they make by their aponeurofis in the groin. The rupture by congeftion is called Hydrocele ; and most commonly in the tunica vaginalis of the testicles, this water is collected. To these ruptures I fhall add an account of the ani procidentia, or falling down of the

anus.

Thefe diforders have fuch an analogy with each other, that my explication of them fhall be very brief.

I. 'Tis fufficiently certain, that there is a paffage in the navel for the umbilical veffels to entertain the circulation betwixt the infant and placenta. This aperture is commonly closed foon after the infant's birth; but it fometimes remains dilated, and fo eafily yields, that feveral fpecies of ruptures may follow, all which are called in general Omphalocele; but if the epiploon alone forms the tumour, it is called Epiplo-omphalocele ; if the inteftins alone, Entero-omphalocele; if the inteftins