en introduced into the rectum
returned readily through the tube into the can. On learning this fact, the
attendants were instructed to employ the enema in this way. From one to
two pints of water, of 70 deg. or 75 deg. F. temperature, were allowed to pass
into the bowels; and after being retained for five or ten minutes, or
until the patient experienced uncomfortable sensations, it was made to
pass out through the tube by simply lowering the reservoir to the level of
the floor. A new supply of water of a proper temperature being introduced
into the reservoir, it was again raised to the proper height, and the
operation so continued until six quarts of water had been used. Then the
patient was allowed to rest half an hour or an hour, according to the
height of the fever, and the same process was repeated. Careful record was
made of the temperature of the patient just before the treatment and
immediately after. It was found to be invariably reduced from one to one
and a half degrees by each treatment. The temperature, which had been
exceedingly obstinate previous to the employment of this method, ranging
from 104 deg. to 105 deg., during the intervals between the treatments would, of
course, rise somewhat; but each time it stopped short of the point reached
during the previous interval, so that in the course of a few hours the
fever was brought down to very nearly a normal temperature. The
temperature of the water, when taken after passing through the bowels, was
found to have risen each time from 10 deg. to 13 deg..

The great capacity of water for absorbing heat renders it one of the most
useful of all substances for lowering the temperature; and it is readily
apparent that, by the means described, heat may be abstracted from the
body almost _ad libitum_, and the temperature may thus be controlled with
a rapidity and a degree of certainty which cannot be approached by any
other method. In a still more recent case, in which the same treatment was
employed, the temperature of the patient had reached 106 deg. F., in spite of
the vigorous application of ordinary measures of treatment, such as cold
compresses, etc.; but it was, in four or five hours, brought down to
nearly 100 deg. by the use of the cold enemas.

The advantages of this method are: 1. It may be employed without wetting
or moving the patient; very frequently a patient will sleep continuously
during the administration of the treatment. 2. It seldom causes
chilli