, he commonly got the better of it:--But when the
Strength was gone before the Swellings appeared, the Disorder often
ended in a confirmed Dropsy, and at last in Death; and when the
Swellings were universal over the Body, while the Flux yet continued,
it was a Sign of great Weakness, and they did not survive it long[45].

[45] Many other Medicines have been used for the Cure of old
Dysenteries,--The _Conessi Bark_, recommended as a Specific
in Diarrhoeas, cured a Dysentery which had yielded nothing to
a Variety of Medicines. _Edinburgh Medical Essays_, _Vol._
III. _Art._ iv.--The _cortex eleutheriae vel cascarillae_ is
much recommended for the Cure of Dysenteries in the _Memoir.
de L'Academie des Sciences a Paris_ 1719, and is still in
great Repute among the _Germans_.--The Decoction of the
_semiruba_ Bark was found to have a good Effect in the
Dysentery, where the Patient continued to void Blood with his
Stools; and when the Stools were only liquid, without a
Mixture of Blood, some of the Cascarilla added to the
Decoction encreased its Efficacy. See _Degnerus_'s Treatise
_de Dysenteria_, _cap._ iii. _sect._ 55. These and many other
Remedies have been tried in obstinate Dysenteries.

From what I have observed myself, and from the Accounts of
others, I am now convinced, that such Cases as are not
already too far gone, are most likely to be cured,

1. By keeping the Patients on a low Diet, composed
principally of Milk, Sago, Rice, Salop, and such other Things
as are recommended by Dr. _Pringle_; allowing weak Broths,
and a small Quantity of white Meat, as they recover their
Strength. The common Drink to be Barley or Rice-Water, Toast
and Water, _Bristol_ Water, Almond Emulsion, and such
like.--By making them wear some additional Cloathing, and
guarding carefully against catching cold.--Errors of Diet and
Exposure to Cold being the most frequent Causes of Relapses
into this Disorder.

2. By giving from Time to Time a Dose of some mild Purge;
such as a little Manna and Salts; a Solution of Manna in
Almond Emulsion; twenty or thirty Grains of Rhubarb, in a
saline Draught, or such like; and occasionally gentle
Emetics.

3. By the Use of some of the mild Astringents and
Corroborants.--The Bark, with Astringents and Opiates,
agreeing best with some--Decoctions of the Semiruba wi