nder my Observation, unless they were speedily
cured in the Beginning, at best proved obstinate, and too
frequently fatal, in spite of the many boasted Specificks for
this Distemper." chap. v. p. 228.--The physical Gentlemen
employed on the _American_ Service have told me, that the old
Flux Cases were as fatal in _America_, as we found them in
_Germany_. I would not from thence have it believed, that
every old Flux was to be looked on as a lost Case; and for
that Reason given up, and no Attempts be made to cure it; for
many, by great Care, and Strength of Constitution, have
gradually surmounted the Disorder, and recovered their
Health; especially when they got over the Winter, and lived
till the warm Weather began.

In the Treatment of this Disorder, as well as of the Malignant Fever,
nothing contributed more to the Cure, than keeping the Sick as clean
as possible, and in large airy Wards.

Most of the recent Fluxes, which I saw, were at first attended with a
good deal of Fever, and Pain in the Bowels; and required more or less
Blood to be taken away, according to the Strength of the Patient, and
the Violence of the Symptoms.

When the Patients were strong, and complained of sharp Pain of the
Bowels, attended with a Fever, we used the Lancet freely, nor were we
discouraged from bleeding in the Beginning by the low quick Pulse
which often attended the Disorder; and we frequently found the Pulse
rise as the Blood flowed from the Vein. But when the Sick were low and
weak, without much Pain or Fever, and the Pulse was soft, we were more
sparing of the vital Fluid[34].

[34] Although Bleeding, in the Beginning, has been
recommended by _Sydenham_, _Huxham_, _Pringle_, and other
Practitioners; yet it has been reckoned unnecessary in this
Disorder by some late Authors. But in most of the recent
Cases I saw, it was extremely necessary, and contributed
greatly to the Relief as well as the Cure of the Patient;
indeed where the Disorder had already continued some time,
and the Fever was gone off before the Patient was sent to us;
and the Disorder had become in a manner chronic, and the
Patient low, then bleeding was unnecessary, and would have
probably done Hurt. Mr. _Francis Russel_ told me, that when
the Dysentery was epidemical at _Gibraltar_, in Summer 1756,
he found that by bleeding such Patients as he met with at the