Southern Medical and Surgical Journal - Georgia Regents University

1858.] Campbell's Lecture on Dysentery. 83diarrhoea is treated by it—and here let it be well understood,that with this object, opium is never indicated in this disease;because there is constipation already existing as an element of,and a very serious aggravation to it—and also as, very unfortunately,one of the most prominent effects of this agent, is toinduce or increase that very same^condition, But, althoughopiates are not admissible, as part and parcel of the regular treatment,yet there are frequent circumstances under which theirpro re nata employment is demanded for another purpose—thatof procuring rest and sleep, notwithstanding their very inconvenientand pernicious quality, here obtaining, of suspending theperistaltic action of the intestine, and thus increasing constipation;which effect has to be guarded against and overcome, bythe unremitting pursuance of some procedure which will preventor neutralize this deleterious influence, by keeping the bowelsin a relaxed condition—that procedure, fortunately, being theproper and only appropriate treatment, under this head, for Dys*entery, as has been indicated and will be further shown.The secondary position assigned to this agent then, will befound to be in the fulfillment of another and far different indication;not in the treatment of the disease itself, but for the reliefof some of the untoward evils consequent upon the disease, andwill be noticed in its proper place. And it is to be esteemed agreat misfortune, in reference to this class of remedies in thisdisease, that their valuable anodyne effects cannot be put inrequisition, except at the expense of enhancing the diseasedcondition, through the consequent evil of their constipating effect.Hence, you perceive, that the M opiate and astringent"treatment is worse than no treatment in the end—that in fact,the disease demands the reverse interpretation, to what is hereevident, as the basis of an opposite treatment.The practice with Cold-water or other soothing enemata, cannottake the place of treatment inadjuvant in some cases, to allay irritation.Dysentery, but is valuable as anThis subject has beentreated of at length, by Dr. Brown of Alabama, who in regard toit, employs the following extravagant language, uviz., I willnow briefly consider the superior advantages of the Cold WaterTreatment, as pursued in the foregoing cases, and particularlyits topical application by enemata.The immediate effect of itsintroduction is remarkable—the patient generally expressing