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Information on the case neither full nor exact, and of an old
date; therefore I can give only general directions --

If the complaint seemed to be entirely owing to some intempe¬
rance, if for the time, no Dysentery was Epidemic in the country, if the
disease, tho without bloody stools, had no other of the Dysenteric
symptoms, such as gripes, Tenesmus and with frequent mucous
stools a retention of fæces the natural fæces, I would in these
circumstances conclude the disease to be a Diarrhœa only and I
would hope to cure it by Tonics, Astringents & Opiates and I
give a formula below, which I hope will be found to answer
and with that let him live on grain and milk, without wine
malt liquor or vegetables. When the looseness ceases or is much abated
let him take some Bark, with a small proportion of Alum and
if the Bark shows any tendency to purge him, let him take a
little Laudanum along with it. When he can bear riding it
will be of service to him & or some journey in a carriage ––

The advice I have now given proceeds entirely upon the
supposition that there has not been either first or last anything
in it properly Dysenteric, but if there has been anything of
this kind, the measures should probably be different. I consider
it as always the in Dysentery, that the natural fæces are retai¬
ned in the Colon and that such retention is the cause of the
gripes Tenesmus and mucous stools, and that the disease can
not be cured but by Laxatives obviating the stagnation of
fæces. Cr. Tart. Manna and Tamarinds may be tried
and if they are not enough they may be assisted by Senna

I can do no more at present, than this endeavour to put
Gentlemen in a way of judging of the real nature &c.