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ELEMENTS OF MATERIA MEDICA.

(3. Injected into the rectum, warm water is sometimes employed topromote tlie hamiorrlioidal flux, and thereby to relieve affections of dis-tant organs; as an emollient, to diminish irritation either in the largeintestine itself, or in some neighbouring organ, namely, the bladder,prostate gland, or uterus; to promote the catamenial discharge, &c.Clysters of tepid water are frequently employed to excite alvine evacua-* tions. I have before (p. 53) expressed my opinion as to the improprietyof frequently introducing several pints of fluid into the rectum, since thegut, by dilatation, becomes less susceptible to the natural stimulus of thefames.

y. Injected into the vagina, warm water may be used to diminishirritation or pain in the womb,—to promote the lochial discharge, &c.

I. Injected into the bladder, warm water is sometimes employedeither to diminish irritation in this viscus, or to distend it previously tothe operation of lithotrity.

t. Injected into the urethra, it has been used to allay irritation, or tocheck discharges from the mucous membrane.

£. Injected into the veins, warm water was proposed by Magendie as aremedy for hydrophobia, but it has neither theory nor experience torecommend it. However, in a disease which has hitherto resisted allknown means of cure, practitioners are glad to try any remedy that maybe proposed, however improbable, or unlikely of success. I have already(p. 55) mentioned a case in which I tried warm water injections, but with-out much benefit. Vermfrre (Christison ’s Treatise on Poisons, p. 35) hasproposed to distend the venous system with warm water, to check or stopabsorption in poisoning, by those agents whose operation depends ontheir absorption; for example, opium. I am not acquainted with anycase in which it has been tried on the human subject. Warm water issometimes a medium for the introduction of other more powerful agentsinto the circulating system ; as, for example, tartar emetic.

d. Vapour. —The inhalation of aqueous vapour acts as a serviceableemollient in irritation or inflammation of the tonsils, or of the membranelining the larynx, trachea, or bronchial tubes. It may be employed bymeans of Mudge’s inhaler, or by merely breathing over warm water.Various narcotic and emollient substances are frequently added to thewater, without increasing its therapeutical power. In some pulmonarycomplaints, Dr. Paris states he has heen long in the habit of recom-mending persons confined in artificially wanned apartments to evaporatea certain portion of water, whenever the external air has become exces-sively dry by the prevalence of the north-east winds which so frequentlyinfest this island during the months of spring; and the most markedadvantage has attended the practice.

II. External. — a. Ice and ice-cold water. —Ice is sometimes ap-plied externally to check haemorrhage, more especially when thebleeding vessel cannot be easily got at and tied. Thus, after operationsabout the rectum (more especially for piles and fistula) haemorrhagesometimes occurs to a most alarming extent; and in such cases ourprincipal reliance must be on cold. In two instances that have fallenunder my own observation, I believe the lives of the patients were pre-served by the introduction of ice within the rectum. In many other casesof haemorrhage, the external application of cold (either in the form of iceor ice-cold water) is exceedingly useful. Thus, applied to the chest in