[35] Mr. _W. Russel_, who was with the Hospital at _Martinico_, told me, that, when he was there, he found the Vomit with the Tartar Emetic to be far preferable to any other, in all Cases where there was much putrid Bile lodged in the alimentary Canal; as it speedily carried off those corrupt Humours, which were often productive of the greatest Mischiefs, if they remained, but for a short Time, pent up within the Bowels. Next Day we ordered a Purge to empty the other Parts of the alimentary Canal. The Purgative, that at first was most employed for this Purpose, was Rhubarb; but upon repeated Trials we did not find, that, in general, it answered so well, in this first Stage of the Disorder, as the _sal catharticum amarum_, with Manna and Oil; which operated without griping or disturbing the Patient, procured a freer Evacuation, and gave greater Relief than any other purgative Medicine we tried. Mr. _Francis Russel_, Surgeon to the _British_ Military Hospital in _America_, who was formerly Surgeon to the Island of _Minorca_, was the first Person who informed me (in the Year 1757) of the Use of the _sal catharticum amarum_ in the Dysentery; he told me, that the Year before (1756) the Dysentery had been very frequent and very fatal at _Gibraltar_; and, after trying Variety of Medicines, he had found nothing give more Relief, or contribute more to the Cure, than repeated Doses of these Salts. As a great Part of the Cure depended on the frequent Use of gentle Purges[36] in the Beginning, to carry off the corrupted Humours; the Purgative was repeated every second, third, or fourth Day, as the Case required; the Operation of the former Purge, and the Symptoms, determining the Frequency of the Repetition. It was surprising with how little Loss of Strength the Sick bore the Operation of these Purges; I have sometimes given them to strong People every Day, for two, three, or four Days successively; and observed that the Patient, instead of being weakened, seemed stronger, and more brisk and lively, after the Operation of each, from the Relief it gave; by evacuating those putrid, corrupted Humours, which kept him perpetually sick and uneasy, while they remained within the Bowels. [36] Variety of Medicines have been recommended to answer this Purpose. The _vitrum ceratum antimonii_ proved often too rough a Medicine, and therefore we laid it almost entirely aside.