The common symptoms of mucous colitis have been accepted by writers on the subject, but as to the real cause of them there has been thus far only mere conjecture, just as the writers have been doing as to the cause of pruritus ani, scroti, and vulvæ. Dr. George M. Niles, of Atlanta, Ga., says: “In looking up the literature, one is amazed at the divergent views as to the etiology and management held by diligent students and competent observers. It is fairly well agreed that most cases occur in nervous, neurasthenic, hypochondriac, or hysteric individuals.” Others blame the liver, hysteria, constipation, fermentative processes in the intestines. How foolish to name symptoms of the disease as a probable cause of it! It is not necessary for me to again enumerate the many primary and secondary symptoms of proctitis and sigmoiditis, but I will mention briefly a few nervous symptoms which I think are due to the absorption of mucus into the system. There is that intense, exasperating, sore, and restless feeling, with inability to concentrate the mind, with the nerves and muscles of the body pinched and contracted. Such feelings are at their height during an acute mucus storm, which is an indication of increased inflammation in all the inflamed tissues, causing secretion of a great quantity of mucus or membranous casts. No doubt much of the inflammatory exudate from the mucous membrane, from the muscular structure of the organs, and the connective tissue surrounding and supporting the organs, passes into the sigmoidal and rectal canals, while a portion is absorbed into the system. In a similar manner, the inflammatory exudate from a subtegumentary mucus channel and cavity passes through the skin, causing moisture of the skin, pruritus ani, scroti, and vulvæ. I know of no non-malignant disease, where the symptoms may truly be said to be a thousand times worse than the disease that caused them, except in chronic proctitis and sigmoiditis. Treatment of such cases has been very successful in my practice, requiring four principal aids: (1) Local treatment; (2) medicated enemata; (3) local medication; (4) the recurrent application of medicated hot water at a temperature of 125 to 135 or more degrees. A further valuable aid is the determination of the sufferer to get well by faithfully carrying out the home treatment. The more a patient studies my diagnosis and treatment of his case, the more he is encouraged that eventually a cure will be effected. Dr. James Moran of this city has been a student and assistant at my office for more than three years, and will bear testimony to the success of my treatment in all cases observed by him. CHAPTER XXVI. ANTISEPTIC EMPLOYMENT OF POWDERS AND OILS. DEPURANT POWDER.