The mucous membrane of the lower bowel is not unlike that of the mouth, throat, or stomach. Do you realize how often the upper end of the intestinal canal is washed or bathed daily with liquids,--soft and hard drinks, hot and cold,--especially by those who have formed the drink habit instead of the enema habit? They have no fear of drying the mucous membrane thereby; but, if you can instill this fear, they will increase the quantity with pleasure! This second objection, being the result of too vivid an imagination and too little reflection, is a very nonsensical objection indeed. A third objection is that if you begin the use of the enema you will have to continue its use; you can’t stop, and, lo and behold! the enema habit is formed,--a new habit in addition to the many habits civilized man is already carrying: the constipated habit, the physic habit, the sand, bran, sawdust-food habit, the muscular peristaltic habit, etc.,--and with all these habits the poor victim of proctitis and intestinal foulness wonders that he is alive. Usually the first symptom of proctitis is constipation, and for relief the enema habit should be formed and continued while the constipation remains. When the proper means are found to remove the intestinal inflammation--proctitis and colitis--then the constipation will disappear, and with its disappearance the enema habit can be discontinued. But let it be well noted that the enema is itself an aid in curing the cause, an aid superior to any other at our command. A cleanly habit ought not to be an objectionable one, especially in cases in which it is most needed to prevent toxic substances from entering the system. A fourth objection is that after taking the first enema the constipation is worse. With many persons a certain amount of undue accumulation of feces will excite a sufficient muscular effort of the gut to force the dried mass through the proctitis- and colitis-strictured bowels. This unnatural effort may occur once a day or once in two or three days, and has doubtless been a habit of many years’ duration. To introduce a new order of conduct on the part of the bowels requires time. If the bowels have been in the habit of expelling feces in the morning, and an enema were taken the night before, there might be no desire to stool the next morning because of the fact that the bulk or accumulated mass of excrement was no longer there to create a vigorous call or impulse for defecation.