Distend and contract an organ for a short time two or three times a day, and it will gain in strength from the exercise. Every one knows that this is the case. What more gentle means of exercising the large intestine than by the enema? But the truth of the matter is, that in all cases of proctitis and constipation the diseased portion of the gut is too active in its muscular movements, contracting spasmodically, as it does, at even the suggestion or suspicion of feces near it. Every impulse of the bowels above the constricted section to force the feces down through the closed bore only intensifies the spasmodic action and increases the muscular obstruction, compelling the victim to resort to some one of the many drastic means of relief. The enema does no more than kindly to dilate the constricted region, which, when dilated, evokes a harmonious concerted action of all the nerves and muscles to pass along and down the burden of feces, which, without the aid of a flood of water, they had been incapable of moving, and would have had to leave to poison the system. The seventh objection is quite _naïve_: “Inasmuch as the Indians of this country had no use for the enema, why should we resort to it?” The all-sufficient answer to this objection is that the Indians lived a natural life, while ours is artificial. Much can be said on this point, but the reader is surely rational enough to follow out the distinction suggested. Our lives are much more important than were the lives of the aborigines of this country, and our “demands of Nature” are more exigent. If your life is of no greater value than theirs, for leisure’s sake don’t use the enema! You will be taking too much trouble. It really should seem that the cleanliness of the skin and mucous membrane, the care we take of our bodies, is an indication and measure of our sense of refinement. An ancient Scripture hath it: “Let those that are filthy, be filthy still.” It all depends upon how you wish to be classed--with the filthy or the cleanly. The eighth objection to be noted is the fear of “poking things” (points of instruments) “into the rectum.” This looks like a real objection. No healthy, nor even unhealthy, organ, for that matter, should be “abused.” And what seems more likely to cause it trouble than to poke a hard- or soft-rubber point or tube through its vent in opposition to its bent or inclination? Still, the muscles of the vent are strong, and they soon accommodate themselves to the practice. Their slight disinclination is not to be considered alongside of the relief and cure you effectuate by the use of the enema.