The fluxes that arose in the fleet were either what may be called the acute idiopathic dysenteries, or a dysenteric state of the bowels from neglected diarrhœas, which was most apt to occur in the convalescent state of fevers, or in men labouring under the scurvy. The body is more susceptible of infection in a state of weakness from these or any other causes; and in hot climates the dysentery seems to be more infectious than fevers; for at hospitals it was so frequently communicated to men who were ill of other complaints, that it was in these the principal cause of mortality. For this reason, I was at more pains with regard to this disease than any other, in keeping those who were ill of it in a separate ward. I have met with some violent and untractable cases which proved fatal in the acute state; but, in general, this disease draws out to a chronic form in this climate, and does not prove mortal for many weeks. The usual cause of death appears, from the inspection of the bodies, to be an ulceration of the great intestines, particularly of the descending colon and the rectum. This part of the intestinal tube is most affected from its being the receptacle of all the acrid secretions from the rest of the canal; and it is naturally more subject to congestions of the fluids and incurable ulcers, as appears from the rectum being so liable to the hæmorrhoids and the _fistula_. This ulceration of the great intestines is so common, that, out of eight cases which I inspected after death, seven had this appearance. The case in which there was none was not so much a case of dysentery as of inflamed bowels, brought on by the man having drank to excess of spirits while he was recovering from a dysentery. The acute _tormina_ which always occur in the first days of the disease seem owing to an inflammation, which terminates in ulcers; and these being constantly irritated by the sharp humours, produce the _tenesmus_, which is the symptom most essential to dysentery in the after part of the disease. Any diarrhœa may in this manner become dysenteric. During the acute griping at the beginning, the stools are loose and copious; but as soon as the tenesmus takes place, they are scanty, which is most probably owing to the spasmodic strictures in the great intestines, in consequence of irritation upon their excoriated surface. The inflammatory state is more lasting and violent in a cold than a hot climate, the gripings are more severe, and the danger is also greater in this stage of it.