| ℞ | Liq. Carbon. Detergentis (Wright’s). | |||
| Glycerinæ | ā ā | ℥ i | ||
| Zinci Oxidi | } | ā ā | ℥ ss | |
| Calamini Prep. | } | |||
| Sulphuris Precip. | } | |||
| Aquæ Puræ | ℥ vi | |||
| M. (Allingham). | ||||
DIVULSION.
Forced dilitation as a means of relief and cure for certain forms of rectal trouble, although a much abused and somewhat barbarous practice, has positive and undoubted merits. It is only justified, however, in peculiar and isolated cases.
The wholesale stretching of the sphincter ani muscles as a “cure all” is certainly to be deprecated as unscientific, illogical, and without the advantages or benefits claimed for it by rattling and noisy fanatics. Divulsion injudiciously employed may be followed by a long and tedious recovery, complicated with very undesirable sequelæ and thereby excites much adverse criticism.
The case of a lady recently came under my observation, who, although in average health, complained a little as many women do, and thought she was troubled with hemorrhoids. Through the advice of her physician, a college professor, she submitted to the operation of stretching on general principles. Irritability of the rectum followed, with soreness and continued pain. Finally two large sympathetic buboes developed, which suppurated, and were slow in healing. This happened a little over a year ago, I am reliably informed, and she has not yet fully recovered.
A number of cases have come to my notice where stretching was practiced for the cure of piles, imaginary spasmodic stricture, etc., without the least benefit, except, possibly, that accruing to the physician.
Fig. 30.—Graduated Rectal Dilators. (Pratt’s).
A young married man, foreman of a printing-office, complained at times of slight pain in the region of the liver. His physician, an editor of a medical journal, made an examination of the rectum with a speculum, and informed him that it would be necessary, to preserve his health, to undergo the operation of stretching the sphincters.