s of increasing the size, length and number of
these channels. In chronic, sub-acute and acute stages of proctitis
there is more or less secretion of inflammatory product; and often the
sufferer is able to discover, in dejections from the bowels, a yellow
syrup-like fluid, of the consistency of glycerine or white of egg, at
times streaked with blood and purulent matter indicating ulceration.

Should the proctitis be cured and these channels remain, there may be
sufficient inflammatory product in the channels to ooze through the
skin to the outer surface, and excite itching; or if a portion of the
channel escapes treatment, the same symptom may be expected at any
time.

The size and length of these channels are best determined by making a
small opening into them through the integument, then inserting a silver
probe in both directions, determining the distance under the mucous
membrane of the anal tube and the distance under the skin of the
buttocks.

In some cases a few of these channels open into the rectum just above
the internal sphincter muscles and become filled with water during the
use of the enema taken to move and cleanse the bowels. As a rule, one
end of the channel is under the mucous membrane of the terminal portion
of the rectum, and the other somewhere under the skin of the anus or of
the buttocks.

I presume that no disease of the human body has been assigned more
reasons for its existence, with the exception of constipation, than
that mere symptom of a disease, anal pruritus; a symptom which
"Regulars" call a "disease," but "Irregulars" know to be only a
symptom. It is very amusing to observe how they fill pages in their
text-books, guessing, wondering and paying their respects to the
imaginary quack doctors, "who are reaping a harvest of ill-gotten
gain." The usual medical writer is a compound of ignorance, egoism and
garrulity, and this may account for the great crop of reasons for
"diseases." However, the writers in question are not so much to blame
after all, even though they do belong to county medical societies; for
how can they well resist the literary itch with which most of them are
afflicted? Let them keep on writing while victims of pruritus ani wear
out their weary lives scratching through weary nights--nights that
extend into years, until permanent invalidism seems to be their destiny
and end. Who, verily, are the medical quacks? I will leave it to a jury
composed of those who have been