præmiss

We may judge of the fallacy of this conclusion by subjoining to his logical enthymem the only minor præmiss which could warrant him in making it. It would run thus : ‘Sed dysenteria comitatur nec febre inflammatoriâ, nec constipatione intestinorum.’ Now such a præmiss would be false, for dysentery is often attended by symptoms of fever and inflammation, and it has also a species of constipation peculiar to itself, marked by the disappearance of the natural contents of the intestines, and the substitution of frequent scanty stools of mucus, blood, and serum.