Defæcate

[I]f vve defæcate the notion from materiality, […] it vvill be as hard to apprehend, as that an empty vviſh ſhould remove Mountains: a ſuppoſition vvhich if realized, vvould relieve Siſyphus.

The peculiar form of constipation present, inability to defæcate, was one which was usually associated with loss of power in the legs, as in this case.