I am reading Candide by Voltaire. Candide urges a sick man to find a cure for his illness, and the man responds with

"Alas! how can I?" said Pangloss, "I have not a farthing, my friend, and all over the globe there is no letting of blood or taking a glister, without paying, or somebody paying for you."

A search of the word glister typically redirects to glisten or glitter. But these lead to the expected definitions about the behavior of light.

Searching the phrase taking a glister led to a result that claims the action can break a fast, implying impurity.

From the information I found I think it may be:

1. Slang for a hygienic (like "take a shower") or medical (with "letting of blood") practice
2. A form of measurement, perhaps like "take a pill"

What does the phrase "taking a glister" mean?

I am reading Candide by Voltaire. Candide urges a sick man to find a cure for his illness, and the man responds with

"Alas! how can I?" said Pangloss, "I have not a farthing, my friend, and all over the globe there is no letting of blood or taking a glister, without paying, or somebody paying for you."

A search of the word glister typically redirects to glisten or glitter. But these lead to the expected definitions about the behavior of light.

Searching the phrase taking a glister led to a result that claims the action can break a fast, which may imply impurity or consumption.

From the information I found I think it may be:

1. Slang for a hygienic (like "take a shower") or medical (with "letting of blood") practice
2. A form of measurement, perhaps like "take a pill"

What does the phrase "taking a glister" mean?