*7<5 PARALYSIS, &c. Sect. XXX. 3. 



kidney in confequence of previous torpor. In that cafe greater 

 actions of the fecretory veflels occur, and the nucleus of gravel 

 is formed by the inflamed mucous membranes of the tubuli 

 uriniferi, as farther explained in its place. 



This torpor, or paralyfis of the fecretory veffels of the kid- 

 neys, like that of the liver, owes its origin to their being previ- 

 oufly habituated to too great ft imul us; which in this country 

 is generally owing to the alcohol contained in ale or wine ; and 

 hence mull be regiftered amongft the difeafes owing to inebrie- 

 ty ; though it may be caufed by whatever occafionally inflames 

 the kidney ; as too violent riding on horfeback, or the cold from 

 a damp bed, or by fleeping on the cold ground ; or perhaps by 

 drinking in general too little aqueous fluids. 



III. I fhall conclude this feclion on the difeafes of the liver 

 induced by fpirituous liquors, with the well known (lory of 

 Prometheus, which feems indeed to have been invented by phy. 

 ficians in thofe ancient times, when all things were clothed in 

 hieroglyphic, or in fable. Prometheus was painted as (tealing 

 fire from heaven, which might well reprefent the inflammable 

 fpirit produced by fermentation ; which may be faid to animate 

 or enliven the man of clay : whence the conquefls of Bacchus, 

 as well as the temporary mirth and noife of his devotees. But 

 the after punifhment of thofe, who (leal this accurfcd fire, is -a 

 vulture gnawing the liver •, and well allegorifes the poor inebri- 

 ate lingering for years under painful hepatic difeafes. When 

 the expediency of laying a further tax on the diflillation of fpir- 

 ituous liquors from grain was canvafTed before the Houfe of 

 Commons fome years ago, it was faid of the diilillers, witli great 

 truth, " They take the bread from the people, and convert it into 

 poifon .'" Yet is this manufactory of difeafe permitted to con- 

 tinue, as appears by its paying into the treafury above 900,000/. 

 near a million of money annually. And thus, under the names 

 of rum, brandy, gin, whifky, ufquebaugh, wine, cyder, beer, and 

 porter, alcohol is become the bane of the Chriftian world, as 

 opium of the Mahometan. 



Evoe ! parce, Liber, 

 Par^e, gravi metuende thyrfo ! 



Hor. 



SECT. 



