42 SORBENTIA. Art. IV. it. 



Art! IV. 



SORBENTIA. ! 



1. Those things which increafe the irritative motions, 

 which conftitute abforption, are termed forbentia •, and are as 

 various as the abforbent vefiels which they flimulate into action. 



i. Cutaneous abforption is increafed by auftere acids, as of 



I vitriol -, hence they are believed to check colliquative fweats, 



and to check the eruption of fmall-pox, and contribute to the 



cure of the itch, and tinea ; hence they thicken the faliva in 



the mouth, as lemon-juice, crab-juice, floes. 



2. Abforption from the mucous membrane is increafed by opi- 

 um, and Peruvian bark, internally j and by blue vitriol externally. 

 Hence the expectoration in coughs, and the mucous difcharge 

 from the urethra, are thickened and leftened. 



3. Abforption from the cellular membrane is promoted by 

 bitter vegetables, and by emetics, and cathartics. Hence mat- 

 ter is thickened and leffened in ulcers by opium and Peruvian 

 bark ; and ferum is abforbed in anafarca by the operation of 

 emetics and cathartics. 



4. Venous abforption is increafed by acrid vegetables ; as 

 water-crefs, cellery, horfe-radifh, muftard. Hence their ufe in 

 fea-fcurvy, the vibices of which are owing to a defect of ven- 

 ous abforption •, and by external ftimulants, as vinegar, and by 

 electricity, and perhaps by oxygen. 



5. Inteftinal abforption is increafed by aftringent vegetables, 

 as rhubarb, galls ; and by earthy falts, as alum ; and by argilla- 

 ceous and calcareous earth. 



6. Hepatic abforption is increafed by metallic falts, hence 

 calomel and fal martis are fo efficacious in jaundice, worms^ 

 chlorofis, drcpfy. 



7. Venereal virus in ulcers is abforbed by the ftimulus of 

 mercury ; hence they heal by the ufe of this medicine. 



8. Venefettion, hunger, thirft, and violent evacuations, in- 

 creafe all abforptions ; hence fweating produces coflivenefs. 



9. Externally bitter aftringent vegetables, earthy and metal- 

 lic falts, and bandages, promote the abforption of the parts on 

 which they are applied. 



1 o. All thefe in their ufual dofes do not increafe the natur- 

 al heat i but they induce coflivenefs, and deep-coloured urine 

 with earthy fediment. 



In greater dofes they invert the motions of the ftomach and 

 lacteaii , and hence vomit or purge, as carduus benedictus, 



rhubarb. 



