Art. IV. 2. i . i . SORBENTI A. 43 



rhubarb. They promote perfpiration, if the fkin be kept warm ; 

 as camomile tea, and teftaceous powders, have been ufed as 



fudorifics. 



The preparations of antimony vomit, purge, or fweat, either 

 according to the quantity exhibited, or as a part of what is giv- 

 en is evacuated. Thus a quarter of a grain of emetic tartar (if 

 well prepared) will promote a diaphorefis, if the fkin be kept 

 warm ; half a grain will procure a ftool or^fro firft, and fweat- 

 ing afterward ; and a grain will generally vomit, and then 

 purge, and laftly fweat the patient. In lefs quantity it is prob- 

 ble, that this medicine ads like other metallic falts, as fteel, 

 zinc, or copper in fmajl dofes ; that is, that it ftrengthens the 

 fyftem by its ftimulus. As camomile and rhubarb in different 

 dofes vomit, or purge, or a6t as flimulants fo as to ftrengthen 

 the fyftem. 



Some of the medicines of this clafs of forbentia have been 

 termed tonics by fome authors, as giving due tone to the ani- 

 mal fibre. But it fhould be obferved, that tone is a mechanical 

 term, applicable only to mufical firings, and like bracing and re- 

 laxation, cannot be applied to animal life except metaphorically. 

 The fame may be obferved of the word reaction, ufed by fome 

 modern authors, which in its proper fignification is a mechan- 

 ical term inapplicable to the laws of life except metaphorically. 



II. Observations on the Sorbentia. 



I. 1. As there is great difference in the apparent ftructure 

 of the various glands, and of the fluids which they felect from 

 the blood, thefe glands muft poffefs different kinds of irritabili- 

 ty, and are therefore ftimulated into ftronger or unnatural ac- 

 tions by different articles of the materia medica, as fhewn in the 

 fecernentia. Now as the abforbent veffels are likewife glands, 

 and drink up or w felect different fluids, as chyle, water, mucus, 

 with a part of every different fecretion, as a part of the bile, a 

 part of the faliva, a part of the urine, &c. it appears, that thefe 

 abforbent veffels muft likewife poffefs different kinds of irrita- 

 bility, and in confequence muft require different articles of the 

 materia medica to excite them into unufual action. This part 

 of the fubjecl has been fo little attended to, that the candid 

 reader will find in this article a great deal to excufe. 



It was obferved, that fome of the fecernentia did in a lefs de- 

 gree increafe abforption, from the combination of different prop- 

 erties in the fame vegetable body ; for the fame reafon fome of 

 the clafs of forbentia produce fecretion in a lefs degree, as thole 

 bitters which ^have alio an aroma in their compofition ; thefe 



