Called by the Tartars KOUMtSS. 187 



incipient hedlic. By the ufe of Koumifs for about fix weeks, pro- 

 per chirurgical dreflings being at the fame time applied, his 

 health was perfectly re-eflablifhed. 



THERE were fome other cafes in which I employed it with 

 equal fuccefs ; but of which, as being lefs important, I omit 

 the detail. 



ALL thofe who drank it agreed in faying, that, during its ufe, 

 they had little appetite for food j that they drank it in very 

 large quantities, not only without difguft, but with pleafure j 

 that it rendered their veins turgid, without producing languor ; 

 that, on the contrary, they foon acquired from it an uncommon 

 degree of fprightlinefs and vivacity ; that even in cafes of fome 

 excefs, it was not followed by indigeftion, headach, or any of 

 the fymptoms which ufually attend the abufe of other fer- 

 mented liquors. To this may be added, that the Bafchkir Tar- 

 tars, who, towards the end of winter, are much emaciated, no 

 fooner return in fummer to the ufe of Koumifs, than they become 

 ftrong and fat *. 



FROM all thefe circumftances, I think myfelf entitled to in- 

 fer, that this wine of mares milk may be applied to many of 

 the purpofes of medicine. From the mild acid which it con- 

 tains, may it not be confidered as a cooling antifeptic ? From 

 its vinous fpirit, may it not become an ufeful ftimulant, cor- 

 dial, and tonic ? And, from its oily and mucilaginous parts, 

 may it not prove a valuable article of nourimment ? If chronic 

 difeafes, as is generally allowed, depend on a debility of the fo- 

 lids j and if they are difficult of cure, becaufe the organs, 

 which ought to fupply the body with nourimment and ftrength, 

 do not only themfelves partake of the general weaknefs, but 

 are too often, by the indigeftible nature of the food with which 



A a 2 they 



* THE author of a hiftorical defcription of all the nations which compofe the Ruffian 

 empire, fays, fpeaking of Koumifs, " Elle eft fort nouriflaute, et peut tenir lieu de tout 

 " autre aliment. Les Bafchkirs s'en trouvent tres bien, elle les rend bienportans et 

 " gais j elle leur donne de 1'embonpoint, et de bonnes couleurs," Defcrip, de tout, les 

 Nat. de fEmf. Ruf. t. 2. />. 118. 



