tahen into, and of the Secretions Jrom, the Human Body. 65 



The daily averages in the evacuations w«re — urine 42 ounces ; 

 faeces 4J ounces^ leaving a balance of nearly 44 ounces for the 

 daily loss by perspiration, being an excess of alx)ut 6 ounces 

 above that in the former season, or one-sixth more, owing no 

 doubt to the higher temperature of the weather. 



Another trial of one week's continuance was made in Septem- 

 ber the*same year. The results were so nearly alike to those in 

 June, as to render an enunciation of them unnecessary. The 

 daily consumption of food was 93^ ounces* and the perspiration 

 one-half of that quantity. 



I may now be allowed, perhaps, to subjoin one day''s experi- 

 ence of the effect, that taking a large dose of carbonate of po- 

 tash (salt of tartar) has upon the secretions. This was sug- 

 gested by a similar experiment made by Dr Alexander, and 

 publiehed by him in a small volume of medical essays. His re- 

 sults I do not at present recollect ; but my notes at the time 

 imply, that I expected the alkali to act as a diuretic. My ex- 

 periment was made on a fine day at the end of March after the 

 two week series ; the thermometer ranged from 40° to 60°. In 

 the morning I had a basin of tea prepared for breakfast, with 

 the usual quantity of sugar and cream ; into this I infused 4 

 drams avoirdupois (100 grains) of dry carbonate of potash ; after 

 it was dissolved, I proceeded to my repast as usual, apprehend- 

 ing the diluted alkali would be so far qualified in its taste by 

 the sugar, as to be rendered tolerably palatable, but in this I 

 was mistaken ; the nausea was unbearable, and I was obliged 

 to drink it off as fast as I could, and then eat my toast to an ad- 

 ditional cup in the ordinary way- This done, I felt nothing 

 amiss, took a moderate walk, and returned. On sitting down, I 

 perceived small drops of fluid on the backs of my hands, with- 

 out any sensation of heat above common. My appetite was 

 rather keener than usual during the day, and I felt uncommon 

 agility in the evening. The secretion by the kidneys was not 

 at all disturbed ; but, on retiring to bed, I burst into profuse 

 perspiration, which continued through the night, and was felt in 

 degree during the succeeding night. By taking care, the effects 

 went off without any detriment. 



-' Being satisfied by the preceding trains of experiments, that 

 no information was to be expected in this way, than was already 



VOL. XIV. NO. XXVII. JANUARY 1833. E 



