‘CLASS XX.—DILUENTS. 
3 Mie £ Be = Fo F : 
= Nts are defined, those substances which 
tae of fluid in the blood. It is evident that thi 
y watery liquors. Water is indeed, properly ‘spea 
diluent. Various additions are made to it, to rend 
ya to give it a slightly demulcent quality. But 
sufficiently important to require to be noticed, or to be c 
medicines, 
A 1ents are mere 
mmatory diseas 
afford relief when topically applied to inflamed pafts, 
tending the skin, or where the skin is dry and rigid. 
Heat conjoined with moisture is the principal emollient 
water applied warm by the medium of some vegetable subst 
ig the various fomentations and cataplasms, is the 
, hich it is applied, the vegetable matter serving to retain the 
heat, and to allow the proper application of the moisture. = oye, 
__ Oils'and unctuous substances are the only other emollients ; they 
are merely introduced by friction. Any of the expressed oils already 
_ noticed, or lard, may be used for this purpose. eg ae 
The preceding observations are inserted to-give a general ide 
the virtues of such medicinal substances as are possessed of the qua- 
lities which make the objects of the respective articles. Fshallnow | 
proceed to an account of each of the remedies separately ; commen- 
botanical, or vegetable medicines, which will receive more = 
ticular attention ; they being more in accordance with the objects _ 
of this work. ‘Together with native plants, such foreign medicines 
__~ will be described as are serviceable and incommon-use.  —— 
ES 
= 
ne : 
