75 (pix. 
desirable, from the previous dryness and heat of the 
skin to keep it free, diluents should be given tepid: 
and, if we desire to keep up the diaphoretic action, 
they should be given warm. The use of co- 
pious draughts of warm water in promoting the 
operation of an emetic, is well known: and in- 
deed, by distension alone, with this fluid, vomi- 
ting may often be very serviceably excited and 
kept up until the quiescence of the stomach under 
the last draught, indicates that all is well. More 
of this subject in another and more proper place. 
In short, diluents are important remedies: and 
the practice of that great physician so keenly sat- 
irized in Gil Blas, under the name of Dr. San- 
grado, and who cured all diseases by bleeding and 
warm water, was not justly obnoxious, at least in 
my opinion, to the severity of the satire. The dil- 
uents here noticed constitute the class of attenu- 
antia, or attenuant remedies, of Cullen: and, dis- 
posed in some rank or other, they will be found to 
occupy a stand, in all systems of sification. 
Cullen has refered to his class however, articles 
which I cannot deem true diluents; he first sets 
down water, and then follow (with some qualifying 
remarks of his own, sustained by the experiments 
of Sir John Pringle,) alkaline medicaments, neu- 
tral salts, (with his opinion of doubtful claim, ) soap, 
sugar, honey, liquorice and the dried saccharine 
fruits. The Jast four are properly referable to 
demulcents, and thither I discharge them. — 
.. 
