147 (exe. 
eL: Ifl.—-MEDICINES WHICH OPERATE. MECHANI- 
CALLY IN PROMOTING THE REJECTION OF AC- 
CUMULATED MUCUS, 
#, By stimulating the muscles of respiration. 
Ainmonia. 
2. By exciting Vomiting, and thereby compressing the — 
thoracic viscera, 
Emeties, 
In reference to the first of the classes just enu- 
merated, which embraces medicines that increase 
pulmonary exhalation, by removing constriction 
trom the exhalent vessels of the lungs, he as- 
sumes, that in pneumonia, asthma, and other 
diseases of the pulmonary system, the spasmodic 
constriction of the exhalents of the lungs, retards 
the exudation of the usual and necessary quantity 
of lubricating fluid poured out by them in a state 
of health, "This is all true; at least the effect is 
certain, however he may account for it. But how 
does he propose to relieve the pulmonary system, 
of this perverted course of its healthy actions? 
Is it by remedies of local impulse, which, by that 
impulse liberate the embargoed gregations of mu- 
cous clots, and set them adrift in the passages of 
the lungs, there to excite coughing which causes 
their expulsion? No. Is it by attenuating the 
viscidity of these same clots, within the mucous 
follicles, by the same kind of local action, thus 
bringing them to such a state of fluidity as will 
enable them to pass the patulous and constricted 
mouths of these follicles into the pulmonary pass- 
ages, that they may gain egress as above? No. 
Is it not by suggesting for relief, the exhibition of 
certain general stimulants operating on the gene- 
ral system first, and afterwards on the lungs as a 
part, by the relaxation of indirect debility—which 
decidedly convey by the first impression, an im- 
