secretion of urine, owing toa deficient action in 
advanced life, of the discharging function of the 
skin, causes perpetual micturition. We cannot 
allow that the increased urine is produced by a 
debility of the secreting powers of the kidnies, but 3 
by its increased action from the cause already men- ; 
tioned. The inadequacy of the urinary organs to 
retain this as long as in earlier life when more 
general vigour pervaded the system, may indeed 
be owing toa debility of their excreting function; — 
and in like manner, as with the lungs, tonics and 
astringents would here bring about a balanced 2 
action between secretion and excretion. ‘The sul-— 
pent of zinc, indicated by Dr. Paris, as particu- 
larly efficacious in restoring the debility of the 
exhalents,” is a tonic and a certain one under pro- 
per management. What has been said therefore 
above, of tonics and astringents generally, is 
equally applicable to this medicine.  . 
Section 6 of the second class refers to medicines 
which have the power of increasing the action of 
the absorbents, under the belief that the ** mucous 
inundation may not depend upon any fault in the 
exhalents, but upon a torpid state of the pulmo- 
nary absorbenis.” These are digitalis and to- 
bacco? two narcotics of somewhat diverse power 
of acting on the system. Here Tam happy to 
agree with Dr. Paris as to the cause of the evil: | 
but with what propriety can the remedies he desig- 
nates for it, be denominated'expectorants? 
Section c of the same class comprises medicines | 
Which determine to the skin by gentle diaphoresis; _ 
and their action in relieving the lungs by restor- 
ing that checked cutaneous discharge, on the pau- 
city of total suppression of which, the lungs are 
engorged by performing, in common with the kid- 
nies, the serous exhalations which should have 
