148 ORD. VII. ~Hederaceéce. VITIS VINIFERA. 
qualities, and therefore have been much employed in dropsies, 
and other cases requiring an antiphlogistic treatment. Dr. Cullen 
says, “ that in large doses they act like a purgative in exciting 
the action of the absorbents in every part of the system, and that 
more powerfully than happens from the operation of any entirely. 
neutral salt ;” and on this is founded their utility in the cure of 
dropsy. It must be remarked, however, that they do not readily 
pass off by the kidneys, unless taken with a large quantity of 
water; and therefore when intended as a diuretic they ought to 
‘be given in a liquid form, as Dr. Holme has directed. The dose 
is to be regulated according to the circumstances, from a dram to 
two ounces. These salts enter several officinal compositions. 
Another article to be noticed here is. Vinegar, which has been 
‘esteemed of great use in almost all inflammatory and putrid dis- 
orders, whether internal or external. Bergius says, it is refrigerans, 
resolvens, antiputredinosa, alexiteria, antiphlogistica, digestiva, 
antiscorbutica, diaphoretica. [t is very efficacious in counteracting 
the effects of vegetable poisons, especially those of the narcotic 
kind. Inhaled im the form of a vapour, it is found useful in the 
putrid sore throat; and it has been given successfully in mania, 
and in rabies canina. Distilled and neutralized with volatile alkali, 
it forms the aqua ammoniz acetate, or spiritus Mindereri, a-medi- 
cine of common use in fevers. By distillation, however, the 
vinegar generally contracts an empyreumatic taste, and is seldom 
found in a rightly concentrated state; when required to be of 
great strength, it may be rendered so by freezing it, after the 
‘manner we have directed for concentrating the juice of lemons. 
_ ‘Vinegar is also much employed as a menstruum, or for extracting 
the virtues of other medicines. 
Rares ee 
