AN 



EXPERIMENTAL ENQUIRY 



INTO THE NATURE OF 



GRAVELLY AND CALCULUS CONCRETIONS, 



IN THE HUMAN SUBJECT; 

 AND THE EFFECTS OF 



ALKALINE AND ACID SUBSTANCES ON THEM, 



IN AND OUT OF THE BODY. 



BY THOMAS EG AN, M. D. M. R. I. A. 



READ, MARCH 6'", 1805: 



The constant occurrence of these aflflicting complaints, 

 in Simpson's Gouty Hospital, to which I have been phy- 

 sician for several years, first turned my serious attention 

 to the most probable means of alleviating or removing 

 them. But, to obtain this desirable end, an examination 

 into the nature of the predisposing and proximate causes; 

 of the chemical and other properties of gravelly matter it- 

 self; and that species of calculus, most generally resulting 

 from its aggregation; as well as of the remedies, and their 

 mode of operation; became indispensably necessary. I 

 must also acknowledge, that I was not a little excited to 

 this enquiry, by the consideration, that, whilst the medi- 

 cines, now most confided in, by modern practitioners, are 

 VOL. X. G g supposed 



