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little, if at all, the usual healthy standard ofacidity. This 

 circumstance must excite our attention the more forcibly, 

 when we consider, that two drachms of nitrous acid, nay, 

 sometimes three, diluted in the proportion of one pint of 

 water to each drachm of acid, were taken daily; whilst, 

 on the other hand, a few drops of the acid elixir of vi- 

 triol, or tincturas martis in sp. salis, nay, the weak ve- 

 getable acids, and cream of tartar, persevered in for a 

 few dajs, impart an additional degree of acidity to the 

 urine. Would not this observation (if founded), conjoin- 

 ed with the easy decomposable nature of the acid itself, 

 and its action on animal matter, induce us to lean to the 

 opinion of those, who have already asserted, that this acid 

 is partly decomposed in the system, imparts its oxj'gene 

 to it; and that, perhaps, to a degree, capable of annul- 

 ling or destroying its properties as an acid ? 



And it may be here further remarked, in confirmation 

 of such notion, that those gentlemen, most conversant with 

 it here, as well as most capable of judging, entertain strong 

 doubts of its supposed diuretic effects; allowance being 

 made, for the necessary quantity of its Avatery vehicle. If 

 it be, then, truly deoxyginated in the system, why be 

 deterred by its failure, as a radical cure of syphylis, from 

 extending our trials with it here, to other chronic diseases, 

 as they have already done, in India.'' 



