aoo On the Operation of Medicines. 



cannot require much illuftration. After fading 

 and fatigue, we feel that a moderate quantity 

 of wine inflantly exhilarates the fpirits, and 

 gives energy to all the mufcular fibres of the 

 body. It has been known even to produce a 

 fudden and large augmentation of weight, after 

 much depletion, by roufing the abforbent fyf-- 

 tern to vigorous aftion. Such power is peculiar 

 to living mechanifm ; and is properly deno- 

 minated, by phyficians, t\\t Vis medicatrix natura. 

 But apparent as is the fympathy of the ftomach, 

 the laws by which it is governed are very in- 

 fufficiently underftood : And we have hitherto 

 learned only from a loofe indudlion of fa<5ls, 

 that the nerves of this delicate organ feem to 

 be endued with diverfified fenfibilities -, that 

 impreflions, made by the fame or different fub- 

 ftances, have their appropriate influence on 

 different and diftant parts j and that the ftomach 

 itfelf undergoes frequent variations in its ftates 

 of irritability. A few grains of blue vitriol, 

 taken internally, excite inftantly the moft violent 

 contractions in the abdominal, and other muf- 

 cles concerned in vomiting. A dofe of ipeca- 

 cuanhay as foon as it produces naufea, abates 

 both the force and velocity of the heart, in its 

 vital motions ; and affeds the whole feries of 

 blood veffels, from their origin to their minuteft 

 ramifications J as is evident by the palenefs of 

 fhe fkin, under fuch circumflances, and by the 



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