On Gravelly and Calculous Concretions. I19 



the alkaline carbonates, under similar circumstances, are 

 possessed ot similar powers, though in an inferior degree : 

 and thirdly, that, by our having ascertained this point, we 

 have removed a long established error, substituted a disco- 

 very highly interesting to animal chemistry, and likely to 

 be productive of a more enlightened and successful practice 

 in the treatment of these diseases. 



In these expectations we shall appear to be the better 

 founded, when it is considered, that, for want of entire spe- 

 cimens (preserved here like the oriental bezoars of old), we 

 were obliged to operate upon fragments presenting small 

 surfaces only to our solvents : that these last were never 

 renewed during the course of the experiments, which would 

 not have occurred in their application in the "form of injec- 

 tions ; as they should^ in that case, be so often repeated, 

 and act, of course, with renewed energv: that, either taken 

 mternally, or used in form of injection, the smallest propor- 

 tion of alkaline matter, in a great state of dilution, assisted 

 by the human temperature, answers our purpose ; and that 

 the temperature in our experiments was never permanent, 

 and might be rated at the medium one of 74 degrees. 



' Having now fulfilled the second object of this essay, I 

 would no longer presume to trespass on the indulgence of 

 the academy, if I were not actuated by the sanguine hope of 

 turning the attention of my surgical friends to the humane 

 consideration of obviating, as much as possible, the most 

 dangerous of operations by the prudent application of a few 

 safe solvents injected into the bladder. How far they may 

 succeed with calculi of the uric acid kind, may be already 

 conjectured from the preceding experiments ; but with those 

 of the next most frequent occurrence there is much less diffi- 

 culty to encounter, and every reason to hope for a speedy 

 and safe result. The ammoniaco-magnesian phosphate is 

 partly soluble in water, highly so in the carbonic acid (as 

 we have already seen) ; and, consequently, more so in the 

 weakest possible acid impregnations that can be devised ; 

 nothing more being necessary than the addition of as many 

 drops only of weak muriatic acid as will scarce impart an 

 acid taste. But as precept should, in every instance, be as 

 II 4 lUucU 



