HUNTERS. 311 



nical mystery, or medical disquisition, by 

 enlarging upon the means of the mercurial 

 particlesentering into contact, v/ith the blood ; 

 its power of attenuation, gradual dissolution 

 of the .fluids and gentle stimulation of tlie 

 solids, which must at all times hang heavy 

 upon the mind of the unscientific inquirer) 

 we nmst let our abbreviated* allusion suf- 

 fice, as a more satisfactory mode of intel- 

 ligent information, tlian a tedious chain of 

 physical definition, that, it may be thaught, 

 has been already introduced by much too 

 often. 



In this tribute to the almost incredible 

 effects derived from the judicious and salutary 

 interposition of mercurial cathartics, 

 I beg to disclaim every idea of patronizing 

 such compositions, prepared from the pre- 

 scriptive scraps of antiquity, in the possession 

 of every bellows-hlower in the kingdom ; not 

 more in respect to the probable dispropor- 

 tion and certain danger of their ingredients, 

 than the absurd, improper, and indis- 

 criminate mode of introduction. Of these 

 preparations, as of the various nostrums and 

 quack medicines of the present day, I hold 



