R O W E L L I N G. 259 



thofe advocates for ancient pradice, who 

 can communicate no fcientific or profeffional 

 defcription of its operative effedl upon the 

 conftitution ; or by what phyfical means the 

 improvement is to be obtained, that they 

 fo confidently and confcientioujly recommend 

 upon every poffible occafion. 



The very few lines introduced under this 

 head, by even the moft prolific authors, 

 polTefs not the leaft ray of novelty or in- 

 ftrudlion, but are dired: imitations of what 

 proceeded from Bracken ; beginning with 

 the cuftomary remark, ** that rowels are in 

 general ufe, but little underftood ;" '* that 

 they are artificial vents between the Ikin 

 and the flefh ;'' " that they act by revuiiion 

 and derivation ;'* carrying off the redun- 

 'dant HUMOURS ftom the veflels by deple-* 

 tion. 



Thefe few paffages contain in purport 

 the whole that has been at all communi- 

 cated through the medium of the prefs, 

 upon an operation fo indifcriminately re- 

 commended in almoft every difeafe without 

 exception; notwithftanding it is of fo much 

 S ^ confequencc 



