Royal Socie ty. i 8 i 
communication of the nerves of the kidneys with the (lomachs, ^c. 
whence the tone of that part, as well as the inteftines, efpecially 
the Colo^i becomes vitiated, and iubje6t to frequent dilbrders, 
efpecially vomiting and cobic pains 5 by the tone of that part, 
Mr. Coivper means, that proper diftribution of the nervous 
ramifications within the part when diftended, as in this cale, 
and inteftinal ruptures, and the like 5 or when the nervous rami- 
fications are relaxed, as in paralytic cafes, l$c. the tone of the 
part neceffarily becomes vitiated, in as much as its nervous diftri- 
butions are dilordered. The contents of the ftomach and guts, 
not being duly carried on, are apt to ferment; the contained air 
being rarified by the natural heat, the inteftines become very 
much diftended, whence cholic pains arife; fb by procuring the 
evacuation of this contained wind, the patient is relieved, as by 
adminiftring clyfters, ^r. In order ro difcover the operation of 
opium, and how it procures eale in this and fuch like cafes, 
Mr. Coivper examined afolution of opium with a microfcope, and 
the particles of the diffolved opium appeared like fringed glo- 
bules j and thefe particles, conveyed to the mals of blood, may 
be ib entangled in its Serum, and thicken it in fuch a manner, as 
to retard the progreflive motion at the extremities of the blood- 
vef[els ; hence the blood, not pafling with its wonted velocity, 
does not fo fuddenly diftend thole enlarged veffels, which have a 
confiderable fhare in the intumelcence of the part- but by mak- 
ing the globules of the blood pais more calmly, may prevent 
their fudden effors or intrufions into thofe diftended veflels. 
The tumefied kidney did not only comprefs the left fpermatic 
vein, whereby the refluent blood of the Uterus, Vaginay and 
parts adjacent, was in fome meafure retarded, but lome of the 
nerves of the Vagina, and thofe of the Pudendum, were alio 
compreffed thereby 3 hence there is a pain from inflammation, 
thro' a retardation of the blood at the extremities of the vaft 
number of blood-veflels about the Aieatus Urinarius at its egrefs 
in the Vagina, Vv'hence an exukeration and a mortification en- 
fued j the magnitude of this kidney prevented the bending for- 
wards of the body, and lb flie was obliged to hold it ere£i:; the 
lower part of the left kidney had fo comprefled the left ^Pfoas, as 
fcarcely a third part of its proper bulk remained ; whence necef- 
farily followed a great weaknels in drawing the thigh forwards ; 
(he had a great Stupor in that thigh, by a compreffion of the 
lumbd nerves, which lay expofed immediately under the tume- 
fied kidney. 
Mr. Cbx- 
