l8 ^Pje Art of Farriery 



which does not require To ftrong a SyJIole or Con- 

 traftion of the Heart, in order to throw the Blood 

 round the Body, as it would if in a perpendicular 

 Situation. This is plain to any one who has the 

 leaft Notion of Mechanicks ; and for the fame Rea- 

 fon a Man will lofe twice the Quantity of Blood 

 lying upon a Bed or Couch, without being fick, 

 than he can in an upright Poflure j which Truth 

 was well known to our famous Sydenham, although 

 this great and faithful Obferver was very much 

 wanting in Mathematical and Mechanical Know- 

 ledge, fo that he could not Ihare the real Pleafures 

 of thofe who have a Why for a Wherefore, 



I fhall now proceed to Ihew in what Cafes Purg- 

 ing may be neceffary, and then ^ive an Account of 

 thofe Fe'vers in general which inleft this poor ufeful 

 Animal. 

 Purging P^^^'g^^'Si ^ ^^7 then, is brought about by fuch 



how Medicines, which by their Irritation provoke and 



broi.ght Simulate the Membranes of the Stomach and Guts, 

 ^''^^^' whereby the PeriJIaltic or 'vermicular'^siotiow of the 



latter is quickened, fo as to fhake or throw off their 

 Contents : But if the Dofe happens to be too large, 

 or abounds much with Rffifious Particles, vvliich of 

 all are moft pricking and Himulating, or ( lo fpeak 

 after the comm.on Way ) if very ftrong Pii) fick be 

 given, it not only carries off what is contained in 

 the Stomach and Guts, but likewife caufes iuch 

 reiterated and frequent Twitches, as derive a more 

 than ordinary Quantity of Blood and Spirits into 

 thofe Parts, whence is feparated and difcharged 

 Abundance of the Serum or watery Part of tlie 

 Blood, by the conmion Paffrges. And from hence 

 it is evident, that a Medicine may be fo contrived, 

 as to carry off more or lefs of the Subftancc of the 

 ^lood, according as the Dofe is increafed or di- 

 minlflied, or as it abounds more or lefs with purg- 

 ing Particles, and confequently may be rendered 

 profitable or iiurtfiil. 



It 



