HJEMORRHAGIES. 225 



much if any internal astringents can be employed, that are of 

 considerable or sudden power." 



DCCXCVIII. The internal astringents are either vegetable 

 or fossil. 



The vegetable astringents are seldom very powerful in the 

 cure of any hagmorrhagies, except those of the alimentary canal. 

 " We find, indeed, that they have some effects upon the 

 primae viae ; but although they may be of great power there, 

 there is little evidence of astringency from vegetables being 

 from thence communicated to the rest of the system. Upon 

 the subject of vegetable astringents I must take notice of one 

 which is probably at present more trusted to than most others, 

 that is the Peruvian bark. I would by no means say that it is 

 not at all astringent, but it is so very moderately ; and what 

 the Stahlians have attributed to it, is not from experience ; and 

 we will say that in the case of haemorrhagy, its effects in stop- 

 ping it are very precarious. 



" We have alleged that tonics, such as Peruvian bark, are 

 capable of inducing, and certainly do increase the phlogistic dia- 

 thesis : and in that case, I say that their action in active haemorr- 

 hagy may be rather hurtful. But thereis one case of haemorr- 

 hagy for which the bark is proper. It is a fact, which frequently 

 occurs, that a haemorrhagy returns at certain periods : I have 

 known an instance of haemorrhagy returning regularly in the 

 evening, and continuing for some time, but ceasing before morn- 

 ing, and disappearing through the day, till the evening accession 

 came on again. Whenever it can be perceived that the pyrexia 

 attending haemorrhagy has thus a periodical movement, and 

 admits of considerable remission, I believe that the Peruvian 

 bark is the only effectual remedy, and with this view I have 

 known it employed with advantage." 



The fossil astringents are more powerful ; but some choice 

 amongst the different kinds may be proper. 



The chalybeates, so frequently employed, do not appear to 

 e to be very powerful. 



" Iron is a medicine of tonic power, I think with no very con-, 

 siderable degree of astringency, and therefore it is liable to all 

 the ambiguity of the bark. Though several medicines for inter- 

 nal and external use have been prepared from iron, I must say 



VOL. II. P 



