ADYNAMIA. 381 



and successfully employed, are the vitriolic, muriatic, and the 

 distilled acid of vegetables, as it is found in tar-water, which 

 are all of them antizymics. 



The neutral salts answering this intention, are especially those 

 which have the muriatic acid in their composition, though it is 

 presumed that neutrals of all kinds have more or less of the 

 same virtue. 



MCCXIII. The aromatics, and perhaps some other acrids, 

 certainly stimulate the stomach, as they obviate the acescency 

 and flatulency of vegetable food ; but their stimulus is transi- 

 tory ; and, if frequently repeated, and taken in large quantities, 

 they may hurt the tone of the stomach. 



MCCXIV. The tonics employed to strengthen the stomach 

 are bitters, bitters and astringents combined, and chalybeates. 



Bitters are undoubtedly tonic medicines, both with respect to 

 the stomach and the whole system : but their long-continued 

 use has been found to destroy the tone of the stomach and of 

 the whole system ; and whether this is from the mere repetition 

 of their tonic operation, or from some narcotic power joined with 

 the tonic in them, I am uncertain. 



MCCXV. Bitters and astringents combined, are, probably, 

 more effectual tonics than either of them taken singly ; and we 

 suppose such a combination to take place in the Peruvian bark ; 

 which therefore proves a powerful tonic, both with respect to 

 the stomach and to the whole system. But I have some ground 

 to suspect, that the long-continued use of this bark may, like 

 bitters, destroy both the tone of the stomach and of the whole 

 system. 



MCCXVI. Chalybeates may be employed as tonics in vari- 

 ous forms, and in considerable quantities with safety. They have 

 been employed often in the form of mineral waters, and seeming- 

 ly with success : but whether this is owing to the chalybeate in 

 the composition of these waters, or to some other circumstances 

 attending their use, I dare not positively determine ; but the . 

 latter opinion seems to me the more probable. 



MCCXVII. The remedies which strengthen the stomach, 

 by being applied to the whole body, are exercise and the ap- 

 plication of cold. 



As exercise strengthens the whole body, it must also strengthen 



