34 DISEASES CLASS I. 1. 3. 9- 



eyes, which are found in the stomachs of those animals previous 

 to the annual renewal of their shells, are redissolved, probably 

 by their gastric acid, and again deposited for that purpose; may 

 it not be concluded, that the stone of the bladder might be dis- 

 solved by the gastric juice offish of prey, as of crabs or pike; or 

 of voracious young birds, as young rooks or hawks, or even of 

 calves? Could not these experiments be tried by collecting the 

 gastric juice by putting bits of sponge down the throats of young 

 crows, and retracting them by a string in the manner of Spal- 

 lanzani? or putting pieces of calculus down the throat of a liv- 

 ing crow, or pike, and observing if they become digested? and 

 lastly, could not gastric juice, if it should appear to be a solvent, 

 be injected and borne in the bladder without injury by means of 

 catheters of elastic resin, or caoutchouc? 



M. M. Diluents. Cool dress. Frequent change of posture. 

 Frequent horizontal rest in the day. Bathe the loins every morn- 

 ing with a sponge and cold water. Aerated alkaline water in- 

 ternally. Abstinence from all fermented or spirituous liquors. 

 Whatever increases perspiration injures these patients, as it dis- 

 sipates the aqueous particles, which ought to dilute the urine. 

 When the constitution begins to produce gravel, it may I believe 

 be certainly prevented by a total abstinence from fermented or 

 spirituous liquors; by drinking much aqueous fluids; as toast 

 and water, tea, milk and water, lemonade; and lastly, by thin 

 clothing, and sleeping on a hardish bed, that the patient may not 

 lie too long on one side. See Class IV. 2. 2. 2. There is rea- 

 son to believe, that the daily use of opium contributes to produce 

 gravel in the kidneys by increasing absorption, when they are 

 inflamed; in the same manner as is done by fermented or spirit- 

 uous liquor. See Class I. 3.2. 11. 



When the kidneys are so obstructed with gravel, that no urine 

 passes into the bladder; which is known by the external appear- 

 ance of the lower part of the abdomen, which, when the bladder 

 is full, seems as if contracted by a cord between the navel and 

 the bladder; and by the tension on the region of the bladder 

 distinguishable by the touch; or by the introduction of the ca- 

 theter; the following methods of cure are frequently successful. 

 Venesection to six or eight ounces, ten grains of calomel, and 

 an infusion of senna with salts and oil, every three hours, till 

 stools are procured. Then an emetic. After the patient has 

 been thus evacuated, a blister on the loins should be used; and 

 from ten to twenty electric shocks should be passed through the 

 kidneys, as large as can be easily borne, once or twice a day. 

 Along with this method the warm bath should be used for an 

 hour once or twice a day. After repeated evacuations, a clyster, 



