38 SECERNENTIA. ART. III. a. 4. 2. 



where the difcharge is too thin and faline, as they increafe the 

 frequency of coughing. 



2. Balfam of Copaiva is thought to promote urine more than 

 the other native balfams ; and common refin is faid to act as a 

 powerful diuretic in horfes. Thefe are alfo much recommend- 

 ed in gleets, and in fluor albus, perhaps more than they deferve ; 

 they give a violet fmell to the urine, and hence probably increafe 

 the fecretion of it. 



Calcined egg- (hells are faid to promote urine, perhaps from 

 the phofphoric acid they contain. 



3, Cold air and cold water will increafe the quantity of urine 

 by decreafing the abforprion from the bladder , and neutral and 

 alkalious falts and cantharides by ftimulating the neck of the 

 bladder to difcharge the urine as foon as fecreted ; and alcohol, 

 as gin and rum, at the beginning of intoxication, if the body be 

 kept cool, occafion much urine by inverting the urinary lymphat- 

 ics, and thence pouring a fluid into the bladder, which never pa'ff- 

 ed the kidneys. But it is probable, that thofe medicines, which 

 give a fcent to the urine, as the balfams and refins, but particu- 

 larlyafparagus and garlic, are theonly drugs, which truly increafe 

 the fecretion of the kidneys. Alcohol however, ufed as above 

 mentioned, and perhaps great dofes of tincture of cantharides, 

 may be confidered as draftic diuretics, as they pour a fluid into 

 the bladder by the retrograde action of the lymphatics, which 

 are in great abundance ipread about the neck of it. See Sect. 

 XXIX. j. 



V. Mild cathartics. The ancients believed that fome purg- 

 es evacuated the bile, and hence were termed Cholagogues ; 

 others the lymph, and were termed Hydragogues ; and that in 

 ihort each cathartic felected a peculiar humour, which it dif- 

 charged. The moderns have too haftily rejeded this fyftem ; 

 the fubject well deferves further obfervation. 



Calomel given in thedofe from ten or twenty grains, fo as to 

 induce purging without the afliftance of other drugs, appears to 

 rne to particularly increafe the fecretion of bile, and to evacuate 

 it ; aloe feems to increafe the fecretion of the inteflinal mucus ; 

 and it is probable that the pancreas and fpleen may be peculiarly 

 llimulated into action by fome other of this tribe of medicines; , 

 whilft others of them may (imply ftimulate the inteftinal canal 

 to evacuate its contents, as the bile of animals. It mud be re- 

 marked, that all thefe cathartic medicines are fuppofed to be ex- 

 hibited in their ufual dofes, other wife they become draftic purg- 

 es, and are treated of in the Clafs of Invertentia. 



VI The mucus of the bladder is feen in the urine, when 

 cantharides have been ufed, either internally or externally, in 



fuch 



