4i SORBENTIA. ART. IV. i. r > 



ART. IV. 

 SORBENTIA. 



1. THOSE THINGS which increafe the irritative motions, 

 which conftitute abforption, are termed forbemia; and are as 

 various as the abforbent veflels which they (timulate into action. 



J. Cutaneous abforption is increafed by auftere acids, as of 

 vitriol ; hence they are believed to check colllquative fweats, 

 and to check the eruption of fmall-pox, and contribute to the 

 cure of the itch, and tinea ; hence they thicken the faliva in 

 the mouth, as lemon-juice, crab -juice, floes. 



2. Abforption from the mucous membrane is increafed by opi- 

 um,and Peruvian bark, internally ; and by blue vitriol externally. 

 Hence the expectoration in coughs, and the mucous difcharge 

 from the urethra, are thickened and leflened. 



3. Absorption from the cellular membrane is promoted by 

 bitter vegetables, and by emetics and cathartics. Hence mat- 

 ter is thickened and leffened in ulcers by opium and Peruvian 

 bark , and ferum is abforbed in anafarca by the operation of 

 emetic- and cathartics. 



4. Venous abforption is increafed by acrid vegetables ; as 

 water-creis, cellery, horfe-radifh, muftard. Hence their ufe in 

 fea i curvy, the vibices of which are owing to defeft of ven- 

 ous abforption ; and by external ilimulants, as vinegar, and by 

 electricity, and perhaps by oxygen. 



5. Inteftinal abforption is increafed by atlringent vegetables, 

 as rhubarb, galls ; and by earthy falts, as alum ; and by argilla- 

 ceous and calcareous earth. 



6. Hepatic abforption is increafed by metallic falts, hence 

 calomel and *al martis are fo efficacious in jaundice, worms, 

 chlorofis, dropfy. 



7 Venereal virus in ulcers is abforbed by the flimulus of 

 mercury ; hence they heal by the ufe of this medicine. 



8. Venefecl:ion, hunger, thirit, and violent evacuations, in- 

 creafe all abfurptions j hence fweating produces coftivenefs. 



9 Externally bitter aftringent vegetables, earthy and metal- 

 lic falts, and bandages, promote the abforption of the parts on 

 which they are applied. 



10, All thefe in their ufual dofes do not increafe the natural 

 heat ; but they induce coftivenefs, and deep-coloured urine 

 with earthy fediment. 



In greater dofes they invert the motions of the ftomach and 

 lafteals > and hence vomit or purge, as carduus benediftus, 



rhubarb. 



