46 SORBENTIA. ART IV. 2. 3. i. 



Externally flight folutions of blue vitriol, as two or three 

 grains to an ounce of water, applied to ulcers of the mouth, or 

 to chancres on the glans penis, more powerfully induce them to 

 heal than any other material. 



Where the lungs or urethra are inflamed to a confiderable 

 degree, and the abforption is fo great, that the mucus is already 

 too thick, and adheres to the membrane from its viscidity, opi- 

 ates and bitter vegetable and auitere acids are improper ; and 

 mucilaginous diluent (hould be ufed in their (lead with venefec- 

 don and torpentia. 



III. i. Abforption from the cellular membrane, and from all 

 the other cavities of the body, is too flowly performed in fome 

 conftitutions ; hence the bloated pale complexion ; and when 

 this occurs in its greateft degree, it becomes an univerfal dropfy. 

 Thefe habits are liable to intermittent fevers, hylleric paroxyfms, 

 cold extremities, indigdtion, and all the fymptoms of debility. 



The abforbent fyftem is more fubjecl; to torpor or quiefcence 

 than the fecerning fyftem, both from the coldneis of the fluids 

 which are applied to it, as the moifture of the atmofphere, and 

 from the coldnefs of the fluids which we drink ; and allo from 

 its being (limulated only by inter /als, as when we take our food ; 

 whereas the fecerning fyftem is perpetually excited into a hon 

 by the warm circulating blood ; as explained in S^cl XXXII. 



2. The Peruvian bark, camomile flowers, and other bitter 

 drugs, by ftimulating this cellular branch of rhe abforbent fyitem 

 prevents it from becoming quiefcent j hence 'he cold paroxyfms 

 of thofe agues, which arife from the torpor of the cellular lymph- 

 atics, are prevented, and the hot firs in confequence The 

 patient thence preferves his natural heat, regains his healthy 

 colour, and his accuftomed ftrength. 



Where the cold paroxyfm of an ague originates in the abforl>- 

 ents of the liver, fpleen, or other internal vifcus, the addition of 

 fteel to vegetable bitters, and eipecially after the ufe of one 

 dofe of calomel, much advances the cure. 



And where it originates in any part of the fecerning fyftem, 

 as is probably the cafe in fome kind of agues, the addition of 

 opium in the dofe of a grain and half, given about an hour be- 

 fore the accefs of the paroxyfm, or mixed with the chalybeate and 

 bitter medicines, enfures the cure, Or the fame may be efFec-led 

 by wine given inftead of opium before the paroxyfm, fo as near- 

 ly to intoxicate. 



Thefe three kinds of agues are thus diftinguiflied ; the firftis 

 not attended with any tumid or indurated vifcus, which the peo- 

 ple call an ague cake, and which is evident to the touch. The 

 iecond is accompanied with a tumid vifcus j and rhe laft has 



generally, 



