ART. IV. 2.3. 3. SORBENTIA. 47 



generally, I believe, the quartan type, and is attended with fome 

 degree of arterial debility. 



The bark of the broad-leaved willow or folix caprea of Linne- 

 us, is much recommended as equal to the Peruvian bark given 

 in the fame or in greater quantity by Mr. White of Bath. Ob- 

 ferv. and Exper. on broad-leafed willow. Vernor and Hood, 

 London. A Dr. Gunz in Germany recommends a lib as a fub- 

 ftitute for Peruvian bark, the bark of fix fpecies of willow, the 

 falix alba, pentandra, fragilis, caprea, vitellina, and amygdalina, 

 Dr. Gunz believes fome of thefe barks to be more efficacious 

 than the Peruvian. And as fome of thefe willow-barks may bo- 

 procured in great quantity, as they are (tripped off from the wil- 

 low twigs ufed by the bafket-makers in many parts of the coun- 

 try in the vernal months, it would feem to be an article worth 

 attending to. 



The root of geum urbanum, avens, is recommended as a (ub~ 

 ftitute for Peruvian bark by Dr. Vogel, and faid to cure the 

 quartan ague given in the dote of half a dram every hour through 

 the day. The datifca cannabina of Linneus is alfo faid to equal 

 the Peruvian bark in its febrifuge virtues. Medical and Phyfical 

 Journal, Vol. I. p. 191. 



3. This clafs of abforb^nt medicines are faid to decreafe irri- 

 tability. After any part of our fyilem has been torpid or qui- 

 efcent, by whatever caufe that was produced, it becomes after- 

 wards capable of being excited into greater motion by fmall 

 ftimuli ; hence the hot fit of fever fucceeds the cold one. As 

 thefe medicines prevent torpor or quiefcence of parts of the fvf- 

 tem, as cold hands or feet, which perpetually happen to weak 

 conftitutions, the fubfequent increafe of irritability of thefe parts 

 is likewife prevented. 



4. Thefe abforbent medicines, including both the bitters, 

 and metallic falts, and opiates, are of great ufe in the dropfy by 

 their promoting univerfal abforption ; but here evacuations are 

 likewife to be produced, as will be treated of in the Invertentia, 



5. The matter in ulcers is thickened, and thence rendered 

 lefs corrofive, the faline part of it being reabforbed by the ufe 

 of bitter medicines ; hence the bark is ufed with advantage in 

 the cure of ulcers. 



6. Bitter medicines flrengthen digeftion by promoting the 

 abforption of chyle j hence the introduftion of hop into the po- 

 tation ufed at our meals, which as a medicine may be taken ad - 

 vantageoufly, but, like other unnecefTary ftimuli, muft be injuri- 

 ous as an article of our daily diet. 



The hop may perhaps in fome degree contribute to the pro- 

 duclion oif gravel in the kidneys, as our intemperate wine-drink* 

 VOL. I. S s f err, 



