462 THE LAWS OF ORGANIC, &C. 



tern ? If twenty such local diseases affected the 

 body at the same time, they would all be simi- 

 larly benefited by these general alterations. 



DLXIV. If the serous accumulation be as- 

 cribed to diminished absorption, we possess no 

 agents that are so well calculated to excite the 

 diseased function of the absorbents as the whole 

 class of emetics ; or if we suppose this to arise 

 from increased secretion or exhalation, the same 

 means will be equally efficient in correcting the 

 disordered function. It may probably be ex- 

 pected that I should explain more particularly 

 how the absorbents and secernents are affected 

 by the exhibition of emetics. In the present 

 state of our physiological knowledge, it is much 

 better to collect and adhere to a few established 

 facts than to attempt to form a complete sys- 

 tem by the assemblage of vague opinions and 

 fanciful hypotheses. 



