108 INFLAMED LUNGS: EFFLUVIA. [BOOK I. 



tained in them re-acts upon the lungs in the same 

 manner as a midriff would do. 



36. In health, as in disease, the midriff is liable 

 to be affected by its neighbours, both before and 

 behind it, the stomach often communicating its 

 state of feeling to the lungs through the midriff; 

 for it is by this medium that medicines impart their 

 beneficial effects upon the lungs, as may be ex- 

 perienced upon our swallowing cold water at a time 

 when our lungs are heated — the relative situation 

 of those organs being much alike in man and in the 

 horse. Immediately hereupon, a sensible difference 

 takes place in the number of respirations ; and the 

 quality thereof is also changed from a hot to a 

 cooler temperature : well be it, if the suddenness of 

 the check do not occasion inflammation of the 

 lungs : again, whoever swallows spirituous liquors 

 feels an immediate disposition of the lungs to repel 

 the heated air of the cells which lie contiguous to 

 the midriff; the first breath which escapes the mouth 

 being less heated than that which follows and 

 finishes the expiration, and imparts a sensation 

 wholly different from the vulgar belchings of an 

 overcharged stomach. These come up by the way 

 of the gullet, and carry forth a nauseous effluvia ; 

 whereas air from the lungs is ever sweet, unless 

 this organ be already in an advanced state of decay. 

 This state of the case leads us to make one prac- 

 tical observation, which shall not be set down, 

 as more curious than useful : out of seventeen 



