152 KIDNEYS, OF FUNCTIONS ; [BOOK t. 



liver and the kidneys fail in refining the blood suf- 

 ficiently, so that, at its getting to the extremities 

 once more, those particles which ought to have been 

 carried off are there deposited, and form the nidus 

 of those external maladies that are mistakenly con- 

 sidered local diseases, and treated as such, instead 

 of correcting the foul habit of body which is thus 

 plainly indicated. 



53. The kidneys, although the seat of only one 

 acquired disorder (inflammation), yet they are so 

 intimately connected with the cure of other dis- 

 eases, which are constitutional, that a right know- 

 ledge of their functions cannot but prove highly 

 serviceable to the judicious administration of the 

 universally approved method of cure, by the urinary 

 passage. Diuretics are so constantly in the hands 

 of grooms and others, that we would admonish them 

 thus early to reflect a little on the consequences of 

 going on, from day to day, in urging these fine 

 glands to over-exertion, whereby they are kept in a 

 constant state of irritation, are rendered incapable 

 of acting their part, or literally become rotten. 

 Of the whole series of tumours or abscess, grease 

 is the only one which people in general think of 

 taking up into the system ; the matter that proceeds 

 from the pustules that form grease is so palpably 

 composed of urea, or the principle of urine, which 

 ought to have been attracted to the kidneys, that 

 every body who would cure the grease, very pro- 

 properly, as if by instinct, administers diuretics ; 

 and when this means of cure is adopted early^ 



