^52 On Chronic Debility 



undergo decomposition., in the stomach., in two or three 

 hours ? 



3. The argument derived from analogy lends its whole 

 force, to support the same conclusion. Man}- of the 

 other fluids of the body are, at times, in a morbid state. 

 This is true of the wax in the ear, the milk, the urine, 

 the pus of ulcers, the sv/eat, and the saliva : might I not 

 say of the bile also ? 1 have in another piace mentioned 

 the existence of acid saliva. I know a gentleman, v/ho, 

 some years ago, suffered much from general debilit}-, and 

 very uncommon weakness of the stomach ai^l intestivies. 

 During the hot weather, light exercise would throw him 

 into a profuse sweat, so that numerous drops would staiid 

 upon his forehead. This vras, as 1 often observed, of a 

 very strongly acid smell, immediately after it appear- 

 ed, or, in other words, before it could hine undergorjc 

 any decomposition. Should it be supposed, however, 

 that it was owing to decomposition, I would enquire why 

 "we do not find the svv^eat of healthy men, becoming acid, 

 in the same manner ? The milk of the female undergoes 

 changes more remarkable, and in very frequent instan- 

 ces. It is well known that the milk of the cow is often 

 disagreeably flavoured, with the food she eats, or by vio- 

 lent exercise. It is equally well knovvii that infants at the 

 breast, are often disordered, by irregularities in the diet 

 of the mother, or nurse. Acid, gripings, and wind in 

 the stomach and intestines, cramps and convulsions, and 

 even death itself are sometimes the consequence. The 

 milk is asserted,by respectable authority, to have been salt 

 and bilious. Experiments have been made which prove, 

 that it is sometimes essentially altered, in its properties, by 

 a change of diet. Thus it appears that certain animals, 

 confined wholly to a vegetable diet, secrete a milk aces- 

 cent, and easily coagulating, which Vv'hen fed v/holly on 

 animal food, secrete a milk alkalescent, and not sponta- 

 neously coagulating. There is also, in some instances, a 

 deficiency in the quantity secreted, and in others, a re- 

 dundancy. The bile sometimes imdergoes changes, from 

 sudden and violent passions of the mind, and from other 

 causes. The urine differs Vvonderfully, in different per- 

 sons, and in the same person at diflerent times, when hi 



