330 Memoirs of Erasmus Darwin, M.D. 



especially in feeble children ; at the same time less bile is 

 secreted from the torpid circulation in the vena porta. And 

 as the absorbents, which resume the thinner parts of the 

 bile from the gall-bladder and hepatic ducts, are also torpid 

 or quiescent, the bile is more dilute, as well as in less quan- 

 tity. From the obstruction of the passage of. the blood 

 through the compressed vena porta these patients have tumid 

 bellies, and pale bloated countenances ; their paleness is 

 probably owing to the deficiency of the quantity of red glo- 

 bules in the blood in consequence of the inert state of the 

 bile. 



These symptoms in children are generally attended with 

 worms, the dilute bile and the iveak digestion not destroying 

 them. In sleep I have seen fieuke-worms in the gall-ducts 

 themselves among the dilute bile; which gall-ducts they eat 

 through, and then produce ulcers, and the hectic fever, 

 called the rot. 



M. M. After a calomel purge, crude iron-filings are spe- 

 cific in this disease in children, and the worms are destroyed 

 by the returning acrimony and quantity of the bile. A blister 

 on the region of the liver. Sorbenlia, as worm-seed, san- 

 tonicum. Columbo. Bark. 



Chlorosis. — When the defect of the due action of both the 

 absorbent and secerning vessels of the liver affects women, 

 and is attended with obstruction of the catamenia, it is call- 

 ed chlorosis; and is cured by the exhibition of steel, which 

 restores by its specific stimulus the absorbent power of the 

 liver ; and the menstruation, which was obstructed in con- 

 sequence of debility, recurs. 



Indigestion, owing to torpor of the stomach, and a eon* 

 sequent too great acidity of its contents, attends this disease ; 

 whence a desire of eating chalk, or marh Sometimes a great 

 quantity of pale urine is discharged in a morning, which is 

 owing to the inaction of the absorbents, which are distri- 

 buted on the neck of the bladder, during sleep. The swell- 

 ing of the ankles, which frequently attends chlorosis, is 

 another effect of deficient action of the absorbent system':; 

 and the pale countenance is occasioned by the deficient 

 quantity of red g'obules of blood, caused by the deficient 

 3 quantity 



