258 Sir Everard Home on the 
fined to the knowledge of purely chemical combinations in the 
stomach, or other parts of the body, but include the effects of 
galvanism on the nerves, and of mineral and vegetable solu- 
tions on the blood, so far as they affect the actions of life, or 
the symptoms of disease. • 
It has already been determined by experiment, that almost 
every mineral, vegetable, and animal poison, if not the whole 
of them, is carried into the circulation before it produces its 
specific effects upon particular parts, whether these are the 
stomach, skin, or other parts of the body. The most truly 
specific medicine that we have been hitherto acquainted with, 
is mercury for the venereal disease, and it is completely esta- 
blished, that this remedy, when in the circulation, is equally 
efficient in the cure of a recent chancre produced by inno- 
culation, and a venereal sore throat, in consequence of the 
disease having been carried into the circulation. 
That other medicines can be received into the circulation, 
and, as soon as they arrive there, produce their effects upon 
different parts of the body, is proved by experiments made 
by the late Mr. Hunter, although he had no idea of their 
being usually carried there before they produce the different 
actions so well known to follow their exhibition by the 
mouth. He found that infusions of the following substances 
received into the circulation by the jugular vein, immediately 
produced the same effects which more slowly follow their 
being taken by the mouth. Infusion of opium brought 
on drowsiness. Infusion of ipecacuanha vomiting. Jalap 
vomiting and purging. Infusion of rhubarb a profuse flow of 
urine. These effects ceased in a few hours, and appeared to 
have in no respect injured the animal's health. Except thq 
/ 
