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and though it admits the difference between 
local and general diseases, yet it does not 
allow that a local sthenic disease can exist 
for any time along with a general asthenic 
diathesis, or vice versa. For the cure of all 
those diseases which stand above the point of 
health, nothing more is required than with- 
drawing the stimuli of food, drink, heat, &c. 
cr by evacuation, as bleeding, vomiting, and 
purging. For all those diseases which stand 
helow tiie point of health, we use the natu- 
ral stimuli of diet, beef-tea, wine, heat, &e., or 
the less natural stimuli of the pharmacopoeia, 
the chief ©f which are opium, aether, volatile 
alkali, musk, camphor, brandy, and other spi- 
rits. The cause of the one form of disease is the 
cure of the other; in the one we raise the 
excitement till it arrives at the point *of 
health ; in the other we depress it to the 
same point: having effected this by the pow- 
ers of medicine, we keep it there by attention 
to regimen ; and the great object in the Bru- 
nonian practice is to hit the point of health, 
neither to stop short of this object, nor to pass 
beyond it; for by either imprudence we may 
domucli liar m. By profusion of stimuli we 
may convert a disease of weakness into a dis- 
ease of inflammation : by too severe an abs- 
traction of stimuli we may run into the op- 
posite excess, converting into a disease of 
weakness what was originally a disease of 
"violent inflammation. The use of stimuli in 
asthenic diseases is to be regulated by the cause 
and state of the disease. In all diseases of in- 
direct weakness, where excitability Inis been 
exhausted, the strength must be raised by the 
immediate application ofthe most powerful sti- 
muli, which are to be slowly reduced in quantity 
or strength, till moderate or ordinary stimuli 
suffice for supporting the excitement of 
health. In all cases of direct weakness, 
where excitability is accumulated, the imme- 
diate application of powerful stimuli would 
destroy. Weak stimuli must be first used, 
the superabundant excitability must be 
gradually wasted, and the doses very slow- 
ly increased, till we rise to the point of 
health. 
Dr. Brown’s frequent prescriptions of wine, 
.spirits, and opium, to his patients in asthenic 
diseases, with his repeated recommendations 
of these stimuli in iiis lectures and writings, 
raised a very general prejudice against his 
system and practice, among those who knew 
nothing of either but from vague report. 
They alleged that, though lie might cure 
the diseases of his patients, he would infal- 
libly corrupt their morals, by habituating 
them to such dangerous medicines. From 
these charges Dr. Beddoes vindicates the 
doctrine, in the following words: (p. clix.) 
The Brunonian system has been frequently 
charged w ith intemperance ; the objection is 
serious, but the view already given of its prin- 
ciples s hews it to be groundless. No writer 
has insisted so much upon the dependance of 
life upon external causes, or so strongly stated 
the inevitable consequences of excess: and 
there are 110 means of promoting morality 
upon which we can rely, except the know- 
ledge of the true relations between man and 
other beings or bodies. For by this know- 
ledge we are directly led to shun what is 
hurtful, and pursue what is salutary.” And 
what stronger motive of temperance can phi- 
losophy itself inculcate than the Brunonian 
coctrine does, whop it teaches, feat every 
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act of intemperance and excess tends to ex- 
haust the very principle of life ? 
Dr. Beddoes, though he seems to be a de- 
cided Brunonian, has nevertheless, with great 
candour as well as judgment, pointed out a 
few ofthe imperfections of the new doctrine. 
1 . He observes, that, as Dr. Brown “ assumes 
that a certain portion of excitability is origi- 
nally assigned to every living system, by his 
very assumption he denies its continual pro- 
duction, subsequent diffusion, and expendi- 
ture.” 2. He next objects against the doc- 
tor’s “ uniformity of operation in stimulants.” 
“ Heat and wine (he justly observes) can 
never act in the same manner; for no person 
is intoxicated by heat.” He adds, “ Had it 
been once allowed by Brown that the differ- 
ent constituent parts of the body bear a dif- 
ferent relation to the same agents, he must 
have admitted the operation of specific sti- 
mulants to an unlimited extent.” O 11 the 
subject of predisposition to disease, he ob- 
serves, “ that though facts have been noted, 
the principle lies involved in total obscurity. 
Brown does not purposely elude the difficul- 
ty, but his principles lead him beside it ; and 
we may doubt whether the term predisposi- 
tion ought in strict propriety to have appear- 
ed in his Elements ; for predisposition is with 
him a slight disease, differing only in degree 
from that into which the person predisposed 
falls.” 4. “ There are several other opi- 
nions (he adds) which, in a complete revisal 
of the Brunonian system, would require par- 
ticular examination ; such as his doctrine 
concerning hereditary diseases,” (of. which 
Brown denies the existence) “ the peculiar 
state of sthenic inflammation, and the nature 
of the passions.” 5. And in a note upon 
Brown’s preface, he styles the doctor’s opi- 
nion, that ‘ nearly all the diseases of children 
depend on debility,’ “ a gross and dangerous 
error,” though he admits that “ thousands of 
them are cut off at an early period of life, 
and tens of thousands kept languishing in 
misery, by asthenic diseases, for want of the 
necessaries of life.” 
The following are among the principal ob- 
jections that have been urged by the oppo- 
nents of this doctrine. 1. Medicines and the 
other exciting powers do not act as mere 
stimuli only. If they did, they must have 
all one common nature, and differ only in 
degree; whereas they differ widely in their 
effects: one produces hilarity, as wine, &c. 
another coma, as opium ; one poison pro- 
duces phrenzy, another palsy, a third con- 
vulsions, Ac. If ipecacuanha operates on 
the stomach, jalap on the bowels, cream of 
tartar on the kidneys, and mercury 011 the 
salivary glands, they must have some pecu- 
liar or specific qualities superadded to their 
stimulant power, and the latter must be but 
a subordinate effect. If bark cures an inter- 
mittent fever, or mercury the venereal dis- 
ease, which brandy, opium, and even aether 
cannot,, then it is the duty of the physician 
to discover these secret, peculiar, and inex- 
plicable powers, and to operate by them, 
without regard to their stimulant effects. 
2. In opposition to the Brunonian doctrine, 
that there is not a direct sedative in nature, it 
is argued, that fixed air, and the contagion of 
fever, dysentery, the plague, See. are direct 
sedatives, which do not stimulate in the 
smallest degree. 3. It has been urged, that 
if the new doctrine is true, there ought to be 
no such thing as an incurable disease. All 
diseases, whether above or below the point 
of health, ought to yield to the abstraction or 
application ofthe stimuli, as long as the ex- 
citability is not totally exhausted. 4. In 
short, it has been argued, that if the Bruno- 
nian system is true, there is no use for noso- 
logy or physiology ; very little for chemistry 
or botany, as a few stimuli, with an emetic 
and cathartic or two, are sufficient to supply 
a Brunonian laboratory; and not much even 
for anatomy itself, that grand foundation of 
medical knowledge. But whatever deficien- 
cies, imperfections, or inexplicable mysteries, 
may still adhere to this system, it is allowed, 
even by its opponents, to have contributed 
greatly to the improvement of medical prac- 
tice ; to have considerably diminished the 
former too frequent prescriptions of copious 
bleeding on almost every occasion ; and to 
have lessened the number of evacuant doses, 
and increased that of corroborant medicines, 
in many diseases of weakness, where the op- 
posite practice was manifestly injurious. And 
it is allowed to be the duty of every medical 
practitioner to examine it without prejudice 
or partiality. 
BRUNSWICK-green, a colour used in 
paper-hangings, and other coarse kinds of 
painting in water-colours. It is prepared in 
any close vessel of wood or earthenware, 
filled half-full of copper filings or clippings, 
on which is poured a saturated solution of 
sal-ammoniac, which together will form the 
muriate of copper, the ammonia being at the 
same time disengaged. In a few weeks al- 
most the whole of the copper inay be con- 
verted into oxyde ; this being well washed, 
and slowly dried in the shade, is pure Bruns- 
wick-green. Three parts of muriate of am- 
monia, or sal-ammoniac, and two of copper, 
yield six parts of green. 
BRUSH, a well-known domestic utensil. 
The wooden part of brushes is generally of 
oak, which is cut to its proper size by an 
instrument like a large knife, fastened down 
to the block with a staple at one end, in such 
a manner that it is movable up and down ; to 
the otliec end is a handle. '1 he wood to be 
cut is held in the left hand, while the knife is 
worked wfith the right. The knife is always 
kept very sharp ; and, by its make and mode 
of using, hard wood is very readily reduced 
to any shape and size. This wood, when cut 
into the proper sizes, is drilled with as many 
holes as is necessary, and into these the hair 
or bristle is put. 
There are brushes of various sorts, shapes, 
and sizes ; but the structure of them all is 
the same, or nearly so. When the bristles 
are spiffed, combed, and picked, a certain 
portion of them is taken and tied together in 
the middle with string, or with fine copper or 
iron wire : in this double state they are taste 
ened into the wooden stock with glue or 
with pitch. The ends of the hair are now to 
be cut off, and the surface to be made even 
or uniform. 
Common hearth-brushes and hair-brooms 
are made in a slighter way. As soon as the 
stock is brought to its proper shape it is drill- 
ed, the hairs doubled, and each bundle is put 
into the hole with some hot cement made with 
pitch and rosin. 
In some brushes, the wires are visible on 
ihe back ; in others the backs are smooth. 
