( 19' ) 
But, now that we may apply this Artillery of Phy- 
ficians againft the two generalCaufes of all LoolenefTes, 
we lhali begin with the moft ancient of the mentioned 
Methods, which was praftifed by Trodicus Selym • 
br 'tanusy whofe School was adorned by the divine 
Hippocrates. 
Binding Medicines, as I lately obferved, were em- 
ployed for the Cure of every Evacuation, and are ftill 
the Refuge of Phyficians when all other Methods 
have been baffled, under their own Conduct and 
Dire&ion ; they tacitly have the Preference given 
them to all other Medicines ; for Inftance, Ipecacu- 
anha’ll preferr’d to any other Vomit, zsxdiKhubarb 
to any other Purge, becaufe they are more afiringent 
than any other of the Tribe. So far do Phyficians 
extol the Power of Afiringents , that many of them 
affirm, that by them any Loofenefs may be reprefs’d, if 
they did not think it unfeafonable or improper. 
However, it may fland with thefe Boaflers, it is 
Very certain, that thefe Medicines only affedt a Loofe- 
nefs occafioned by a Stimulus , and if this is fmall, 
the Loofenels may be cured by it ; but if the Degree of 
theStimulus is greater, the afiringent Medicine is either 
not able to put a Stop to it, or it will tear the Sick 
with Gripes if it does. 
It is on the fame Account of the Stimulus , that a 
Vomit or a Turge is properly premifed to other Me- 
dicines, if it confifts with the Strength of the Sick 5 
but after all, the Store-houfe of Phyficians feems to 
be exhaufted in curing a Loofenefs that proceeds from 
Indigeftion, or Gall •, but if the Stimulus is from the 
Tiles , an 'Vlcer, or a Stricture in the Guts , Phyfi- 
cians are loft without any Remedy, and too frequent- 
Fff a ly 
