.( 149 ) 
to reftore it, without the Afliftance of the Gall: For' 
had it been in any Degree reftored, the Belly would 
have fallen proportionally, and fome Evacuation of 
what was lodged in the Pr 'm^e Via would have fol- 
lowed. 
• If then the Power of Purgatives depends upon the 
Co-operation of the Bile^ it will follow, that where it 
is moft adive or redundant, their Operation will be, 
cateris paribus, greatefi: y and where it is unadive or 
deficient in Quantity, they will have proportionally 
a lefs EflFed. Though it be true that a great Quantity, 
or morbid Acrimony of the Bile^ by a too ftrong and 
violent Irritation, will bring the Intejlines into fucli 
Spafms, as to (top all Excretion by Stool ; and the 
ftrongefl: purging Stimulus added to it does only en- 
creafe the Spafms and Coftivenefs ; as in Bilious Cho- 
lics, which are always attended with exceeding Co- 
ftivenefs, not conquerable by the ftrongeft Purgatives, 
if they be not joined with Opiats, to allay the Spafms, 
and obtund the Acrimony of the Bile, 
, He took what was thought a.fufficient Quantity of 
liquid Food and Drink ; but if theElater of the Guts, 
and their periftaltic Motion were loft, it is eafy to prove 
that none of his Food or Drink could enter the La^eals 
for want of the periftaltic Motion • and therefore that 
he died ftarved. And this will account for all the reft of 
the Symptoms mentioned. 
To prove that this was his Cafe. All that have 
leen live Diffeftions, intended to (hew the Nature of 
the periftaltic Motion, and the Courfe of the La^ealsy 
muft have obferved, that the Guts have an alternate 
Syftole and Diaftole, or Contraftion and Dilatationi 
called the periftaltic Motion, the fuperior Sedion: 
CO nr 
s 
