592 ^Treatise on 
foporiferous Medicine, but as an extraordinary Al- 
terative. But they who fhall attentively examine, 
for fome Time, the Motions of Nature in Difeafes, 
will difcovei; how unftable and illufive this Pradtice 
muft be. For Opium not only affords but a tran- 
fitory Relief, by palliating the Symptoms which 
foon return, leaving the Caufe of the Difeafe un- 
touched, but alfo conceals, as it were under a dark 
Cloud, the Signs by which the Phyfician fhould 
difcern the Difeafe and the Indications of Cure. It 
raifes other Symptoms foreign to the Difeafe ; weak- 
ens, or rather extinguifhes the Efforts of Nature to 
perform a Crifis •, and, by a long Ufe, renders Dif- 
tempers, which were free from Danger, extremely 
grievous, and many Times mortal. Thus, this fo- 
poriferous Juice, by gaining fallacious Refpites, ufu- 
ally impofes both upon the Patient and the Phyfi- 
cian ; fince a Difeafe is often the Endeavour of Na- 
ture to overcome the peccant Caufe, and Pain itfelf 
is fometimes the Senfation of that Endeavour, but 
oftener the Stimulation of the Part affected by the 
peccant Humour, whereby Nature is vehemently 
Irritated to its Expulfion. Certainly, that Drug 
which deprives Nature of this Stimulus , does not de- 
ferve the Name of a Remedy. Thus, for Inftance, 
In nephritick Diforders arifing from a Stone obftrudt- 
Ing either of the Ureters, the Pains which torture 
the Sick ought not to be regarded as ufelefs. For 
the Kidneys, Ureters, and abdominal Mufcles, pro- 
voked by thefe Irritations, are at one Time ftrong- 
ly contra&ed, at another Time relaxed ; and by 
thefer. Means the Stone is fometimes ground, com- 
minuted, and forcibly protruded, and, by the like 
Efforts reiterated, and the Help of Medicine, is at 
length expelled into the Bladder. The fame may 
be faid of the Pains in the Gout. For the Humour, 
which is lodged and concreted in peculiar Veffels 
