[ «5 ] 
being mixed with the aliment and humours of the 
ftomach and guts, and afterwards with the whole 
mafs of blood, it is impoffible but their force muft 
be greatly impaired before they arrive with the urine 
at the bladder. When, therefore, urinary hones are 
of an uncommon hard texture, we are perhaps 
fcarcely to expedt any fenfible dilfolution of them 
by the ufe of foap and lime-water : but when they 
are of a fofter kind, there is no reafon to doubt, that 
thefe medicines will in time diffolve them ; and this 
will happen fooner or later, in proportion to the 
hardnefs of the hone, to the quantity of the medi- 
cines fwal lowed by the patient, and the exadt regi- 
men he obferves, as to diet (7). 
But however howly foap and lime-water may pro- 
ceed in dilfolving the hone, yet they generally give 
fpeedy relief to the- patient. Lord Walpole did not 
take thefe medicines in the full quantity till the end 
of July 1748 ; and, in a few months after, he was 
not only greatly relieved of all his complaints, but 
in December was able to ride an hundred miles in his 
coach, without finding any uneafinefs, altho’ the two 
lafl days of the journey the horfes went at a full 
trot (8). In winter 17 yo, and fpring 1 7 5 r , when 
his Lordfhip fwal lowed only one third part of the 
foap and lime-water, which he had been in ufe to 
take, his pains and frequent inclination to make urine 
returned in a good degree (9) ; but, after taking the 
medicines in the full quantity, he foon became as 
eafy as before (10). 
(7) Eflay on the Virtues of Lime-water, 2d edit. p. 140. 
(8) Phil. Tranfadb Vol. xlvii. p. 46. 
(9) Phil. TranfadL Vol. xlvii. p.472,473. 
£10) EBay on Lime-water, £sV. p. zco, 201, 
It 
