[ 5 &+ 1 
' This fingularity in the operation of this remedy fup- 
pofes another in the veffels, which is the great con- 
tractility of the fibres of the arteries. Thefe, indeed, 
do naturally contract of themfelves ; but not to two 
thirds of their diameter ; nor to that flate, in which 
they are ftraiten’d by the effeCt of this aftringent ; 
becaufe, by that, the whole aperture is almofl intirely 
taken off in the largefl veffels j and it is eafy to ima- 
gine their effects in the fmallefl. 
It may be obferved, that it is not in the dead parts 
of bodies, that this contraction can be made : it re- 
quires the affi fiance of the vital principle, and ope- 
rates on the fibres by certain articles contained in 
it, which difpofe the animal body, by its irritation, 
to fhorten its fibres, and reduce the tiffue, which 
they compofe, into a leffer volume. 
This remedy, of which I have been fpeaking, is 
nothing elfe but the agaric of the oak. The belt 
kind of it is found on the parts of oak-trees, where 
the large limbs have been cut off ; and it very often 
refembles a horfe-fhoe in its fhape. This agaric is 
diftinguifhed into four parts ; the rind ; the fecond 
part, which is preferable to the other ; the third part 
ferves for the flopping the blood in the fmaller vef- 
fels, as well as that part, which touches the tree. 
This laft was what was powder’d, and applied in the 
little bag, as in the operations of the Charity. 
The fecond part is what I make ufe of in amputa- 
tions, which is cut into pieces, of the fize of that 
which I have fent you. It muft be beaten by a 
hammer till it is foft ; and this is its whole prepa- 
ration. Every part is prepared alike. 
The 
