[ 90 5 
, . ' ’ A , 
principle, do diflolve the before- mentioned animal 
gluten only, by which the terreftrial parts are united 
together 3 and upon the folution of which thefe parts 
itiud feparateahd fall afunder. From hence may be 
accounted for alfo the origin of that white vifcid; 
matt'er, which adheres to the bottom of the veflei 
like pultice, after the diflolution of calculi in the 
Carlfbad waters ; and which is nothing more than the 
tei'reflrial parts of the done deprived of the animal 
gluten, which makes them adhere together. Hence 
we fee the reafon why our predeceffors adopted two 
forts of lithontriptic remedies, and thofe of quite 
oppofite properties* Bafil A'alentine, Paracelfus, 
Helmont, and others, adminiflered alcalies : Sylvius, 
Laurembergius, and Dippelius, acids. By thefe lad 
they attempted to diflolve the terreflrial parts 5 by 
the former, the connecting gluten. But the cafe in 
gall ftones is different : their connecting gluten,, 
which unites the bilious parts, is not an animal jelly, 
as in the calculus veficce , but a fat inflamable oil, 
which is neither diifoluble by the- Carlfbad waters, 
nor by lime-water. 
Our author conjectures that he has proved demon- 
dratively, that the folvent power of the Carlfbad 
waters does exceed that of lime-water j belides which 
it has this advantage, that it is not in the lead nau- 
feous, and may be continued, if neceffary, for fix or 
eight months, without any other inconvenience than 
that of drinking them upon the fpot 3 which may 
indeed oblige perfons whofe dwellings are remote 
from Carlfbad to take a journey thither 3 whereas 
limerwater may be drank at home. 
I have 
