ACTION OF DIURETICS. 
341 
stop the circulation; the vessels would become enlarged at the 
ends, and nature, true to the principle that “ like produces like,” 
produced kittens with the deformity alluded to. Mr. Blaine also 
mentions his having seen a breed of tailless cats, the offspring of 
one accidentally born without a tail. 
The above facts shew the importance of paying proper atten- 
tion to every thing connected with the animals' intended for breed- 
ing, more especially the male. The female being the property of 
the farmer, with all her defects he is likely to be well acquainted : 
not so the stallion ; he often comes from a distance, little of his 
history or character can be accurately ascertained, and, therefore, 
his physical conformation ought to be made the subject of severe 
scrutiny. 
During the season that is now past, I have required to get a 
good many foals shod in consequence of the fault mentioned at 
the beginning of this paper. And, as the form of shoe I have 
adopted is peculiar, and, so far as I have been able to ascertain, 
has proved effectual in removing the evil, should any of the 
readers of this journal have occasion for such an operation, I shall 
be glad to furnish him with the necessary information regarding 
the construction of the shoe, &c., on application. 
Scottish Farmer. 
Foreign Extracts. 
Chemico-Physiological Considerations on the Action 
of Diuretics. 
By M. Tabourin. 
EVACUANTS naturally divide themselves into two classes, — 
direct and indirect . The first admit of application to the very 
surfaces upon which they are intended to take effect, as sialogogues , 
sternutatories , vomits and purgatives. But indirect evacuants 
exert no action upon organs they are intended to affect until they 
have passed through the current of the circulation and become 
mingled with the blood, such as diuretics, sternutatories, sudorifics , 
and expectorants. We can, indeed, provoke perspiration and ex- 
pectoration more or less profuse by direct means ; but such medi- 
cation is never effectual without the action of general and internal 
agents. 
Among indirect evacuants, diuretics incontestably occupy the 
VOL. xxm. z z 
