THE ACTION OF DIURETICS. 
345 
that foetid ammoniacal odour the putrified urine of such animals 
possesses. With herbivora, whose alimentary regimen is less 
rich in azote, the urea is in a great measure replaced by the hip- 
puric acid or uro~benzoic, more carbonized and hydrogenated than 
urea, but much less azotized. 
Such is the physiological and chemical end answered by the 
urinary secretion. And now we know this, we shall more easily 
interpret the action of diuretic medicine, and hit upon the nature of 
the modifications it may work in the nutritive liquids and impart 
to the animal organization, as well in as out of health. 
These medicines, though for the most part endowed with special 
properties, such as enable them to act on the organization by a 
mechanism peculiar to themselves, naturally range themselves into 
the four following groups, of which we are about to sketch the 
chief features of their chemico-physiological history :* — 
Cold Diuretics. Warm Diuretics. 
3 G 
S'§ 
3 £ 
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^ Water 
Linseed 
Marshmallow 
Mallows 
Borage 
Pellitory 
Rest Harrow 
^Asparagus. 
d 
< 
cd 
( Carbonates 
Bi Carbonates 
Azotates 
Sulphates 
Phosphates 
Borates 
Acetates 
Tartrates 
Citrates 
l^To wit, of Potass & Soda. 
co 
Digitalis Purpurea 
Scilla Maritima 
Colchicum Autumnale 
Cantharidine 
Terebinthine. 
'g ( Copaiba 
g J Balms 
^ | Resins 
I Hydrocarbonated Essences. 
1. Aqueous and Mucilaginous Diuretics. 
Medicaments composing this group are, of all diuretics, those 
which produce diuresis by the most simple and unirritating agency, 
unexciting to the urinary apparatus. Their action is mild, gradual, 
and yet not the less certain. 
The active principles of these medicaments are water, mucilage, 
and some saline principles. 
