320 
ON KMfiTIN. 
culiar sensation termed nausea will be but trifling; sometimes so 
slight as to be inappreciable to the observer. Between this state 
and vomition every variety of intensity may be produced by the 
proper regulation of the dose, providing the existing condition of 
the animal be the same. If the effect be carried beyond a certain 
extent, the respiratory system of muscles sympathize with the 
digestive ; involuntary or spasmodic contraction takes place of 
those concerned in vomition, and an oral expulsion of the gastric 
contents, or violent retching, is the result. Continued nausea 
produces a more permanent impression on the system than the 
most violent vomition. Some of the salts of copper, when given 
in a sufficient dose to the human subject, act almost instanta- 
neously, and with the greatest violence ; leading to the conclusion 
that they are direct emetics, or are not absorbed into the system 
previous to their effect, which, although intense, is of so short 
duration, that the system, when the contents of the stomach 
have been discharged, and the retching has ceased, feels but 
little impression remaining, except that resulting from the spas- 
modic exertion of those parts of the muscular system which were 
concerned in the act. 1 do not deem it necessary that I should 
describe the sensation of nausea, that being irrelevant to my 
present purpose. The effect of nausea on the animal economy, 
in a physio-pathological point of view, had, perhaps, be better 
perfectly understood. Nausea, no matter how produced, whether 
mentally, sympathetically, or medicinally, diminishes the vital 
action of the system, lowering the circulation and intensity of 
every animal force throughout the frame. Although some of the 
secretions may be increased by nausea, yet this must, generally, 
be regarded as symptomatic of the debility produced: cold sweats 
offer a familiar exemplification of this fact. Some secretions may 
be increased sympathetically, as when the salivary glands sym- 
pathize with the derangement of the stomach. Nausea acts on 
the animal system as a diffuse sedative. As such, the practi- 
tioner of medicine has recourse to its assistance for prostrating 
those diseases either attendant or consequent on increased action, 
or what is better understood by the term inflammatory. The 
distinction now becomes more evident between the effects of what 
I denominate true nausea , and the derangement consequent on 
the exhibition of aloes. To the cursory observer they certainly 
may appear the same, when observed in the chief patient of the 
veterinary surgeon. A horse suffering from the repeated exhibi- 
tion of aloes, in doses not sufficiently great to produce purgation, 
may seem dull and listless; have the head drooped, the eye lan- 
guid, the surface of the body cold, and refuse to take either food 
or water. Another animal of the same species may present 
