Zoonomia; Or, the Laws of Organic Life, Vol. II

by Erasmus Darwin

[3]. Cold air and cold water will increase the quantity of urine by decreasing the absorption from the bladder; and neutral and alcalious salts and cantharides by stimulating the neck of the bladder to discharge the urine as soon as secreted; and alcohol as gin and rum at the beginning of intoxication, if the body be kept cool, occasion much urine by inverting the urinary lymphatics, and thence pouring a fluid into the bladder, which never passed the kidnies. But it is probable, that those medicines, which give a scent to the urine as the balsams and resins, but particularly asparagus and garlic, are the only drugs, which truly increase the secretion of the kidnies. Alcohol however, used as above mentioned, and perhaps great doses of tincture of cantharides, may be considered as drastic diuretics, as they pour a fluid into the bladder by the retrograde action of the lymphatics, which are in great abundance spread about the neck of it. See Sect. XXIX. 3.

[V]. Mild cathartics. The ancients believed that some purges evacuated the bile, and hence were termed Cholagogues; others the lymph, and were termed Hydragogues; and that in most each cathartic selected a peculiar humour, which it discharged. The moderns have too hastily rejected this system; the subject well deserves further observation.

Calomel given in the dose from ten to twenty grains, so as to induce purging without the assistance of other drugs, appears to me to particularly increase the secretion of bile, and to evacuate it; aloe seems to increase the secretion of the intestinal mucus; and it is probable that the pancreas and spleen may be peculiarly stimulated into action by some other of this tribe of medicines; whilst others of them may simply stimulate the intestinal canal to evacuate its contents, as the bile of animals. It must be remarked, that all these cathartic medicines are supposed to be exhibited in their usual doses, otherwise they become drastic purges, and are treated of in the Class of Invertentia.

[VI]. The mucus of the bladder is seen in the urine, when cantharides have been used, either internally or externally, in such doses as to induce the strangury. Spirit of turpentine is said to have the same effect. I have given above a dram of it twice a day floating on a glass of water in chronic lumbago without this effect, and the patient gradually recovered.

[VII]. Aloe given internally seems to act chiefly on the rectum and, spincter ani, producing tenesmus and piles. Externally in clysters or suppositories, common salt seems to act on that bowel with greater certainty. But where the thread-worm or ascarides exist, 60 or 100 grains of aloes reduced to powder and boiled in a pint of gruel, and used as a clyster twice a week for three months, has frequently destroyed them.

[VIII]. The external application of cantharides by stimulating the excretory ducts of the capillary glands produces a great secretion of subcutaneous mucus with pain and inflammation; which mucaginous fluid, not being able to permeate the cuticle, raises it up; a similar secretion and elevation of the cuticle is produced by actual fire; and by caustic materials, as by the application of the juice of the root of white briony, or bruised mustard-seed. Experiments are wanting to introduce some acrid application into practice instead of cantharides, which might not induce the strangury.

Mustard-seed alone is too acrid, and if it be suffered to lie on the skin many minutes is liable to produce a slough and consequent ulcer, and should therefore be mixed with flour when applied to cold extremities. Volatile alkali properly diluted might stimulate the skin without inducing strangury.

[IX]. The mild errhines are such as moderately stimulate the membrane of the nostrils, so as to increase the secretion of nasal mucus; as is seen in those, who are habituated to take snuff. The stronger errhines are mentioned in Art. [V. 2. 3].

[X]. The secretion of tears is increased either by applying acrid substances to the eye; or acrid vapours, which stimulate the excretory duct of the lacrymal gland; or by applying them to the nostrils, and stimulating the excretory duct of the lacrymal sack, as treated of in the Section on Instinct.

Or the secretion of tears is increased by the association of the motions of the excretory duct of the lacrymal sack with ideas of tender pleasure, or of hopeless distress, as explained in Sect. XVI. 8. 2. and 3.