[XI]. [1]. We shall conclude by observing, that the sorbentia strengthen the whole habit by preventing the escape of the fluid part of the secretions out of the body, before it has given up as much nourishment, as it is capable; as the liquid part of the secretion of urine, sweat, saliva, and of all other secretions, which are poured into receptacles. Hence they have been said to brace the body, and been called tonics, which are mechanical terms not applicable to the living bodies of animals; as explained in Sect. XXXII. 3. 2.
[2]. A continued use of bitter medicines for years together, as of Portland's powder, or of the bark, is supposed to induce apoplexy, or other fatal diseases. Two cases of this kind have fallen under my observation; the patients were both rather intemperate in respect to the use of fermented liquors, and one of them had been previously subject to the gout. As I believe the gout generally originates from a torpor of the liver, which instead of being succeeded by an inflammation of it, is succeeded by an inflammation of some of the joints; or by a pimpled face, which is another mode, by which the disease of the liver is terminated. I conceive, that the daily use of bitter medicine had in these patients prevented the removal of a gouty inflammation from the liver to the membranes of the joints of the extremities, or to the skin of the face, by preventing the necessary torpor of these parts previous to the inflammation of them; in the same manner as cold fits of fever are prevented by the same medicines; and, as I believe, the returns of the gout have sometimes for two or three years been prevented by them.
One of these patients died of the apoplexy in a few hours; and the other of an inflammation of the liver, which I believe was called the gout, and in consequence was not treated by venesection, and other evacuations. From hence it appears, that the daily use of hop in our malt liquor must add to the noxious quality of the spirit in it, when taken to excess, and contribute to the production of apoplexy, or inflammation of the liver.
[III]. Catalogue of the Sorbentia.
[I]. Sorbentia affecting the skin.
[1]. Acid of vitriol, of sea-salt, lemons, sloes, prunus spinosa, crabs, pyrus, quince, pyrus cydonia, opium.
[2]. Externally calx of zinc, of lead, of mercury.
[II]. Sorbentia affecting the mucous membranes.
[1]. Juice of sloes, crabs, Peruvian bark, cinchona, opium.
[2]. Externally blue vitriol.
[III]. Sorbentia affecting the cellular membrane.
[1]. Peruvian bark, wormwoods, artemisia maritima, artemisia absynthium, worm-seed, artemisia santonicum, chamomile, anthemis nobilis, tansey tanacetum, bogbean, menyanthes trifoliata, centaury, gentiana centaurium, gentian, gentiana lutea, artichoke-leaves, cynara scolymus, hop, humulus lupulus.
[2]. Orange-peel, cinnamon, nutmeg, mace.
[3]. Vomits, squill, digitalis, tobacco.
[4]. Bath of warm air, of steam.