ns of calomel be premised, where the patient is not
already too much debilitated; as one great means of promoting the
absorption of any fluid consists in previously emptying the vessels, which
are to receive it.

* * * * *

SECT. XXVIII.

OF THE PARALYSIS OF THE ABSORBENT SYSTEM.

I. _Paralysis of the lacteals, atrophy. Distaste to animal food._ II.
_Cause of dropsy. Cause of herpes. Scrophula. Mesenteric consumption.
Pulmonary consumption. Why ulcers in the lungs are so difficult to
heal._

The term paralysis has generally been used to express the loss of voluntary
motion, as in the hemiplagia, but may with equal propriety be applied to
express the disobediency of the muscular fibres to the other kinds of
stimulus; as to those of irritation or sensation.

I. There is a species of atrophy, which has not been well understood; when
the absorbent vessels of the stomach and intestines have been long inured
to the stimulus of too much spirituous liquor, they at length, either by
the too sudden omission of fermented or spirituous potation, or from the
gradual decay of nature, become in a certain degree paralytic; now it is
observed in the larger muscles of the body, when one side is paralytic, the
other is more frequently in motion, owing to the less expenditure of
sensorial power in the paralytic limbs; so in this case the other part of
the absorbent system acts with greater force, or with greater perseverance,
in consequence of the paralysis of the lacteals; and the body becomes
greatly emaciated in a small time.

I have seen several patients in this disease, of which the following are
the circumstances. 1. They were men about fifty years of age, and had lived
freely in respect to fermented liquors. 2. They lost their appetite to
animal food. 3. They became suddenly emaciated to a great degree. 4. Their
skins were dry and rough. 5. They coughed and expectorated with difficulty
a viscid phlegm. 6. The membrane of the tongue was dry and red, and liable
to become ulcerous.

The inability to digest animal food, and the consequent distaste to it,
generally precedes the dropsy, and other diseases, which originate from
spirituous potation. I suppose when the stomach becomes inirritable, that
there is at the same time a deficiency of gastric acid; hence milk seldom
agrees with these patients, unless it be previously curdled, as they have
not sufficient gastric acid to curdle i