yes and glasses of philosophers: and if you are not yet
convinced of the truth of this theory, hold, I entreat you, your minds in
suspense, till ANATOMY draws her sword with happier omens, cuts asunder the
knots, which entangle PHYSIOLOGY; and, like an augur inspecting the
immolated victim, announces to mankind the wisdom of HEAVEN.

* * * * *

SECT. XXX.

PARALYSIS OF THE LIVER AND KIDNEYS.

I. 1._Bile-ducts less irritable after having been stimulated much._ 2.
_Jaundice from paralysis of the bile-ducts cured by electric shocks._
3. _From bile-stones. Experiments on bile-stones. Oil vomit._ 4. _Palsy
of the liver, two cases._ 5. _Schirrosity of the liver._ 6. _Large
livers of geese._ II. _Paralysis of the kidneys._ III. _Story of
Prometheus._

I. 1. From the ingurgitation of spirituous liquors into the stomach and
duodenum, the termination of the common bile-duct in that bowel becomes
stimulated into unnatural action, and a greater quantity of bile is
produced from all the secretory vessels of the liver, by the association of
their motions with those of their excretory ducts; as has been explained in
Section XXIV. and XXV. but as all parts of the body, that have been
affected with stronger stimuli for any length of time, become less
susceptible of motion, from their natural weaker stimuli, it follows, that
the motions of the secretory vessels, and in consequence the secretion of
bile, is less than is natural during the intervals of sobriety. 2. If this
ingurgitation of spirituous liquors has been daily continued in
considerable quantity, and is then suddenly intermitted, a languor or
paralysis of the common bile-duct is induced; the bile is prevented from
being poured into the intestines; and as the bilious absorbents are
stimulated into stronger action by its accumulation, and by the acrimony or
viscidity, which it acquires by delay, it is absorbed, and carried to the
receptacle of the chyle; or otherwise the secretory vessels of the liver,
by the above-mentioned stimulus, invert their motions, and regurgitate
their contents into the blood, as sometimes happens to the tears in the
lachrymal sack, see Sect. XXIV. 2. 7. and one kind of jaundice is brought
on.

There is reason to believe, that the bile is most frequently returned into
the circulation by the inverted motions of these hepatic glands, for the
bile does not seem liable to be absorbed by the lymphat