giblet pies.

Our wiser caupones, I am told, know how to fatten their fowls, as well as
their geese, for the London markets, by mixing gin instead of figs and fat
with their food; by which they are said to become sleepy, and to fatten
apace, and probably acquire enlarged livers; as the swine are asserted to
do, which are fed on the sediments of barrels in the distilleries; and
which so frequently obtains in those, who ingurgitate much ale, or wine, or
drams.

II. The irritative diseases of the kidneys, pancreas, spleen, and other
glands, are analogous to those of the liver above described, differing only
in the consequences attending their inability to action. For instance, when
the secretory vessels of the kidneys become disobedient to the stimulus of
the passing current of blood, no urine is separated or produced by them;
their excretory mouths become filled with concreted mucus, or calculus
matter, and in eight or ten days stupor and death supervenes in consequence
of the retention of the feculent part of the blood.

This disease in a slighter degree, or when only a part of the kidney is
affected, is succeeded by partial inflammation of the kidney in consequence
of previous torpor. In that case greater actions of the secretory vessels
occur, and the nucleus of gravel is formed by the inflamed mucous membranes
of the tubuli uriniferi, as farther explained in its place.

This torpor, or paralysis of the secretory vessels of the kidneys, like
that of the liver, owes its origin to their being previously habituated to
too great stimulus; which in this country is generally owing to the alcohol
contained in ale or wine; and hence must be registered amongst the diseases
owing to inebriety; though it may be caused by whatever occasionally
inflames the kidney; as too violent riding on horseback, or the cold from a
damp bed, or by sleeping on the cold ground; or perhaps by drinking in
general too little aqueous fluids.

III. I shall conclude this section on the diseases of the liver induced by
spirituous liquors, with the well known story of Prometheus, which seems
indeed to have been invented by physicians in those ancient times, when all
things were clothed in hieroglyphic, or in fable. Prometheus was painted as
stealing fire from heaven, which might well represent the inflammable
spirit produced by fermentation; which may be said to animate or enliven
the man of clay: whence the conquests of Bacchus, as well as the tempo