lamed urethra. They are
also erroneously given in catarrhs or coughs, where the discharge is too
thin and saline, as they increase the frequency of coughing.

2. Balsam of Copaiva is thought to promote urine more than the other native
balsams; and common resin is said to act as a powerful diuretic in horses.
These are also much recommended in gleets, and in fluor albus, perhaps more
than they deserve; they give a violet smell to the urine, and hence
probably increase the secretion of it.

Calcined egg-shells are said to promote urine, perhaps from the phosphoric
acid they contain.

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 a