mongst absorbents affecting the veins we should therefore add the external
application of stimulant materials; as of vinegar, which makes the lips
pale on touching them. Friction, and electricity.

4. Haemorrhages are of two kinds, either arterial, which are attended with
inflammation; or venous, from a deficiency in the absorbent power of this
set of vessels. In the former case the torpentia are efficacious; in the
latter steel, opium, alum, and all the tribe of sorbentia, are used with
success.

5. Sydenham recommends vegetables of the class Tetradynamia in rheumatic
pains left after the cure of intermittents. These pains are perhaps similar
to those of the sea-scurvy, and seem to arise from want of absorption in
the affected part, and hence are relieved by the same medicines.

V. 1. Intestinal absorption. Some astringent vegetables, as rhubarb, may be
given in such doses as to prove cathartic; and, after a part of it is
evacuated from the body, the remaining part augments the absorption of the
intestines; and acts, as if a similar dose had been exhibited after the
operation of any other purgative. Hence 4 grains of rhubarb strengthen the
bowels, 30 grains first empty them.

2. The earthy salts, as alum, increase the intestinal absorption, and hence
induce constipation in their usual dose; alum is said sometimes to cure
intermittents, perhaps when their seat is in the intestines, when other
remedies have failed. It is useful in the diabaetes by exciting the
absorbents of the bladder into their natural action; and combined with
resin is esteemed in the fluor albus, and in gleets. Lime-stone or chalk,
and probably gypsum, possess effects in some degree similar, and increase
the absorption of the intestines; and thus in certain doses restrain some
diarrhoeas, but in greater doses alum I suppose will act as a cathartic.
Five or ten grains produce constipation, 20 or 30 grains are either emetic
or cathartic.

3. Earth of alum, tobacco-pipe clay, marl, Armenian bole, lime, crab's eyes
or claws, and calcined hartshorn, or bone ashes, restrain fluxes; either
mechanically by supplying something like mucilage, or oil, or rollers to
abate the friction of the aliment over inflamed membranes; or by increasing
their absorption. The two last consist of calcareous earth united to
phosphoric acid, and the Armenian bole and marl may contain iron. By the
consent between the intestines and the skin 20 grains of Armenian bole
given at