to the knee with such a plaster-bandage; which increases the
power of absorption in the surface of the sore.

2. The lymph is carried along the absorbent vessels, which are replete with
valves, by the intermitted pressure of the arteries in their neighbourhood.
Now if the external skin of the limb be lax, it rises, and gives way to the
pressure of the arteries at every pulsation; and thence the lymphatic
vessels are subject to the pressure of but half the arterial force. But
when the external skin is tightened by the surrounding bandage, and thence
is not elevated by the arterial diastole, the whole of this power is
exerted in compressing the lymphatic vessels, and carrying on the lymph
already absorbed; and thence the absorbent power is so amazingly increased
by bandage nicely applied. Pains are sometimes left in the fleshy parts of
the thighs or arms, after the inflammation is gone, in the acute
rheumatism, or after the patient is too weak for further evacuation; in
this case after internal absorbent medicines, as the bark, and opiates,
have been used in vain, I have successfully applied a plaster-bandage, as
above described, so as to compress the pained part.

XI. 1. We shall conclude by observing, that the sorbentia strengthen the
whole habit by preventing the escape of the fluid part of the secretions
out of the body, before it has given up as much nourishment, as it is
capable; as the liquid part of the secretion of urine, sweat, saliva, and
of all other secretions, which are poured into receptacles. Hence they have
been said to brace the body, and been called tonics, which are mechanical
terms not applicable to the living bodies of animals; as explained in Sect.
XXXII. 3. 2.

2. A continued use of bitter medicines for years together, as of Portland's
powder, or of the bark, is supposed to induce apoplexy, or other fatal
diseases. Two cases of this kind have fallen under my observation; the
patients were both rather intemperate in respect to the use of fermented
liquors, and one of them had been previously subject to the gout. As I
believe the gout generally originates from a torpor of the liver, which
instead of being succeeded by an inflammation of it, is succeeded by an
inflammation of some of the joints; or by a pimpled face, which is another
mode, by which the disease of the liver is terminated. I conceive, that the
daily use of bitter medicine had in these patients prevented the removal of
a gouty inflamma