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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
WASHINGTON, D. C.
GPO  16—67244-1 
 
 
  INAUGURAL DISSERTATION,

              BEING

      AN ATTEMPT TO PROVE

              THAT

 CERTAIN SUBSTANCES

          ARE CONVEYED,

       UNCHANGED,

             INTO THE

    CIRCULATION;

               OR,

        IF  CHANGED,

           THAT THEY ARE

RECOMPOSED and  REGAIN

      THEIR ACTIVE PROPERTIES. .'''*<: j.«Av,

             -»*«—         \^\ J "7 ^ '"'-.

By EDWARD DARRELL SMITH, A.M. /     |^
     Of Charleston, South-Carolina,    / ,>y    iCJJ
   MEMBER Ot THE PHILADELPHIA MEDICAL SOCIETf.   ^ ^*' .  ■/


        PHILADELPHIA:
      PRINTED BY WAY  & GROFF,
         .No. 48, North Third-ftrcet.
              l800. 
 
               Att





   INAUGURAL DISSERTATION,





           FOR THE DEGREE O*





    DOCTOR OF MEDICINE}





          SUBMITTED TO THE





         EXAMINATION





             OF THE





REV. JOHN EWING, S. 2~ P. PROVOST;





               THE





  TRUSTEES fe* MEDICAL FACULTY





             OF THE





      UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA,





        On the thirty-firft of May 1800. 
MIJ




nil 
TO
  DOCTOR WILLIAM SMITH STEVENS,



  TO the man of fenfe the language
of  adulation is  always difgufting;
but the grateful effufions of an over-
flowing heart afford him  real plea-
fure.   As the affectionate offering
of fuch a heart,  receive the tribute
now proffered by one, who flands in
the double relationfhip of pupil and
nephew.
          EDWARD D. SMITH. 
 
                  TO




   BENJAMIM SMITH BARTON, M. D.




Professor of Materia Medica, Botany, and




           Natural History, &c.




       THIS DISSERTATION




               IS INSCRIBED




          AS  A MARK  OF




     RESPECT AND OF GRATITUDE,




           for  numerous favours




               conferred upon his




                  obliged friend,




                     EDWARD D. SMITH. 

','t 
introduction.
                   —*^"*"€$—

 JL/URIN.G the reign of the Humoral Pathology,
 the  opinion, that fubftances were conveyed un-
 changed into the circulation, was necefTarily adopted
 by the fupporters of that doctrine.  It was fuppofed
 that difeafe was feated  in the fluids of the humari
 body,  and that medicines were  valuable in propor-
 tion to their power of correcting or altering the
 vitiated fluids.  Succeeding and more accurate ob-
 fervations having induced the belief that the doctrine
 of the  Humoral Pathology was not founded upon
 fufficient grounds, the opinion refpecting the opera-
 tion of medicines was likewife called  in queftion:
 From  remarking  that certain powerful fubftances
 exerted their effects fo fpeedily, that  it could not
 poflibly be fuppofed they were carried into the circu-"
 lation,  many philofophers were led to fearch for fome
 other mode  in which medicines operated.  They
 founded their rejection of the old opinion principal-
 ly upon two circumftances, viz.  that they were not
 able to difcover,  in any part of the courfe  of the
 circulation, active  fubftances which had been taken
 into  the ftomach j and  that any fluids even milk,
 which is the mod affimilated to the blood, when in-
jected into the veins of a  living animal, produced 
10
fudden death.  They afferted that the mutative pow-
er of the chylopoietic vifcera was fuch,  that every
thing noxious was rejected, and only the nutritious
parts of fubftances were permitted to pafs into the
fanguiferous fyftem.  Finally, they referred all the
phenomena, which were inexplicable to them, to a
certain vague term called fympathy; which, perhaps,
involves as many or more difficulties than the former
opinion.   It is not pretended to be denied, that in
the operation of certain medicines a fympathy does
appear to exift between certain parts of the body;
but it alfo feems probable,  that this  fympathy has
had  too great a latitude \ and that certain  circum-
ftances are referred to it, which are more eafily ex-
plained on other principles.  Many refpectable inqui-
rers  continue to entertain the idea that fome fubftan-
ces are found in their active ftate after having enter-
ed into  the circulation;  and of  confequence that
they muft have paflfed unchanged, or if changed,
have regained their original properties  by fome pro-
cefs  unknown to us.   They grounded  their opinion
upon experiments and obfervations made with ac-
curacy and fidelity: the accounts of  thefe  are  to
be found in various writings from ancient down to
modern date: but, fo far as is known to the author,
there has been no compilation or collection of them
into  one mafs.   As the only way to arrive at the
knowledge of the truth is to poflefs a  clear view of
the evidence, and as this queftion is deemed of fome
importance j it is contemplated in the following effay 
II
to exhibit to the reader a brief {ketch of the argu-
ments in favour of  the opinion, that fubftances are
found in their adive ftate after having entered the
circulation.
  The fubject is divided into three fedtions.
   In the firft I fhall  endeavour  to fhew that the
queftion is not a of trivial nature, or interefting only
as a matter of curiofity ; but that it is of much im-
portance and practical  utility. In the fecond fection
 wi'O be given, in fupport of the  opinion adopted,
 the proofs as they appear in the fluid parts of the bo-
 dy,  la the third, the proofs as they appear in the
 folid parts. 
r-c
A N
    INAUGURAL DISSERTATION,  &d.
                    —^>*<^—
               SECTION   I.

         Of the Importance of the ^uejiion.

                    —^»*«—
 X HE prefent queftion is not merely of a fpecu-
lative nature, interefting only to the curious obferv-
er, and not to the practical phyfician.   It embraces
a wider fcope,  and the determination of it will be
of eflential importance in many  cafes  that fail un-
der our notice,  A  fuperficial view of the fubject
may induce  us  to fuppofe, that it cannot be of any
real utility;  but by the reflecting enquirer, a differ-.
ent opinion will be formed.   In endeavouring to
inveftigate a queftion of  this nature,  we ought to
d:r:ard the ingenious fubtilties of metaphyseal rea-
soning, which  often confufe, while  they  do  not
convict.   Our  data fhould be facts well authenti-
cated,  from which  we  are  to draw  fair and juft
conclufions.    Taking  truth  for  our guide, and
not fufFering ourfelves to be warped by a prejudice
for any particular opinion or theory, however plau^
fible, we fhall moft probably accomplifh the object
of our purfuit.  It is to be  obferved, that the an-
cients  were  ftrongly imprefled with the idea,  that 
                        '3
                         "g"~ •-'_:           ?■-:*■>.-*-
 certain fubftances were conveyed,  with little or no
 change  of their properties,  into  the circulation.
 Hence they prefcribed in certain difeafes,  the milk
 of animal?, which  had fed upon  peculiar vegeta-
 bles proper for thofe difeafes4.   We know that milk
 donftitutes a considerable portion of  the aliment of
 man,  in almoft every part of the  globe.   Some
 nations, as the Laplanders, have fcarcely any other
 fubflftence, during one feafon of the year.   If cer-
 tain  active fubftances are conveyed  into  it un-
 changed, it muft furely be of importance to afcertain
 thefe; as their introduction into the body, at fome
 periods of life, and in certain ftates  of the fyftem,
 may  be  productive of pernicious  confequences.
 In like manner, much advantage may refult, from
 introducing into the difeafed  fyftem, in this way,
 medicines which could not be adminiftered  in any
 other.   Subfequent facts will  tend to  prove, that
 very deftructive habits may be thus acquired.  An
 inattention to diet in a nurfe, is often the unfufpect-
 ed caufe of diftreflmg complaints in  the fucking
 child.    Active medicines, taken  into the circu-
 lating fluids of a nurfe, will affect the child in an
 alarming manner.   Inftances  of this kind are not
 rare.   If by the collection of facts on  this fubject,
 any hints may be given, which may lead to the dif-
 covery of a folvent of urinary or biliary calculi, it
would be  of eflential fervice  to mankind.   That
this idea is not vifionary or impracticable, will be
allowed by thofe who have inveftigated this /ubjecr. 
M
with attention.  Although difappointment may be
frequently the reward of our exertions,  yet by per-
fevering induftry,  we often accomplifh  our  under-
takings.
   It has generally been fuppofed, that the prepara-
tions of lead, externally applied, are innocent, and
under  fome  circumftances falutary.  But if cafes
occur,  in which it is abforbed into the fyftem, pro-
ducing mifchievous effects, it is furely of import-
ance to keep thefe in view, in ufing lead.  We may
thus account for anomalous fymptoms,  which can-
not be fatisfactorily explained in  any other manner.
By knowing the caufe of an evil, we may often re-
move the  effect.   On the contrary, the phyfician,
who rejects entirely this opinion, will be perplexed
about  the fituation of his patient;  and by not re-
moving the  fource, will aggravate the difeafe.
   If it is difcovered that certain medicines,  by be-
ing externally applied, will be conveyed through
the medium of the circulation, to different parts
of the  fyftem, and produce the fame effects as when
taken internally;  will not this difcovery  be of con-
fiderable importance in peculiar habits, and in dif-
eafes which will  not admit of the internal ufe of
medicines?  Facts, to be related hereafter,  will at
leaft render this fuppofition probable.
   If it be afcertained,  that while  moft fubftances
are animalized by the chyliform procefs,  and ren-
dered  fubfervient  to the  nutrition  of man,  others
are conveyed  into the circulation unchanged; it is 
                       *5
 furely of importance to inquire what are thefe fub-
 ftances, and in what circumftances they are pecu-
 liarly injurious.
   Thefe remarks, it is hoped, are fufficient to ex-
 cite the attention of the medical  philofopher, and
 to convince him, that the queftion propofed for con-
 fideration, is not one of mere curiofity, but of real
 practical utility.



               SECTION   II.



Of the proofs, that fubftances are found in their aft'rue
  Jiate after  having entered the circulation, as they ap-
  pear in the fluids.

   NOTWITHSTANDING what has been afferted
 rejecting  the wonderful mutative  power of  the
 cliyliform procefs,  there are numerous inftances of
 fubftances,  after having entered  the  circulation
 through the lacteals, being found in their original
 ftate  in  the different fluids of the body.  We are
 Iikewife poffefled of cafes where fubftances, convey-
 ed  by external abforption through the  lymphatics
 into the circulation,  manifefted their obvious proper-
 ties: To place the facts in the cleareft point of view,
 it is thought proper to arrange them as they rcfpect 
i6
   tbe^chyle, blood, milk, faliva, urine,  perfpiration,

     I. Chyle.   The opinion, that fubftances fuffered
   a change of their properties before they entered the
   lacteals, was principally founded upon the celebrat-
   ed experiment of Dr. Wright.   It was made with
   the view of afcertaining whether chalybeates entered
   the blood.  The experiment was this;—having kept a
   dog fafting fixty-fix hours, he forced him to fwallow
   a quantity  of bread and milk, with which  a portion
   of fulphate of iron was mixed : he opened  him in an
 *  hour  afterwards and collected fome chyle  from the
   thoracic duct, the colour of which was not changed
   by dropping the tincture of galls into it;  although
   this tincture changed the colour to  a deep purple
   when | grain of fulphate of iron was diflblved in it.*
   From this the conclufionwas drawn, that the lacteals
   had the power of rejecting chalybeates.  On this ex-
   periment Dr. Percival obferves " that it onLy evin-
   " ces that the iron did not fubfift in the chyle  as a
   " vitriol, qualified to  ftrike a black colour with galls;
   " neither does the calx of iron, nor the glafs of iron
   " poflefs this power; yet, though changed, they are
f ^ both  capable of being reftored to it: perhaps with
■•.;v*c equal reafon it might be prefumed by one, igno-
   " rant of chemiftry, that fal-martis contains no iron,
   " becaufe  it is not acted upon by the load-ftone."
   But there  are experiments,  which directly oppofe
* Philofophical Tranfaftions, vol. I, part a, page iqj 
If
that of Dr. Wright, and from which very differ*
ent conclusions muft be  drawn.  Dr.  Mufgrave in-
jected  folutions of indigo and of  ftone-blue* into
the fmall interlines  of dogs, which he  had  kept
fafting for a  considerable time.   On  opening the
dogs fome hours after, he difcovered that the lac-
teals and alfo the thoracic duct were coloured with
the injections.!  " A great many fubftances may en-
" ter the lacteals along with the chyle,  even folids
" reduced to fine powder.  When indigo has been
" thrown into the inteftines of a fheep,  I have feen
" the chyle rendered quite blue:  now indigo is not
<c fbluble in water, but is a folid reduced into  a ve-
" ry  fine powder.  So mufk  gets into  the chyle,
" giving it a  ftrong fmell, and  a great variety  of
<e other fubftances of various colours, various taftes,
" and various fmells, each of them giving colour,
" or tafte, or fmell to the chyle."}
   II.  Blood.  It is aflerted that foreign matters can-
not be conveyed into the  blood in their active  ftate,
for that fuch a mild  fluid as milk, infufed into it, pro-
duces  death :  granting for a moment that this is the
fact, we may however obferve that the cafe is differ-
ent where fubftances are immediately introduced into

  * " Stone-blue is a preparation  of cobalt, pot-afh, and whke lead-;
•' which, being converted into glafs, is ground into a fine powder."
                                          Percival.
  $  Philofophical Tranfictions abridged.  Chap. 4.  Part 3. p. 76.
  t Fordyce on digeftion.
                         c 
i8
 the blood veffels, and when  they pafs through the
 common  routine of the circulation: we  may ob-
 fcrve further,  " that what paffes by the lacteals or
 tt lymphatics  is carried into the thoracic duct, and
 " there mixed with a large portion of the chyle and
 " lymph, by which its acrimony is  fheathed and di-
 " luted, or its chemical properties changed before it
 ** enters the mafs of blood."*   We are informed of
 cafes, where foreign matters were actually feen float-
 ing in the blood.   An inftance is recorded of a mil-
ky difcharge from the groin of a boy, which recur-
 red feveral times and continued feveral days each
 time :*  The chyle does  not  immediately become
aflimilated with  the  mafs of blood, but floats  in it
 for fome time in its  original ftate :  The following
 inftance is in point.  " A maid, after eating a good
 " breakfaft  about  feven in the morning, was let
 " blood about eleven the fame day in  her foot.
 " The firft blood was received in a porrenger, and
 " within a little while it turned  very  white.   The
 " laft blood was received in a fawcer,  which turned
" white immediately like  the white of a cuftard.
" Within five or fix hours after, I chanced to fee
" both ; and that in  the porrenger was half blood
" and half chyle, fwimming upon it like a ferum as
" white as milk; and that in the fawcer  all chyle,
tc without the  leaft appearance of a drop of blood.
" And when we heated them  diftinctly over  a gen-
* Percival.  Efiay on the operation of medicines.
■f  Edinburgh Medical Eflays. Vol. 5. 
*9
" tie fire, they both hardened as the white of an
" egg when it  is heated, or juft as the ferum of the
" blood  doth  with heating, but far more white.
" This maid was then in good health, and only let
" blood; becaufefhe never had her courfes, yet of
" a very florid clear complexion."*
  Experiments prove moreover, that the injection
of medicines into the veins, is not  neceflarily fatal;
but that adminiftered in this way, they often  pro-
duce  their effects as certainly  as when given in the
ordinary manner.   Thus we are informed by  Hal-
ler,f  that a poifon or medicine injected into a vein,
will produce certain determinate effects,  as vomit*
ing in the ftomach,  purging in the inteftines, and
drunkennefs in the  brain.   Wahrendorf, in a viL-
lage  of Lufatia,  injected  wine into the veins of
dogs, and remarked that it made them drunk.  A
folution of opium,  injected into  the veins, exerts
its  narcotic power even for two days.  Vinous me-
dicines, fimilar to opium in their intoxicating pow-
er,  produced fimilar  effects on living  animals.
Poifons,  infufed into the veins, exert a  fpecific ef-
fect  upon the different  vifcera.   Certain  emetics,
adminiftered  in  this way, excite vomiting in the
fame manner as if taken by the mouth.   Borrichi-
us  aflerts, that the fame dofe of medicine, which,
 taken by the  mouth,  purges, will produce a fimi-
lar effect if infufed into the veins.  Many others

  ' Lower.  Tradatus dc Corde, &c.    f Elcm- Phyfiolog. vol. I. 
26
felate  fimilar eafes.  Diuretic medicihes, infufed
into the veins, are  carried to the urinary organs,
and produce the fame effects  as  when  fwallowed.
TwG drams of the tinware of cantharides, injected
into the veins of a dog, excited a moft copious flow
of urine,  eroded his bladder and deftroyed him  irt
the fecond experiment.   Nitre, introduced in this
manner, excited  a  copious  flow of urine, without
any ill confequences.   Eight or nine drops of fpirit
of tobacco, injected into  a vein,  produced vomit-
ing and great diftrefs.   There are inftances of the
falutary effects of medicines, exhibited in this man-
ner, in difeafes affecting'the conftitution.  Purmann,
a celebrated furgeon, cured himfelf of a cutaneous
eruption,  by injecting into his veins an infufion
of cochlearia with fpirits of  theriacalis.   We have
inftances  related of fyphilis, cured by  medicines
introduced into the veins.   And we read of a man,
labouring under the moft dangerous fymptoms from
the bite of a viper,  being  cured by fpirits of harts-
horn injected into his veins.
   " We have injected by a fyphon about two drams
" of a laxative medicine  into the  median vein  of
" the right arm of three patients  in the Hofpital at
" Dantzick.  One of  the patients was a lufty, ro-
" buft foldier.  He, when the purgative liquor was
." infufed into him, complained  of great  pains in
" his elbow; and the little valves  of his arm did
" fwell fo vifibly, that it was  neceflary by a gentle
** compreflion of one's finger to  ftroak  up that 
21
" fwelling towards the patient's ihoulden  Some
" four hours after it began to work, not very troi*-
" blefome, and fo it  did the next day infomucfr
" that the man had five good ftools after it*     r
  " The two other trials were made upon the other
" fex.  A married woman of 35 and  a ferving
" maid of 20 years of age, had been both of them
" from their birth very grievoufly afflicted with epi-
" leptic fits, fo  that  there were little hopes left to
" cure them.  They both underwent this operation,
" and there was injected into their veins a laxative
" rofin diflolved in anti-epileptical fpirit.  The firft
'.' of thefe had gentle ftools fome hours  after  the
" injection  and the next day;  the fits, recurring
" now and  then, but much milder, are  fince  al-
" together vanifhed.   As for the other, viz.  the
" maid, fhe went the fame  day to ftool four times
" and feveral times  the next;  but by going into
" the air and taking cold and not obferving  any
" diet, fhe  caft herfelf away.
   " Mr. Smith hath  adventured to open a vein and
" infufe fome medicines into the blood of two per-
" fons, in the hofpital of Dantzick, defperately jn-
" fected with the pox,  whereof the one recovered
" and the other  died."*
   If credit  be due to thefe facts,  we  cannot hefi-
tate in believing that active fubftances may mix with
the blood in their  original ftate.  We muft  alfo
grant, that  fo far from being productive of  any ill
♦ Philofophical Tranfadionj abridged. . Vol. III. p. 234. 
22
 confequences, they may be fubfervient to beneficial
 views.   It is not probable however that this mode
 of exhibiting medicines  will ever be brought into
 general practice, as there is fome inconvenience at-
 tending it, and as it is feldom or ever neceflary. The
 examples are cited only to confirm the juftnefs of
 the general principle, that active fubftances may en-
 ter the circulation with impunity.
   Several additional  arguments may  be  adduced
 in  fupport of what  has  been already advanced.
 Thus, it  is afferted by Mr. Bell and  others, that
 mercury cures lues  venerea by mixing with, in  the
 blood and neutralizing it.  " Mercury will pafs into
 " the fyftem in various forms from the furface  of
 " the body. Lues venerea has been cured by frequent
 " immerfions of the feet and legs in a folution of
 " corrofive fublimate. The application of a mer-
 " curial plaifter to the furface of the body, if of any
 " confiderable extent, will alfo cure the difeafe."f
  If the poifon of contagious difeafes  can  circulate
 in the fanguiferous fyftem without injury, why may
 not medicines,  which are  not more active, alfo
 pafs into the fyftem with impunity ? It is well known
 that the lues venerea is communicated from the mo-
 ther to the foetus in utero.   Some cafes of the fmall-
pox being communicated in like manner have oc-
curred.   Mr. Turnbull relates  the cafe of a lady,
who was  inoculated in the feventh month of her
pregnancy.  Nine  days  after. the  eruption fhe
t BA\ on lue«- venerea. Chap. 4. Seft. 4. 
<*3
deceived a fall,  and in a  few days after  that was
delivered of a dead child, which was covered with
variolous puftules in a ftate of fuppuration.   The
matter was proved to be variolous from its commu-
nicating  the difeafe to feveral perfons who were
inoculated with it.f
   It has  been denied by fome that variolous matter
could  enter the blood in its active ftate; but this
and other inftances convince us that it can.  We
mould therefore be cautious in inoculating pregnant
women,  as we may fometimes  unintentionally de-
ftroy their embryo offspring.
   Some  cafes are  mentioned where the fmall-pox
was communicated by variolous matter introduced
into the ftomach.J   In thefe there can be no doubt
that the matter was taken into the circulation in its
active  ftate in order to produce the eruption.
 »  In a pregnant woman, who had ufed a confider-
able quantity of faffron, the liquor amnii is faid to
have been tinged  of a faffron colour.§
   The fact being afcertained, that active fubftances
can enter the circulation aiid produce their fpecific
operation on different  parts of the body, according
to the different qualities which they poflefs; we have
a clue  afforded to  extricate  us from the labyrinth,
in which we have been wandering. Certain pheno-*

  f MVmoirs of London Med. Soc.  Vol. IV. p. 364-
  } Medical Repofitory.   Vol. I. p- *j8-
'$ 1 Tiller.  Elements of Phyfiblogy. Vol V1H. de Fein. 
24
 mena,  which have been hitherto  fhrouded under
 the dark veil of fympathy,  are more eafily explica-
 ble, it is conceived, by the opinion we advocate.
   Tobacco beaten up into a poultice with vinegar
 or brandy and applied to the ftomach, produces vi-
 olent vomiting, and is very effectual in removing
 hard tumours of  the hypochondria.  Groundfel
 beaten down to a pulp and applied  to the ftomach,
 produces vomiting and cures agues.f
   Oil of tobacco,  dropped upon the tongue  of a
 cat,  impregnated the whole of the animal with its
 odour.  The decoction of this  plant,  when the
 head was wafhed with it, caufed vomiting, fainting,
 and  convulfions—applied to the belly, it produced
 vomiting and intoxication—the oil in the form of
 ointment produced purging—the  roots  of white
 hellebore  applied to the ftomach,  occafion vomit-
 ing.   Bitter medicines applied externally to the ab-
 domen,  deftroy worms.  Crocus metallorum, ap.
 plied externally to cure a herpetic  eruption, pro-
 duced vomiting. |
   The experiments of Mr. Sherwen would lead us
 to conclude that tart. emet. externally applied, is
 taken up by the abforbents and conveyed through
 the medium of  the circulation  to  the  ftomach.
Five grains of tart. emet. rubbed into the palms of the
 hands, in fix hours produced a flight naufea, burn..
f Edinburgh Medical Effay*.  Vol. II.
t Haller. Elements of Phyfiology. Vol. V. 
25
big" of the fkin and ihcreafed perfpiration.   A larger
quantity,1 rubbed into the hands and wrifts, pro--
duced, in a few hours after, a ficknefs, brifk evacua-
tion ±>y ftool, and an increafed flow of urine for feve-
ral days.  In one cafe, the medicine* after produc-
ing flight naufea and gentle cathaffis,  was fucceed-
ed in two or three days by a rafh with a confiderable
itching all over  the  fkin, which  continued fome
days.   In a cafe, where difagreeable fymptoms had
fueceeded the  drying up of an old ulcer in the feg,
tart. emet. adminiftered in this way produced nau-
fea,  profufe perfpiration,  and a difcharge from the
ulcer, by which all  the  fymptoms were relieved.
Experiments with arfenic, made in the fame manner
as with tart. emet.  prove,  that it  occafions flight
naufea and increafed flow of urine.*  The danger-
ous properties  of arfenic  have hitherto intimidated
practitioners from an extenfive  ufe of it internally.
If therefore experiments of this kind fhould lead us
to difcover that arfenic, externally applied,  is con-
veyed into the fyftem, and is a fafe and efficacious
diqretic, we fhall add a  new weapon  to our ftore
for combating the dreadful difeafe of dropfy.
   Certain Itahan phyficians have inftituted experi-
ments on,this fubject,  the refult of  which  would,
appear to favour our doctrine.31 A woman, .having
violent pains,  and refuting to  take, opium, by.the
mouth, was a fit fubject for experiment.  Dr. Chi-
arenti diffolved three grains of pure opium in two
  * M.duil memoir*.  Vol. II,
                       D 
                       i6

fcruptes of the gaftric juice of a crow; and after
fuffering it to remain at reft fome hours, he mixed
it with fimple ointment and rubbed it on the backs
of her feet.   In an hour the pains were wholly re-
moved, and did not again return.  Squills and fox-
glove were ufed in the fame manner with equal fuc-
cefs.  It appears, from experiment, that the appli-
cation of thefe fubftances was moft fuccefsful, when
they were diffolved in gaftric juice or faliva.
  " Dr. Ballerini,  of Mantua, cured one  dropfy
u with frictions of fix grains of fquills, diffolved in
" gaftric juice, made every fecond  evening j and
" another with one fcruple of fquills, diffolved in
" one dram of faliva, rubbed in at three times dur-
" ing the courfe of the day.  The afliftants,  who
" made the frictions, had likewife an increafed flow
" of urine."
  Profeffor Brera ufed opium, in this manner, with
fuccefs in  chlorofis; aho fquills, digitalis purpurea,
corros.  fublim. aconite, and tart. emet. in other dif-
eafes. From his obfervations he concludes,  "That
" every animalifed fluid is fitted by  nature  to ren-
" der remedies capable of being abforbed."*
   We  have numerous  inftances  of the unhappy
confequences  attending  the  introduction  of lead
into  the fyftem,  which are perhaps more rationally
explained on this principle than on any other.
   Litharge carried under the arm-pits caufed dyfp-
nsea, fainting, naufea, vomiting, &c.  Ceruffe applied
* An.nal» of Medicine, Vol. III. 
27
 to a part that had been chafed produced fimilar ef-
 fects.*   The immoderate ufe of the faturnine lotion
 for fix days to a leg and foot, from which the cuticle
 had been ftripped, produced colic, trembling of the
 limbs, continual naufea and frequent vomitings, f
  The application of Goulard's poultice to the knee,
 continued for  fome time,  produced a violent  pam
 in the bowels,  which did not ceafe until the remov-
 al of the poultice.  Inftances have occurred of con-
 vulfions being produced  in children by cerufle
 fprinkled  on excoriated parts.  It  is not improba-
 ble that litharge, the common bafis of plaifters, when
 employed  in  drefling  iffues,  produces fome of the
 common  effects  of the preparations of lead taken
 internally.}
   Dr.  Baker obferves " that  he met with a moft
 " violent and obftinate colic, which feemed to have
 " been occafioned by fome  litharge mixed  in a
 *' cataplafm, and applied to the vagina with a view
 " to  allay  a troublefome itching,"
   The vapour of lead, which exhales when  it is
 melted, will excite colica pictonum, as in the cafe
 of  plumbers and potters, and thofe who make fhot.
 This vapour,  when the metal is heated by mere
 friction, will produce  this colic,  with all its terrible
 confequences. §
   "  We want no authorities to teftify, that the too
 " fafhionable  application of  ceruffe  to  the fkin,
' Haller. Elem. Phyiolog. vol V. f Percival'i Effay on the poifon of lead.
 $ Medical TranfaA. vol I.     § Med. Tranfad. VoL I. 
28
" has been  followed  by  obftinate colics, pains,
" tremors and refolution of the limbs, flow wafting
" fevers and a pulmonary confumption.   For fuch
" frequently has been the  fate of thofe,  who have
" thus endeavoured  to fupply the defects of their
" perfons,  by a vain and temporary imitation of
" beauty."*
  " The vinegar of lead, diluted and rubbed upon
" the fkin, cures breakings  out, rednefs, inflam-
" mations, and the eryfipelas j it gives a whitenefs
" and beauty to the fkin, but proves pernicious
" to  the body;  at length  occafioning a confump-
" tion,  as appears by  many melancholy exam-
" ples."t
  The ung. faturnin.  applied for"ten days to parts,
from which the cuticle  had  been  removed,  occa-
fioned a fevere colic, refembling  in many of its
fymptoms, the  colica pictonum.   A  gentleman,
having drained the tendo achillis of each leg, was
advifed  to  ufe  a bath  of vegeto-mineral  water.
The bath was  fo constructed, that he could im-
 merfe his legs to the  height of  the calves.  He
 ufed it  for five or fix minutes every morning and
 evening for a week,  when he was obliged to defift,
 from the violent fpafmodic and paralytic  affections
 it occafioned ; nor did he recover from  them for
 fome time. J

   •Baker.   f Boerhaave. Elem. Chem. Vol. II. procefi 1721
  \ Med. Tranfaft. Vol. III.
ifc-j-w ■*• 
?9
   There is an  inftance upon  record, of a paJfyof
 both legs and arms, being induced, by the applica-
 tion  of facch.  faturni. to  venereal warts, for the
 purpofe of deftroying  them.*
   " A gentleman, who had. for many years had a
 " fontincl, finding that the pea was not fufficiently
 " depreffed for two or three years paft, applied oc-
 " cafionally,  a piece of the thinneft lead over the
 " oil-fkin which covered the pea.  This apparently
 " anfwering  the purpofe, the oil-fkin was by de-
 " grees omitted;  fo that the  lead was generally in
 " immediate contact with the pea and the orifice
 " of the fontinel.
   " This was  the cafe about the end of June,
 " 1771 ;  when an uneafinefs and oppreflion, were
 " felt at the prsecordia and diaphragm, with anxie-
 " ty  and difficulty on making a deep infpiration:
 " The diforder, daily  increafing, became,  towards
 " the end of July,  fo grievous as to  require the
 " ferious attention of  the perfon afflicted.   On re-
 " collection, he began to fufpect, that his complaints
 " might  be owing to  the noxious quality of the
 " lead, which covered the fontinel.  He therefore
 " immediately threw it off; and from  that time,
" without  the  ufe of any  medicines,  the diforder
" very foon abated,  and in about one month was
" entirely removed; nor has  it in any degree re-
" turned."§                                h.

  * Med. Tranfad. Vol. II.    § Baker on the poifon of lead. 
3°
   The inferences to be drawn from the abovemen-
 tioned fac^s,  muft be fufficiently obvious to the can-
 did  obferver.  If we take into consideration the
 various circumftances attending the external appli-
 cation of lead  in thefe cafes,  fome light may be
 thrown upon the fubject.  It was ncceffary for a
 certain portion of time  to elapfe before the  poifon
 manifested its effects.   If  it operated by fympathy,
 the effect fhould be inftantaneous,  as we know to
 be in other cafes  where the phenomena are referred
to an unknown fympathy.  But as we find that a
 fpace of time,  fufficient  for  the  introduction and
 diffusion of the poifon in the circulation, muft in-
 tervene before its effects are perceived,  we have a
 right to  fuppofe that it does enter  the circulation,
 and thus produces  its  mifchievous confequences.
 The fymptoms attending, coincide fo exactly  with
 thofe which fucceed  the internal ufe of lead,  that
 they afford ftrong reafon  to believe the poifon acts
 immediately  upon the  parts  affected.   This can
 only be effected by its entering into the circulation
 in its active ftate.
   The dangerous confequences, which fometimes
 refult from the external ufe of the preparations of
 lead, under certain circumftances, fhould teach.us
 caution in the management of this metal.   This ap-
 pears to be more especially neceffary in cafes where
 the parts have been excoriated,  as in thofe fituations
 the abforbents  feem  to be peculiarly active.   The
 pernicious practice of applying to the fkin pigments, 
3*
 of which lead is a constituent part,  cannot be too
 ftrongly reprobated.   By diminifhing the  fenfe of
 the danger, we encourage  the growth of the evil.
 It is only by inculcating the  opinion, that  the poi-
 fon of lead may be abforbed into the circulation,
 and thus be productive of the moft dreadful confe-
 quences, that we can hope to arreft this destructive
 fafhion.   Mercury is  often adulterated with lead,
 and its ufe is fometimes  attended with the peculiar
 effects, which fucceed the ufe of the preparations of
 lead.  It is therefore of  fome confequence  to keep
 this  circumstance in our remembrance, when we
 are exhibiting mercury.f
   Obfervation would lead us to fuppofe, that lead
 internally ufed, paffes  into the circulation in its ac-
 tive ftate. Is not this fuppofition rendered probable
 from the palsies of the limbs, which  fucceed colica
 piftonum? Here is an  affection of  parts   diftant
 from thofe to which the poifon is directly  applied.
 Colics, which arife from other caufes, are  not at-
 tended with  fimilar confequences.  Is not  the fup-
 pofition further ftrengthened by the fact, afcertained
 from Mr. Hunter's experiments, that the application
of facch. faturni. to the mufcles of dogs, produced
 in them the fame appearance  which is exhibited by
 the mufcles of painters labouring under paralyfis?
Sour wines sweetened with lead have produced many
unhappy confequences  of this kind. It is known that

 f Baker on the poifon gf lead        « 
                       32
facch. faturni. will render gin, which has a yellow tinge
of a beautiful tranfparent whitenefs.   This iniquit-
ous procefs has been too frequently the unfufpected
caufe.of many diftreffing fymptoms. The honey ex-
tracted  by bees from the kalmia latifolia,  (bastard
laurel) and fome other poifonous plants, has the
remarkable property of proving  errhine, after  it
has been taken into the ftomach fome time.   It
produces fnee:zang occasionally for two or three days
afterwards.*   The powder of the different parts of
the kalmia latifolia is confiderably errhine.f  How
can we account  for this strange effect, but by fup-
pofing that the honey is taken into the mafs of blood
and  that it continues to circulate in its active ftate
for fome days ?
  From  what has beenfaid concerning the proofs  of
the opinion,  which is maintained in this effay,  as
they appear in the blood, we learn in the first place,
that active fubftances,  directly mixed  with the
blood, are not neceffarily fatal, but fometimes falu-
tary.   Secondly, knowing  this fact, we can more
easily explain  on this principle than  on any other,
Certain phenomena refulting from the external ap-
plication  of  medicines.  Thirdly,  circumftances,
attending the internal exhibition of fome medicines,
are moft eafily accounted for by this opinion.

  *  Barton** lectures on materia medica.
  f ElTr.v toward; a materia medica of the United States. 
                        33
    III. Milk.   Certain fubftances manifeft their pre-
 fence in the milk by their colour, tafte, fmell or pe-
 culiar effects.
   Milk is  faintly tinged of a red colour from eat-
 ing the Indian fig, and alfo from madder: it affumes
 a blue  colour from the ufe of indigo.f
    Saffron imparts its colour to the milk of women
 ufing it.}
   The fugar of milk depends upon the quantity of
 fugar contained  in  the  aliment which is  ufed.  Its
 acefcency  is fuppofed to  proceed from  the ufe of
 vegetable aliment.  Cows, fed  upon certain vege-
 tables,  give milk of a  colour and tafte  fimilar to
 thofe vegetables, as the horfe-chefnut, madder, &c.
 All the filiquofa communicate a peculiar tafte and
 odour to the milk of animals feeding on them.§
   It is  a fact  very  generally known,  that where
 animals feed upon garlic,  pepper-grafs, falt-marfh,
 &c. their milk, and  the butter obtained from it,
 partake of the tafte and  fmell of the fubftance ufed.
   Animals,  feeding on a certain fpecies of gentian,
 have their milk, and the cheefe made from it,  of a
 bitter  tafte.  We may  difcover in milk both the
 fmell and tafte of the ftrong treacle-muftard,  and
alfo of  faffron.  The bitternefs of wormwood and
the fmell of  thyme are often perceptible in  milk.||
  f Haller. Elem. Phyfiolog. Vol. VII. de lade.
  j- Ferris on milk.
  § Barton's Lectures on Materia Medica,
  B Waller. Elenv.n. Phyfiolog.  Vol. VII.
                     '  E 
                       34
   The peculiar effects produced by the milk of ani-
 mals, which have fed upon particular plants, evince
 that the active matter is carried into the circulation,
 and retains its properties even in the fecreted fluids.
   A cafe  is related by Dr.  Cooper,  of a woman
 who was falivated,  producing the fame affection in
 a child fucking her.  Gmelin  afferts that the  milk
 of falivated animals will falivate a child.  Dr.  Ha-
 milton detected globules of mercury in the milk  of
 a falivated woman, by flow evaporation.!
   The properties of fpurge have  manifested them-
 felves  even in cheefe; the eating  of fuch  cheefe
 having occafioned dangerous vomiting and purging.
 The milk  of cows, which feed on the hedge  hyf-
 fop, is purgative.   A nurfe having taken a purga-
 tive  medicine  and afterwards  fuck ling  a child,  a
 hypercatharfis  was induced on the  child •, but the
 nurfe felt no ill effects from the medicine.  A boy,
 who was fucking a nurfe that had drunk fpirituous
 liquor, was thrown into violent convulfions.J  In-
 fants, from being fuckled by drunken nurfes, have
 contracted a propensity for ftrong drink. §  A child
was intoxicated by  the milk of a nurfe, who had
 taken a considerable quantity of opium.[|
  The ancients were  fo  strongly perfuaded  that
fubftances were taken into the circulation in their
  f Barton's Lectures ou Materia Medica,
  \ Haller.  Elem. Phyfiol. Vol. VII.
  § Ferris on milk.
  |J  Barton's Ledturcs on Materia Medica. 
35
active ftate, that in certain  difeafes they prefcribed
the milk of aninjals which had fed on vegetables
proper for the cure of  thofe difeafes.*
   The milk of goats,  which have fed on astringent
and balfamic herbs, is  recommended as an excellent
remedy in  certain fpecies of diarrhaea.  Thus alfo
the properties of pellitory, madder, the leffer nettle,
lettuce,  purflain,  on which cows have fed, are car-
ried into the milk fo unchanged,  that they produce
their ufual effect in the fick who ufe this milk.f
   Some modern writers alfo entertain the opinion,
that the active properties of fubftances are found in
the milk.   The celebrity  of thefe writers  cannot
fail to give additional support to the  opinion.  A
nurfe, by eating  of cabbage,  or of other flatulent
vegetables, always gave her fucking child the windy
 gripes.J   To prevent the belly-ach, which is fo fre-
 quent among fucking children, their  nurfes fhould
 be careful to avoid  eating vegetable food.§  In
cholera infantum, when the child is reduced fo low
in the latter stage of the difeafe that it cannot fwal-
 low cordial medicines;  if  it be fucking, the medi-
 cines are to be adminiftered to the nurfe, and thev
will in  this way enter  the fyftem  of the  child. ||
Thefe obfervations teach us a new mode of exhibit-
ing medicines,  from the  proper management of
 which much advantage may be derived.  In confti-
   * Ferris on milk.    f Haller.  Elem. Phifiol. Vol. VII.
   \ Percival's Eflay?.  Vol.1, p. 168.    § Ruth's. Leclures.
   || Rufli's Lectures. 
                     JL
tutions, where peculiar circumftances render the
direct application of remedies improper,  we may
perhaps adminifter  medicated milk  with effentia!
benefit.   In cafes  where  it is neceffary  that me-
dicines fhould be exhibited for a long time, gradu-
ally, and in fmall quantity, no more agreeable mode
could be  difcovered.   The facts that have  been
related clearly prove, that the active properties of
fome fubftances are found in milk ; and it is at leaft
worth the trial, to endeavour to apply this principle
to fome ufeful purpofe.
   IV. Saliva.  Some proofs may be adduced, which
appear in the faliva.  The property of exciting an
increafed flow from the  falivary glands,  which  is
manifested by certain fubftances,  fome time after
they have been taken  internally or applied to the
external furface,  is only to be  explained by fup-
pofing that  thefe fubftances are  conveyed in  their
active ftate, through the medium of the circulation
to the parts affected.
   A partial and temporary falivation may be pro-
duced  by topical ftimulants applied to the glands.
This ceafes (hortly after the irritant,  which excited
it, is removed from the mouth,  and may be refer-
red wholly to  the direct external application of fti-
mulus.  But the falivation,  occafioned by mercury,
and  fome other articles, remains  long after their
ufe has been relinquifhed, and can only be account-
ed for on the principle we have adopted. 
                       37
   Mercury is taken into the circulation in many
 cafes,  efpecially  where  it  excites falivation.    It
 reaches and acts upon  the  organs of perfpiration.
 The long continued ufe of  it,  produces an inflam7
 matory cruft upon the blood.   Certain  prepara-
 tions  of  antimony, alfo falivate;  and  the fame
 effect is produced by oxygen gas,  nitric acid, citric
 acL and p> Ivgala Seneka, &o*
   Lead,  ufe A internally, has  been known to  fali-
 vate.  In the cafe of Profeffor Thunberg, related
 by hi nfeif,  it is obferveci, that in eight days after
 the  falivation commenced,  lead  was  perceived  in
the  faliva.f   The  oil of the melaleuca  leucaden-
 dron,  rubbed upon the foles of the feet, manifeft-
 ed its tafte  in  the mouth.  Petroleum, dropped
 upon the head,  difcovered  its  tafte in the mouth.}
   V.  Urine.  The facts, which are related refpect-
 ing the  prefence  of fubftances  in  their  original
 ftate,  in the urine, are fo numerous  and well  au-
 thenticated,  that none will hefitate  in  giving his
affent  to  them.    Certain  articles impart  to  the
 urine, thehj colour, tafte, fmell,  cr  imbue it with
 their peculiar properties
   " Extract of  logwood, taken  internally, fare
 "  times gives a  bloody hue to   the  urine."   Its
 aftringent property, often accompanies  its colour-
ing  matter. §  Perfons eating the  Indian fig, hav?

  * Barton's le&ures on materia medica.
 f Voyage to the Cape of Good-Hope, "i o\ I
 f Haller. Elem. Phyfiolog. Vol V.
  § Percival's Eflays. 
their urine of a  blood colour; the  fame  takes
place from eating red beets, or madder.   It  be-
comes blue from indigo.   Afparagus  and  olives,
communicate  a ftrong fmell  to it.   Turpentine
gives it a violet fmell.   It  is alfo fcented by nut-
megs, mace, cloves, juniper, parfley-roots, fennel,
carrot, parfneps.   It is made bitter  by balfam co-
paibse.   Vinous fpirits are fometimes found in  the
urine; alfo oil fhortly after it has  been taken in.
A certain  fpecies of mufhroom, poffefling  an in-
toxicating property, is found to retain  this proper-
ty,  after pafling into the urine.*
  Rhubarb, taken into the ftomach,  colours  the
urine for many hours after.  It  is faid to poflefs a
diuretic  property.  The oil of favin fometimes ex-
erts diuretic effects upon the kidneys, and in thefe
cafes  the urine is impregnated with  its  fmell.f  Ni-
tre,  taken  internally,  is found in the  urine in  its
native ftate.   When applied to the external furface
of the body, it is taken up by the  abforbents and
conveyed through the medium  of  the circulation
into the bladder,  unchanged.  A folution of nitre,
applied in  a pediluvium, is faid  to  have been  ab-
forbed into the circulation ; for a piece  of  paper,
dipped in the urine and dried, burnt  in the fame
manner as  touch-paper. §
  » Haller. Elem. Phyfiolog. Vol. VII. de Urina:.
  f Barton's leclures on materia medica.
  S  Zoonomia. Vol. III. p. 361. 
                        39
    Turpentine acts as a diuretic;  when taken  in
 large dofes  it produces ftranguary,  diabetes,  &c:
 and  hence we infer that it has  a peculiar action on
 the kidneys.   Whether applied externally or inter-
 nally it difcovers its fmell in the urine.   We have
 a proof that it is taken into the circulation and car-
 ried  to the bladder, from its correcting the peculiar
 fmell which  is obferved in the urine of perfons who
 have eaten of afparagus.*
   Kaauw Boerhaave relates, that a man, holding
 turpentine in his hands for fome time,  perceived  in
 his urine the fame  violet fmell, which is obferved
 when turpentine has been taken into the ftomach.]
   This fact is familiar to anatomifh, who are in the
 habit  of injecting dead bodies and wafhing their
 hands with fpirits of turpentine.
   The different fpecies of garlic appear to pafs into
 the circulation,  particularly affecting the urinary
 fyftem, and fometimes difcovering their fmell in the
 urine  and perfpiration.   From  their fuppofed pro-
 perty  of  paffing into the urine unchanged, they
 have  been recommended as  lithontriptics.  Some
of the filiquofa are ufed in dropfies, with advantage.
Their active matter is probably  carried into the cir-
culation and  thus to the kidney?, occafioning heat
of urine,  &c.{

 * Birton's le&ures on materia medica.
 f Dc Perfpiratione. No. 430.
 \  Barton's lectures '>'i r.nteria medica.. 
                       40

   It is fuppofed that the strangury, which fometimes
 fucceeds the external application of cantharides, is
 occafioned by the abforption and internal stimulus
 of them.   This opinion is fupported by the follow^
 ing obfervations:
 ■  i. " Neither muftard,  the  actual  or  potential
 ct cautery,  nor any  other veficating stimulus, but
 " cantharides,  excite this complaint."
   2. " Drinking plentifully prevents the ftrangury,
 " by diluting in the kidneys  and bladder the acri-
 " monious particles  of the cantharides.,,
   3. " A blifter, laid  upon the head immediately
 " after (having, is almoft  always fucceeded by the
 ." ftrangury;  whereas  no fuch effect takes place, if
 " the application  be delayed  twenty-four hours."!
   The effects produced by certain medicines, which
 have been ufed as lithontriptics, render it probable
 that  they are conveyed into the urine, unchanged.
 Fro 1:1 the  remarkable effects  produced by uva urfi
 irA" nephritis, have we not a right to fuppofe that it
 is conveyed into  the  circulation unchanged? The
 acid liquor, which is obtained from uva urfi, attacks
 human  calculi,  diminifhes them  and foftens  the
 parts which it cannot diffolve.   Nor was  there one,
 among one hundred and fifty calculi, which it could
 not  dnibive.  It is not  probable  that1 its powers
 are  loftj when ir is given  internally ;  for when mix-
' ed whh blood rnd  bile  it ftill retained  its folvent

   f  P^rc-val's rffay en Lliiltrs. 
4i
property.  It appears to abstract the mucus from
the calculus, to loofen  the connecting medium of
the earth which  compofes  it, and to diminifh the
whole ftone by diffolving a part and foftening  the
remainder which  was infoluble.*
   The carbonate  of foda is equally efficacious in al-
leviating the  diftreffing fymptoms of nephritis, and
in causing large  quantities of gravel to pafs off by
urine.  " The ftones voided appeared half diffolved,
"  which before had been hard and rough, and when
"  dry feemed to  be covered  with a fine foft pow-
"  der.  The ufe of this medicine produced  " a
"  large mucous and very ropy fediment in the urine
"  and a great abatement of pain."  This medicine
has alfo  given great relief in biliary calculi of long
ftanding.f   Fixed air is afferted to be lithontrip-
tic.   Doctor Percival informs us, that an  eminent
phyfician in London has been fuccefsful in the Life
of it, " having brought away in fmall fragments,
"  and in  a  whitifh chalk-like  fubftance,  a ftone
"  from the urinary bladder,  by adminiftering fixed
"  air to his patient during the  fpace  of a  few
iC  weeks."J   Several respectable authorities have
adopted the opinion, that fixed air may be  convey-
ed unchanged  into  the  bladder.  Although it
may be doubted whether fixed air can  be conveyed
through the circulation into the bladder; yet it
appears from experiment that from a certain quan-
tity of frefh made  urine, one fifth of its bulk  of pure
   * Haller. Hiflor. Stirp. Indigen. Htlvet. Vol. I.
  f Bcddoes.      J Percival.
                        F 
42
 fixed  air was  obtained.  Drinking water contain-
 ing this air may impregnate the urine with it, and
 make it more efficacious in  diffolving  calcareous
 matters than it would otherwife be. *
   The drinking of waters impregnated with fixed air
 is recommended and extolled by Hoffman and others,
 as very efficacious in preventing  and diffolving cal-
 culi.   Human  calculi,  by being macerated in thefe
 waters, were considerably diminifhed.  They are
 alfo diminifhed by immerfion  in the urine of thofe
 perfons,  who had  drunk water impregnated with
 fixed air;  while the urine of a perfon in health, not
 using fuch water,  had  no effect in leffening  their
 bulk.f
   From  this fact  the inference muft certainly be
 drawn, that  fixed air is conveyed unchanged into
 the urine.
  Doctor  Sydenham entertained the  idea  that
Kialt liquors  alleviated the pain  and irritation, arif-
ing from gravel. In his own cafe, he obferves, that
whenever  he was obliged to ride over ftones, it was
his  cuftom to take one  or two  large  draughts of
fmall beer, which  prevented bloody urine.
  Doctor  Dobfon obferves, " that upon  the whole
" the fedative and  folvent powers of fixed air, in
" cafes of the  ftone,  are fo far afcertained, as to
" give it a claim to the particular attention  of the
" faculty.   Further experience can alone determine
* Prieftly on air Vol. JI. page ai6-i;.
| Dobfon on fixed air. 
                       43
<c whether, by the steady and long continued ufe of
" this  medicine,  a cure may not in fome inftance?
" be happily effected."
  It appears that the urine of perfons, ufing alka-i
line remedies becomes alkaline, and that it exerts
fome  degree of a folvent power upon urinary cal-
culi immerfed in it.*
  Doctor Falconer fpeaks very highly of the ufe of
the aqua mephitica alkalina, or folution of fixed alka-
line fait, faturated with fixible air in calculous com-
plaints.  In  the cafe of Mr. Colbourne, who had
occafionally paffed fmall ftones and was much trou-
bled with nephritic fymptoms, he  obferves " that,
" during the ufe of the mephitic alkaline folution,
"  he parted with no gravel,  his urine deposited no
** fediment, whatever,  or difcoloured the veffel;
*l though, if it  was omitted even for a  few  days,
" thefe  appearances  took place and  fmall  bits of
" gravel were perceivable in his water."  The ufe
of this folution is obferved to correct the fcetor and
difpofiton in the  urine to putrify, which manifested
themfelves previoufly to its ufe.f   It is well known
that fixed air will retard the putrefactive fermentati-
on  out of the body, and hence the foregoing fact
furnifhes us with an  analogical argument that this
air is conveyed into the bladder.
   Human calculi, immerfed in this folution, were
found to lofe  a considerable part of their weight.

  * Home's Clinical Experiments and Hiflories.
  | Falconer on aqua mephit. alkal. 
44
A. daily portion of .the urine  of a.per&n,  who ufed
the folution,  was poured upon a fragment of a cal-
culus for fix months,  at  the end of which time it
had  loft  two-thirds of its original weight.   Upon
another fragment of the fame calculus,  a daily por-
tion  of the urine  of a perfon in  health,  not  ufing
the folution,  was  poured for two months, but did
not exert any folvent  effect.*  Does not this prove
that  the folution  is  conveyed unchanged  into the
bladder ? The preparations  of fome of the metals
are found in the  urine in their original ftate, as is
discovered by the  ufual tefts. " Iron appears to pof-
" fefs the  property of pafling into the circulation
" under  the form of sethiops.  The valuable expe-
" riments of Menghini,  publifhed in  the memoirs
" of the inftitutes  of Bologna, have  proved that
6C the blood of perfons, who take martial remedies,
" is  thicker and contains more  iron.   Mr.  Lorry
" obferved  that  the  urine of  a  fick perfon,  to
" whom he adminiftered iron in  a ftate of extreme
" division, was manifestly coloured with the nut-
" gall."f
   From  what has been related,  refpecting the pre-
fence of fubftances in the urine, it muft be granted
by all, that certain matters are  found in this fluid in
their original ftate.
   It is, however, denied, by a celebrated and inge-
nious writer,} that  active fubftances are conveyed
  * Falconer.    f Chaptal's Elements of Chemiftry, part iii. chap. %.
  \ Darwin, 
ftiroughthe courfe of the circulation into the otao-
der.   He  afferts that the lymphatic veffels of the
bladder, communicating with the abforbents of the
inteftines,  take on a retrograde action, arid thus an
eafy  and  direct paffage is made into the bladder.1
One of the principal arguments for  this  opinion;
rests upon the phenomena obferved in diabetes. It
is fuppofed  that the immenfe  quantity  of urinef
which is  fometimes  difcharged in this difeafe,  can-
not be fecreted by the  kidneys, but muft pafs by
fome direct communication between the alimentary
canal and the bladder.   This opinion is  faid to be
fupported by the circumftances attending the drink-
ing of mineral waters.   It has been fuppofed that
the fhort  time, in  which the  flow of urine takes
place after receiving thefe waters into the ftomach,
demonftrates  the  exiftence of  fome more  direct
route than through the ureters. " But in this cafe
" the stimulus of cold water received into the fto-
" mach,  like  external cold applied to   the  fkin,
" caufes  a  concuflion of the bladder and urinary
" parts, by which they  are folicited to repeated dif-
" charges of the old urine which was before in the
"■body,  and  not  immediately of that which was
" last drunk.   Again,  one thoufand  ounces  of
" blood are conveyed through the kidneys  in an
" hour, and this is furely fuflicient to furnifh twenty
"or  even fifty Ounces of urine.  Finally,  it is cef"'
'Stain that both men and brute animals  perifh~  if 
4$
" the ureters afQ obstructed by a ligature or other-
" therwife.  We  then obferve  alfo that no urine
" can be found in the bladder."*
   The limits of this  effay will  not allow a  fuller
investigation of the doctrine of the retrograde mo-
tion of the abforbent veffels; and the more efpecially
as it is not strictly connected with the prefent fubject
of inquiry.
   VI.  Perfpiration.   Marks, that  fubftances have
entered  the circulation  in their active  ftate,  are
fometimes found in the fluid excreted from the fur-
face of  the body.
   Opium is abforbed into the blood-veffels.   Haller
afferts that the fmell of opium is fometimes obferved
in the perfpiration,  particularly in his own cafe.f
   The active property of camphor appears to refide
in a volatile vapour;  it is fometimes abforbed into
the mafs of blood, is known to  falivate, and difco-
vers its  fmell in the perfpiration and fweat.J
   The  common garlic and the  red onion,  when
taken into the ftomach pafs off by  perfpiration, oc-
casioning cofiderable thirft, &c.  The fmell of gar-
lic is faid to be perceived in iffues, fiftulae, &c.§
   It is  probable that elixir vitriol  is conveyed into
the vafcular fyftem and excreted by  the pores of
the fkin.  It is faid to perform a cure in nurfes, who

  * Syftem of Anatomy, Vol. II. p 411.
  ■f- Barton's lectures on materia medica.
  : Barton's Lectures on Materia Medica.   § Ibidem. 
47
are affected with the itch, and alfo in children fuck-*
ing them.*
  Dr. Ruffell  remarks that the people  of Aleppo,
who take large quantities of oil internally,  are found
to have  oil tranfuding through the pores of their
fkin.  Oil obtained from the livers of cod-fifh, admi-
niftered internally in the Manchester hofpital, mani-
fefted its naufeous tafte and fmell in the  perfpiration
of thofe who ufed it.   " An oil  of the fame kind
" forms no inconsiderable part of the food of many
" northern nations; and it is faid to penetrate and.
" imbue the deepeft receffes of the body." f
   We have thus endeavoured to exhibit a compre-
hensive  view of the proofs of the opinion,  main-
tained in this effay, as  they  appear  in the fluids.
Confidered individually  they may not perhaps a-
mount to demonftration, but taken collectively, it
is prefumed, they  will make fome impreffion upon
the mind of the cadid inquirer.
   That medicines  fhould be conveyed into the cir-
circulation unchanged, or, if decompofed, that they
fhould be recompofed, is not  more ftrange or unac*
countable than that urine, femen, &c. fhould be fe-
creted from  the blood.  Chemiftry   prefents  us
with an analogy. We fee, that by the union of two
different fubftances, a third is produced differing in
quality  from either.   By the addition of another
fubftance we procure  one of the fir ft conftituents in
* Percival's Eflays.      f Ibidcn, 
48
its original form and properties j  May not a procefs
fimilar to  this  be carried on in the circulation ?
Much yet remains to be explored.


             SECTION  III.

                    —■>*•€;—
    Of the Proofs, as they appear in the Solids.

   THE proofs that have been already adduced in
fupport of the opinion, that certain fubftances enter
the circulation in their active ftate, afford at leaft a
high degree of  probable evidence.  We now come
to consider the proofs,  with which we meet in the
folids.   Thefe,  although few in number, are deci-
sive, and muft carry conviction to the lover of truth.
They are arranged as they appear in the fkin, flefh
and bones.
   I. Skin.   Sulphur, after  palling through the cir-
culation and being conveyed to  the fkin,  evidently
recovers its original  properties.   It communicates
its particular odour  to the perfpiration, and black-
 ens filver, &c.  A gentleman, who was in the habit
of taking fulphur daily, perceived, after fome time,
that his filver knee-buckles  were made  black  and
 alfo his watch.
   It is obferved,  by Bifhop Watfon, that perfons,
 ufing cofmetic lotions containing lead,  and at the
 fame time drinking  fulphurated waters, will have 
49
the parts, to which the lotions are applied, changed
black.
   " Dr. Swediaur relates the cafe of  a  Proteffant
" minifter,  near Hamburgh, who took, by the di-
" redion of an empiric, fome nitrate of filver for
" an obftrudion  of the  liver.   After continuing
u this medicine for feveral months,  his fkin began
" to change gradually,  till at laft it became almost
" perfedly black.   This colour lafted during feve-
" ral years, but is now wearing off."*
,, The  adive part of the  diet  of fome animals,
feems to enter  into the courfe of the circulation,
and  to  manifest itfelf perceptibly in their integu-
ments.   The Turkey-buzzard   (Vultur  Aura  of
Linnaeus) is a carnivorous bird, and feeds upon
the putrid carcafes of animals.  The quills of thefe
birds have  generally fuch  a slinking odour, that
we are obliged  to keep them a  long time,  before;
they become fit for ufe.f
   II. Flefh.  The adive  properties  of certain fub-
ftances,  which are eaten by animals, are conveyed
into the circulation  in fuch  an unchanged ftate,
that the flefh of  thefe animals  will produce  the
fame effed,  as  is  produced  by thofe fubftances.
It. is  a fad, well  known,  that  the  flefh  of wild
pigeons, which have eaten the berries of the Phy-
tolacca or poke root, will purge, if a confiderable
quantity of  it is taken into the ftomach.  The flefli
  * La medicine eclairte paries fciences phyfiques, &c.  Foiircroy. '
  f Barton's lectures on Natural Hiftory.
                       G 
5°
 of pheafants, which have fed upon the kalmia lati-
 folia or wild laurel, one of the  moft fatal poifons,
 has been known  in feveral well  authenticated in-
 ftances,  to exert deleterious effeds, in a few hours
 after it has been taken into the ftomach.*
   Dr. Barton informs me,  that he has been confi-
 derably purged  by eating the flefh of deer, which
 had fed upon the leaves of  the kalmia latifolia.
 Dogs, who had eaten the flefh,  were affeded with
 convulfions and paralysis of the hinder legs.
   Kempfer (in  his Hiftory of Japan) mentions a
 fifh,f which being fed  with  a  certain  poifonous
 plant,  is infeded with its peculiar deleterious pro-
 perties, and deftroys the perfons who eat of it.
   The red fea-bream when  found  in  the South
 Sea, falivates.  This fifh, taken  in the Pacific and
 Atlantic  Oceans,   does  not  produce this effed.
 The peculiar property of falivating, is  occafioned
 by its  eating the medufa or fea-blubber,  which is
 known to poflefs this property.}
   The balfam of the  populus balfamifera (called
 balfam or tacamahaca  tree) is fo very penetrating,
 that it communicates  its peculiar fmell and tafte,
 to the  flefh of certain birds,  which  feed upon the
buds.§  The onion has fuch a durable ftrong tafte
 and fmell,  that it  is perceived in the flefh of pea-
 cocks, who are fond of eating it.|J

  * Medical RepoGtory.  Vol. I. p. 161.   f Tetraodon ocellatus.
  \ Cook's voyages.
  § Barton's Effay towards a Materia Medica of the United State*.
  | Haller. Hiftor. Stirp. indigen. Helvet. Vol. II. 
5*
  It is generally known, that the flefh of fome
animals,  killed at  a particular feafon of the year,
is ftrongly tainted  with garlic.  This is particular-
ly the cafe  with  fucking calves, who receive  it
through  the medium of the milk.  " The London
" mutton is known to tafte ftrong of turnips,  with
"which the fheep  prepared for  market are chiefly
" fed."
  The following fad is  tranfcribed from an anci-
ent book, in its original style and language.
   " Here a multitude of the inhabitantes, as well
 " women  as men,  reforted to   hym  (Columbus)
 " with cheerefull countenaunce and without feare:
 " bringynge with  them popinjayes, breade,  water
" and cunnyes. But efpecially ftocke-doves muche
 " hygger then  owres: which, he affirmeth, in fa-
 " voure and tafte to be muche more pleafaunt then
 " oure  partryches.  Wherefore, as in  eatinge  of
 " them  he  perceaved a certyne favoure  of fpyce
 " to proceade  from  them,  he  commaunded the
 " Croppe  to bee opened of fuch as  were newely
 " kylled,  and  fownde the  fame full  of  fweete
 " fpyces, whiche he  argued to bee  the  caufe  of
 " theyr strange tafte.  For  it  ftandeth with good
 " reafon,  that the flefhe of Beaftes  fhulde drawe
 " the nature  and qualitie  of  theyr  accustomed
  " nuryfhemente."*
    Wormwood affeds not  only the milk, but alfo
 the flefh of animals,  with its intenfe bitternefs.f
   • Tranflation of the Decades of Peter Martyr.  Decad. I.,p. 16-17.
 London EditioD, ifSS-       t Barton's Leisures  cm Materia Medica. 
5*
   " Our table was  always plentifully and  even
 " luxurioufly,  furnifhed  with  truffles, red-legged
 " partridges, and a great variety of fmall birds}
 " the latter were not indeed very palatable to us at
 " firft,  on account of the high flavour of the juni-
 " per berries on which they fed."*
   Birds, which live wholly on fifh, have their flefh
 to tafte of fifh.   Mr. Hunier obferves, " this fad
 " was fo well known, that  it was hardly neceffary
 " to put it  to the teft of an experiment.   Yet  he
 " took  two ducks, and  fed one with barley, the
 " other with fprats for about a month, and killed
 " both at the fame time; when they were dreffed,
 " the one  fed wholly with fprats was hardly  eata-
 " ble,  it tailed fo ftrongly of fifh."f
   Let the candid reader weigh, with mature consi-
 deration,  what has been faid under this head, and
then decide whether any doubt remains with him
on this fubjed.
   III. Bones.  We meet with but few proofs,  in
the bones,  of fubftances  being conveyed into the
circulation in their adive ftate.  Perhaps  this is
owing  to want of attention.   One  folitary  fad,
however,  would be more in point, than  a  thou-
sand which are negative.
   Mercury is received into  the blood  unchanged ;
for it has been found fluid  and in its native ftate,
in the cells of the bones. J

  • Smith's Tour. Vol. I. p. 146.   f -Animal OZconomy. p. 177.
  i Haller. Elemen. Phyfiolog. Vol. VI,
 
53
   It  would  appear that fome- fubftances, which
lofe their properties  on entering the circulation,
again acquire them after having paffed through it.
Thus madder does not tinge the fkin, mufcles, li-
gaments or fat,  but when carried to  the bones, it
colours them.*
   " The bones of the Canada porcupine, during
" winter, are of a greenifh yellow,  owing, as is
" fuppofed,  to the bark of the pine on  which the
" animal feeds in that feafon of the year."f
   In  thedifeafe of  rickets, which is fuppofed to be
occafioned by a deficiency of bony matter, the ex-
hibition  of lime-water, both internally and in the
form of bath, has been found exceedingly  advanta-
geous.   May we  not reafonably fuppofe  that the
lime is carried into the circulation and there, meet-
ing with the phofphoric acid, fuppiies the bony
matter where it is  wanting ? |
   Circumftances,  unavoidable, do not permit the
further inveftigation  of  the  prefent interefting  in-
quiry.  I regret that  the fame circumftances pre-
vented me from beftowing a longer and more mi-
nute  attention upon this fubjed  than I have done.
The field is truly extenfive, and patient, perfevering
labour may glean much valuable fruit from it.   No
other merit  is claimed in this differtation,  than the
having colleded together into one body the  fcattcred

  * Percival's EfTays.
  f Pennant's Arctic Zoology.  Vol. I p. 126.
  J Medical Repoacory.   Vol. I. p. 427.
J 
54
remarks and opinions of various writers.   If this
efiay fhould dired the attention of fome future
enterprizing genius to this too much negleded fub-
jed, and if  it fhould meet with the approbation of
thofe, whofe efteem  the writer is moft anxious to
deferve, he  will be amply repaid for his exertions
in the field of fcience.
   To depart from this university, without exprefling
a ftrong fenfe of the advantages it offers, in the
profecution  of the ftudy of  medicine,  would  be
highly unjuft and ungrateful.   To the  numerous
teftimonies  of the zeal, diligence,  and abilities of
the different medical profeffors, mine is now cheer-
fully added.  To fome of them I am indebted, not
only for public inftrudion, but  for numerous pri-
vate ads  of friendfhip and politenefs.   To thefe I
now offer publicly my sincere thanks.
FINIS. 
 
 
 
 
u/z. 
vr^'.

15