Note 157 — PHARMACOLOGIA. ON THE OPERATIONS OF MEDICINAL BODIES, AND ON THE CLASSIFICATIONS FOUNDED ON THEM.

Saline bodies would appear to be the peculiar stimuli of these organs, the principal use of which is to separate such saline matter from the blood, as would otherwise accumulate in the system. That these saline diuretics actually pass off by the kidneys, may be satisfactorily shewn by an examination of the urine, in which the bodies in question may be chemically detected. Let any person swallow several doses of Nitre, taking care that the bowels are not disturbed by the medicine, and he will find by dipping some paper into his urine, and afterwards drying it, that it will deflagrate, and indicate the presence of nitre.