Chapter VII · Of Medicines appropriated to the reins and bladder.

The office of the reins is, to make a separation between the blood and the urine; to receive this urine thus separated from the blood, is the bladder ordained, which is of a sufficient bigness to contain it.

Both these parts of the body officiating about the urine, they are both usually afflicted by the vices of the urine.

1. By stones.

2. By inflammation.

3. By thick humours.

Medicines appropriated to the reins and bladder are usually called Nephriticals, and are threefold; some cool, others cut gross humours, and a third sort breaks the stone.

In the use of all these, take notice, that the constitution of the reins and bladder is such, that they abhor all binding medicines because they cause stoppage of urine.

Take notice, that the reins and bladder being subject to inflammations endure not very hot medicines.

Because the bladder is further remote from the centre of the body than the kidnies are, therefore it requires stronger medicines than the kidnies do, lest the strength of the medicine be spent before it be come to the part afflicted.