(seq. 63)

54

Materia Medica

Astringents

part to which they are immediately applied this was the opinion
of the celebrated Dr Heberden but his observations were not
correct, some of his class extend their influence to the
most remote parts of the body how else shall we account
for their stopping hemorrhage in distant parts when taken
internally. I have seen epistaxis and uterine hemorrhage
suddenly stopped after the exhibition of the acetate of Lead.
Dr Cullen supposed them to act on the nerves alimentary
canal and that showing their effects so soon after being
taken they could not go farther we have proof of their being
sometimes taken into the system, for when madder which
is an astringent is used as a diet it colors the bones and
all the secretions, nevertheless it can only be a verry small
portion and we cannot account for its effects on the
supposition of absorption. Dr Mores experiments would seem to
prove that the perspirable vessels were dilated by the
application of astringents, he concludes no remedy acts by its
astringency, but by imparting tone to the stomach. I shall
hereafter attempt to show the fallacy of his experiments, in
the process of tanning there seems to take place an attraction