(seq. 597)

590

Materia Medica

Antilithics

Uva Ursi acts by restoring the urine to its healthy state, but I cannot
say that it does not sometimes dissolve the stone in some measure.
Uva Ursi is a bitter as well as an astringent, the good effects of Uva
Ursi is partly owing to its bitterness as well as to its astringency perhaps
they are owing in a certain proportion to the mixture of the two
qualities as they exist in the Uva Ursi it probably produces good effects
by its tonic powers but it is frequently usefull in inflamitory
Nephritis which requires bleeding. Genardo says that calculi is dissolved
by an acid that is distilled from Uva Ursi, but this
vegitable contains no disenguaged acid.

Potash. This has been recommended as an antilithic of a
powerfull kind. A Boy in St Thomas's Hospital who was affected
with the symptoms of calculous was sounded and the stone plainly
felt, he took a lixivium of Potash and upon examination after dying
of a different disease, the stone was soft and rugged which in a
measure proves the solvent power of Potash. I cannot say much
from my own experience having seldom employ’d it.