is likely to excite the numerous absorbent vessels, which are spread on that part, into stronger natural actions, and by that means prevent their retrograde ones; till, by persisting in the use of the medicine, their natural habits of motions might again be established.  Another indication of cure, requires such medicines, as by lining the intestines with mucilaginous substances, or with such as consist of smooth particles, or which chemically destroy the acrimony of their contents, may prevent the too great action of the intestinal absorbents.  For this purpose, I have found the earth precipitated from a solution of alum, by means of fixed alcali, given in the dose of half a dram every six hours, of great advantage, with a few grains of rhubarb, so as to produce a daily evacuation.

The food should consist of materials that have the least stimulus, with calcareous water, as of Bristol and Matlock; that the mouths of the lacteals may be as little stimulated as is necessary for their proper absorption; lest with their greater exertions, should be connected by sympathy, the inverted motions of the urinary lymphatics.

The same method may be employed with equal advantage in the aqueous diabetes, so great is the sympathy between the skin and the stomach.  To which, however, some application to the skin might be usefully added; as rubbing the patient all over with oil, to prevent the too great action of the cutaneous absorbents.  I knew an experiment of this kind made upon one patient with apparent advantage.

The mucilaginous diabetes will require the same treatment, which is most efficacious in the dropsy, and will be described below.  I must add, that the diet and medicines above mentioned, are strongly recommended by various authors, as by Morgan, Willis, Harris, and Etmuller; but more histories of the successful treatment of these diseases are wanting to fully ascertain the most efficacious methods of cure.

In a letter from Mr. Charles Darwin, dated April 24, 1778, Edinburgh, is the subsequent passage:—­“A man who had long laboured under a diabetes died yesterday in the clinical ward.  He had for some time drank four, and passed twelve pounds of fluid daily; each pound of urine contained an ounce of sugar.  He took, without considerable relief, gum kino, sanguis diaconis melted with alum, tincture of cantharides, isinglass, gum arabic, crabs eyes, spirit of hartshorn, and eat ten or fifteen oysters thrice a day.  Dr. Home, having read my thesis, bled him, and found that neither the fresh blood nor the serum tasted sweet.  His body was opened this morning—­every viscus appeared in a sound and natural state, except that the left kidney had a very small pelvis, and that there was a considerable enlargement of most of the mesenteric lymphatic glands.  I intend to insert this in my thesis, as it coincides with the experiment, where some asparagus was eaten at the beginning of intoxication, and its smell perceived in the urine, though not in the blood.”