As to the Cure of such a Case; besides other Evacuations, Acid Medicines and Lixivial Salts must certainly do Service; these by their _Diuretic_ force causing a Depletion of the Vessels. This is the Foundation upon which _Starky_ compounded his _Pacific Pill_. Generous _Wine_, which the Ancients gave for an Antidote, can be no other ways useful, than as It dissolves the _Resinous_ Clammy Part of the _Opium_ sticking to the Coats of the Stomach, and so forwards its Expulsion by other Helps, which cause a Contraction of the Muscular Fibres. [Illustration] FOOTNOTES to Essay IV. (147) Vid. _Pitcarn. de Circulasione Sanguinis in animalibus_, §. 20. (148) Vid. _Belon. Voyag._ lib. 3. c. 15. (149) _Simpl. Medicam. Facult._ l. 3. c. 18. (150) _Respons. & Curat. Medic._ p. 162. (151) _Medicin. Ægypt._ l. 4. c. 1. ESSAY V. Of Venomous Exhalations from the EARTH, Poisonous Airs and Waters. Besides these already treated of, there is yet another way of being _Poisoned_, and that is by _Venomous Steams_ and _Exhalations_, or a _Poisonous Air_ taken into the Body by the Breath. This is notorious enough, and Authors do upon many Occasions make mention of it; but when they come to explain the particular manner how this Kills, they most commonly reduce it to some of the _Poisons_ which prove destructive by being admitted into the Stomach, alledging that Malignant Fumes and Airs are therefore fatal, because impregnated with _Arsenical Mercurial_, and the like, Deleterious Μιάσματα or Particles, they do convey these into the Blood; which being of a very Corrosive Nature, must necessarily do hurt both to the Fluid and Solid Parts. And indeed that the _Fumes_ of these same Minerals are very pernicious, and Air fill’d with their Atoms very unfit for Respiration, is most certain; but to argue from hence, that all deadly _Vapours_ and Malignant _Airs_ owe their Mischief to these only, is too fond and ill-grounded a Conceit; since upon a due Enquiry it will appear, that there may be, and are, _Mortiferous Exhalations_ from the Earth, infecting the Air, of a Nature so different from any of those _Poisons_, that the very Substance from which they arise may not be at all hurtful, tho’ taken into the Stomach it self. _Venomous Steams and Damps_ from the Earth the _Latins_ in one Word call’d _Mephites_ (152). This, as many other _Tuscan_ Words, comes from a _Syriac_ Theme, which signifies to blow or breathe (153). And in ancient times several Places were notorious for ’em; so the _Mephitis_ of _Hierapolis_ was very Famous, of which _Cicero_, _Galen_, but more particularly, and from his own Sight and Knowledge _Strabo_ (154) makes mention.