DIURETICS

are remedies which promote the action of the kidneys. They include water, nitre, spirits of sweet nitre, citrate, tartrate and acetate of potash, alcohol, — digitalis, turpentine, broom and oil of juniper; gin, which is ceaipome of alcohol and oil of juniper, is largely used by tho public. Diuretics are in lay hands dangerous remedies, because many of the diuretics, like ere and gin, are irritating to the kidneys and are tho worst treatment po ible when inflammation is present, and a slight congestion or inflammation is thus often changed into an acute one. Tho diuretics above mentioned before alcohol are the only ones that can be called safe in lay hands, whilst the tendency in modern medical practice is to use these almost entirely. [s. 354]