AST . 3. In injuries of the vessels. On the contrary, II. The following circumstances and conditions prohibit the use of astringents : 1. A general rigidity of the frame, and tension of the solid parts. 2. Unusual heat of the body, unless it proceed from a general or partial debility, or a dissolution of the fluids. 3. Salutary and critical dis- charges, which take place by a spontaneous effort of nature. 4. The existence of some mor- bid matter in the body, the eva- cuation of which might thus be checked and prevented. — Hence it is attended with peculiar disad- vantage and danger, to apply such remedies externally, as for in- stance, cold baths in rheumatic, gouty, erysipelatous and other affections, in which there is a na- tural disposition for expelling the morbific matter (or at least its resi- duum) by die pores of the skin. Thus the eating of astringent food would be pernicious, if die first passages be obstructed, or the per- son liable to habitual costiveness ; though this rule is not without its exception, especially in putrid, bi- lious fevers, where astringents must frequently be combined with pur- gatives, to answer both intentions, and to support die sinking powers, without the loss of that time, which complete evacuation would neces- sarily require. In order to enumerate those astringent remedies which, partly by our own experience, and partly by that of others, have been found the most efficacious, either exter- nally or internally, we shall here alphabetically arrange them, and treat of their individual properties AST r^s and effects, under their respective heads, viz. Alum; Bark, tiieA*- gustura, Horse Ckesnut, Pe- ruvian and White Willow ; Bile of Animals ; Buck-bean or Marsh Trefoil; Centaurv the Lesser; Avens-root; Gen- tian; Water-Hemlock; Iron; Milfoil ; Mineral Acids and Waters; Oak; Pichurim-beans; and simple Water. ASTROLOGY, a conjeftnral science, the professors of which pretend to judge of the effects and influence of the planets ; and to foretell future events; by the situa- tion and different aspeefs of the heavenly bodies. It is divided into two branches — natural and judi- ciary. To the former belongs die prediction of natural effects, such as the changes of the weather, winds, earthquakes, &c. : the latter is that in which misguided and su- perstitious persons attempt to fore- tell future events. Judicial astrology is said to have been invented in Chaldea, and thence transmitted to the Egyp- tians, Greeks, and Romans. At Rome, die people were so infatu- ated with this fallacious science, that the astrologers, then called mathematicians, could never be suppressed, notwithstanding all the ediefs of die Emperors to expel diem from that city. This superstition has prevailed even in modern ages ; and, about a century ago, was in great re- pute in this country. Since that period, however, die minds of men having become more enlightened, diat art, which owed its origin to the practices of knaves, on die credulity of the ignorant, is now universally exploded by the intel- ligent part of society. There are, however, still in the metropolis, K 4 several
