Colonial North America: Countway Library of Medicine

80

Materia Medica

Astringents

chewed increases the saliva, the leaves are more active than the stalk, they contain more Gum than Resin, water is its best menstruum, and I prefer the decoction to infusion. It was first introduced into practice about the year 1745. Some German Physicians have praised its qualities in the most unqualified terms, whilst others have said as much against it. Dr Haen highly recommends it in calculous cases he gave it in doses from ℈i [1 scruple] to Ʒfs [½ dram]. Dr Fenican has used it with advantage in nephrites, he cured twelve out of sixteen by giving mild purgatives, he gave it in doses of 5 grs. [5 grains] larger doses excite nausea but I have frequently taken from a ℈i [1 scruple] to Ʒfs [½ dram] without any disagreeable sensation. In Catarrhus Visico. I have no doubt it is a verry valuable medicine, it may do harm if a febrile state exists. I have used it with great advantage in that species of Nephritus Podagra. It sometimes produces a lightness of the chest, this I have myself experienced. Bark has the same effect on me. It has been recommended in gonorrhea and I can recommend it to you in cases of long standing both internally and in the form of injection. I thought I was the first that used it in this disease, but I find Mr Bell has

150

Materia Medica

Tonics

and it can be taken longer without any inconvenience.

Artemisia Absinthium. Or Wormwood is an intense bitter, the milk of cows, and flesh of mutton become impregnated from eating it. It has a strong and peculiar smell, the leaves are more bitter than the flowers, the oil contains no bitterness, some assert that it is a narcotic, Linder and his followers assert it strongly, but there appears as cullen says to have been a peculiar Idiosyncrasy in the case they mention. Linneus informs us that persons have used it for six months without experiencing any such effect, Ale in which wormwood is infused is thought to be more intoxicating, this is owing to its volatile properties. Haller used it in large doses. Our Writers assures us that the Juice mixed with the oil of cloves cured a fever when the bark failed, it has been used in nephritis and it is said with advantage. I have heard the oil was a good anthelmintic, Dr Haller used it frequently.

Aristolochia Longa. Or Birthwort, the root of this plant is a verry warm bitter, it received its name from its supposed power of relieving child birth. Dr Cullen says he found it usefull in chlorosis but not in suppression of menses, it has been

314

Materia Medica

Stimulants

shops these are ℈ij [2 scruples] of the Camphor and some Oil of anniseed, but I think the above formula much preferable.

Nephritis Vera. Opium is verry advantageous, patients who have this complaint take large quantities of opium. Dr Monroe had a patient with the stone who took 40 grains every night.

Rheumatism. Is of two kinds, first the acute* (footnote back 1 page) rheumatism when we should employ the lancet, blisters &c, but this is sometimes caused so far as to induce debility and to bring on a second or cronic rheumatism when this answers the intermittant type it must be treated with bark, and we should throw the patient into a universal sweat, and continue this for ten or twenty four hours, this however is not to be attempted untill the inflamitory symptoms have abated, because opium being a stimulus would increase the inflamation, there is a preparation of opium which is made by combining it with Ipecacuanha and some neutral salts called Dovers powders which is extremely usefull as a diaphoretic it operates chiefly by the opium and Epecaccuanha the following is the formula,

Rx Opium & Epecac Ʒi [1 dram] Vit. Tart ℥i [1 ounce]

M. the dose is ten or fifteen grains every two hours untill the sweat commences.

568

Materia Medica

Diuretics

a day, I meen if it be good and genuine. If after the exhibition of grs 2 [2 grains] in Substance or gtt 40 [40 drops] in Tincture no good is derived we may be sure the medicine is not good, and another parcel should be try’d. We are sometimes called to patients who have taken an overdose of Digitalis, and is consequently affected with vomiting. Dr Beddoes in such cases gave large doses of opium, but I am accustomed to apply strong synapisms to the wrists and ancles with great advantage. Digitalis has been found usefull by Dr Withering in Nephritic Calculosa. But in genuine Nephritis I have not done much good with it.

Dissuria. Or Suppression of Urine. It is verry usefull, it was verry serviceable in the case of a black man who came under my care, and a Gentleman to whoom I mentioned this case took the Digitalis in pills, in thirty hours the disease was cured. I once gave 90 gtt. [drops] of the Tincture in 5 doses between 9 & 10 Oclock to a gentleman of this City who was afflicted with suppression of urine, and the medicine had the effect of driving off the paroxysm.* [footnote back 1 page]

Nicotiana. This and the Digitalis as I have already obseved are nearly ally’d by Botanical Affinity, being both arangable under the same class, although it is more than 2 Centuries since the introduction of Tobacco into Europe, it is about 30 years since it was

584

Materia Medica

Antilithics

from the Sulphate of Iron, the decoction of the leaves is a better preparation than the infusion, as their powers are easier extracted in the former way, though not sufficiently, I often give the leaves to the patient to chew, and sometimes in powder. Uva Ursi exerts verry little power upon the pulse, so little indeed that if we were to estimate its utility by its action on the heart and arteries we should esteem it of verry little importance. Physicians differ in their opinion of this medicine. Dr Ferrier of Manchester has given it in Nephritic Cases in moderate doses with manifest advantage when the pain is acute he begins his treatment with purging and bleeding, he then gives grs V [5 grains] of Uva Ursi with ½ grs [grain] of Opium three or four times a day, when given to the extent of Ʒi [1 dram] he found it to occasion nausea, he says that of 16 cases that came under his care he discharged 12 cured, and I have not found it to produce nausea tho I have employ’d it in larger doses than Ferrier. I have not combined it with opium. I can say without hesitation that it may be given largely without injury. Savage gave Ʒij [2 drams] of it 3 times a day, the Uva Ursi has been found usefull in different affections of the Urinary System where there is no calculous DE Haen advised it in Ulcers