Colonial North America: Countway Library of Medicine

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Materia Medica

Stimulants

and sugar, as it does not sit easy in a solid form, it is made into a conserve thus Rx Camphor XV grs. [15 grains] Ol. Cinnamun 20 gtt. [20 drops] M. fit. it always best to give Camphor in a fluid form, but sometimes it is necessary to give it in substance. Camphor alone is not easily pulverized, but maybe done with facility by the addition of one or two drops of Spt. Vin. Rect. It is said to diminish the activity of the drastic purges, it increases the power of the mercurial ointment &c.

Sub Narcotica ex Animalibus Moscus or Musk. This is one of the few animal substances used in Medicine, it is procured from an animal of the Dear [Deer] kind which is found in different parts of the old world the power of climate is verry great upon it, both as it respects the quality and smell of musk which it yields, when pure it is one of the most valuable articles in Materia Medica, when it is impure it feels fatty, it is said to be composed of resinous and gelatinous substance. Musk is the most odiferous substance in nature of a dark brown colour of a bitter taste its chemical analysis is not sufficiently investigated. Dr Cullen places it under his great class of antispasmodics, which is different from the plan I have adopted. I know little or nothing of its effects upon the pulse, in the healthy state it produces a mild diaphoresis