Colonial North America: Countway Library of Medicine

98

Materia Medica

Astringents

Saccharum Sat. I believe now the latter the only preparation used internally the extract of lead is produced by boiling vinegar and litharge, it is recommended by Mr Golard as preferable to any other preparation of lead, but it differs verry much from Sach. Sat. this metal is easier calcined than any other none of the preparations made by the fire are taken internally, but are used externally. Booerhave says it brings on consumption of the lungs and other troublesome symptoms. Mr A supposes the preparations of lead never enters the system but I am led to believe they are sometimes absorbed one of the most dreadfull effects from lead is to produce Colica Pictonum which sometimes terminates in palsy. I have even doubted whether this was brought on by lead. I think the Mallic Acid or Cyder will bring on the same disease it has made its appearance in many parts of Pennsylvania from the use of Apple Butter, lead sometimes produces rheumatism of the wrist and palsy of the arms this I have seen in painters and glaziers, a quack advised some man who worked in lead to take every morning some bread and butter or oil, by blending its action on the stomach, from this hint I advised a potter to follow this practice he informed me he always prevented it in his

438

Materia Medica

Sialagogues

of acrimony has no taste or smell and is totally innert upon the human body except by its weight, it is said to have been for years in bones and flesh without producing any effect, but we must doubt these facts. I believe however under certain circumstances mercury is absorbed when taken into the stomach, it passes rapidly through the alimentary canal unalter'd and without producing any effect, in order to render mercury usefull it is requisite its form be changed and the mode of accomplishing it are various. Dr Cullen has confined them to four heads Viz Evaporation, calcination, trituration and union with acids, by agitating for some time pure mercury with water, the water becomes dark and finally black, and a preparation is furnished which possesses considerable power and might be usefull this water kills earth and tape worms in my opinion the oxide is formed by agitation, it has been denied that mercury is at all soluble in water, but it certainly communicates some of its properties to it. I think that in some degree it is soluble in it. In speaking of the different modes of exciting salivation, I must not forget that of exposing the subject to the fumes of cinnabar, by throwing it upon live coals, the fumes are apply’d to old venerial sores particularly those seated in the mouth and fauces, by inhaling the fumes, this is a most powerfull method of exciting salivation, sometimes producing

442

Materia Medica

Sialagogues

but in summer this would melt and disengage a part of the mercury. Mr Delany proposed to rub the quicksilver and afterwards the hogs lard, generally Ʒi or Ʒifs [1 or 1½ dram] rubbed on the skin produces salivation in 24 Hours, but in some persons it operates sooner, it has been said that this medicine acts as well if it merely be spread on the surface of the skin, it is my opinion however that it must be carefully rubbed untill it disappears, the preparations of mercury which are formed by calcination were formerly esteemed by Dr Cullen. I have now to speak of the calcination saline preparations of mercury or its union with acid and first with the sulfuric acid.

Turbith Mineral. This must be given in small doses of from one, two, three, or four grains, when it is well prepared four grains is said to excite vomiting, formerly it was given to excite nausea it was also combined with guacum for the purpose of determining to the skin. I have already mentioned that I have employ’d this medicine in Epilepsy, and Gutta Serena and shall say more of it when treating of emetics. A child of five years of age will be puked immediately by two grains.

Corosive Sublimate. Is formed by Muriatic Acid and Quicksilver, this is one of the most important preparations, though Dr Cullen and some others do

548

Materia Medica

Cathartics

Magnesia. This is an earth and was used so long ago as the time of Count Desaline of Rome, but to the illustrious Dr Black we are indebted for its introduction into general use, in its fixed state it is a carbonate of Magnesia, and from this fact it was given with a view to produce a chimical decomposition and hence was exhibitted in acidities of the stomach, when given it should always be calcined to prevent the flatulence arising from its operation without calcination, in this form it is infinitely the best purgative we possess for the bowel complaints of children, combined with equal parts of sulphur it is a verry valuable cathartic, also to neutralize the acidity of the stomach in children at which time its secondary operation is to purge thereby remove the griping generally attendant upon acidity. When exhibited for this purpose the following is the best formula. Viz.

Rx Pulv. Rad. Rhoi grs VI [6 grains] Magnesia calcinat grs XX [20 grains] Oleum Anis gtt iv [4 drops] Laud Lig gtt ii [2 drops] Loaf Sugar Ʒi [1 dram] Aq. Font. ℥i [1 ounce]

M. Give one table spoonfull every two or three hours, in this way it operates verry mildly, and certainly.