Colonial North America: Countway Library of Medicine

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Materia Medica

Astringents

part to which they are immediately applied this was the opinion of the celebrated Dr Heberden but his observations were not correct, some of his class extend their influence to the most remote parts of the body how else shall we account for their stopping hemorrhage in distant parts when taken internally. I have seen epistaxis and uterine hemorrhage suddenly stopped after the exhibition of the acetate of Lead. Dr Cullen supposed them to act on the nerves alimentary canal and that showing their effects so soon after being taken they could not go farther we have proof of their being sometimes taken into the system, for when madder which is an astringent is used as a diet it colors the bones and all the secretions, nevertheless it can only be a verry small portion and we cannot account for its effects on the supposition of absorption. Dr Mores experiments would seem to prove that the perspirable vessels were dilated by the application of astringents, he concludes no remedy acts by its astringency, but by imparting tone to the stomach. I shall hereafter attempt to show the fallacy of his experiments, in the process of tanning there seems to take place an attraction

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a lax state of the system and uterus, in such cases astringents may be proper, it is directed to be given immediately after consumption, its dose is from ℈i [1 scruple] to Ʒi [1 dram] in Intily [Italy] it is used in the process of tanning having finished the vegitable astringents. I shall proceed to treat of some not belonging to that kingdom.

Allum. This salt is formed by the union of sulphuric acid with the argellarous earth, it is well known to be a powerful astringent. Dr Home proved by several experiments that it acted on the pulse. It therefore exerts with its astringency some degree of stimulant power, it is used internally and externally. Allum is employed in almost every case of hemorrhage which must certainly be improper. Dr Cullen being aware of two species of hemorrhage very happily observes that it can do service in hymoptesis, and is only serviceable in hemorrhages from relaxation or debility. I have given it with galls in the following proportions

Sulp. Allum Ʒi [1 dram] Galls Ʒfs [½ dram] Mice fit doi XII* [footnote back 1 page]

I have seen it succeed when the sugar of lead failed. If it purges which is not uncommon Opium may be mixed with it. Cullen says it must be given in small doses as it is apt to irritate the stomach and in several instances I have seen it rejected by vomiting in urgent cases the dose must be frequently

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The last is a verry valuable preparation and is made in the following manner, heat a saturated solution of Alum with the white of eggs untill they acquire the consistance of curd, this may be applied to the naked eye or inclosed in a bag of gauze or fine scinning, in Opthalmia Membranum, Dr Cullen used to say he thought it a speific. There is a disease not commonly met with in children, but also formed in more advanced life, and which is not noticed particularly by any author, In which I have employ'd alum whey with the greatest success. I mean that troublesome affection of the prepuce resembling verry much in its nature and appearance a dropsical swelling. You will often be called on to relieve the anxiety and solicetude of parents arising from their ignorance of the disease, and I can advise no remidy more successfull than the one Just mentioned. There are many other preparations of allum in use, and it has been used in various and numerous diseases, I have mentioned the most important.

Saccharum Saturni. I proceed to speak of Lead in doing so, I shall first mention the preparations made use of, Secondly the modus operandi, thirdly its use in diseases, by the Acetic acid we obtain two forms, the white lead and the Saccharum

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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

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and Anasarcous legs which have a tendency to mortification, is the most efficacious remidy. I prefer a blister to lead as in the case of external inflamation as Erysipelas. It It is employed in burns but should not be applied to a large surface at once, it is used in combination with mercury with advantage in Scrophulous Ulcers of young people but is improper in old people. I shall proceed to speak of its internal use first in epilepsy. Dr Rush and myself have both used it in this disease with advantage, it has been recommended in Chorea a disease nearly allied to Epilepsy with success it is recommended in several as mania, purtusses &c. I have no experience of it in those diseases of it is highly spoken of in intermittans Sach. Sat. is verry effectual in lowering the pulse it was given in a case where the puse [pulse] was 109 and in six or eight minutes it was reduced to 96 strokes a phasycian in this state has used it combined with a poisonous plant, the kalmia latifolia, for two years in inflamitory fever without success I am almost afraid to tell you it was successful, but an excess of timidity in a phasycian is worse than boldness, it has proved usefull in consumption when combined with opium in the course of the last five years I have employed the Sach.