Colonial North America: Countway Library of Medicine

534

Materia Medica

Cathartics

is a Malignant Yellow Fever.

Silaquosa. The unbruised seed of the mustard to the extent of a tablespoon full is a good cathartic I found it usefull to me in regular gout, and it is also proper in chronic Rheumatism, in febris Alba or chlorosis it does not dispose the bowels to costiveness. I sometimes give a table spoonfull two or three times a day, and it does not produce any disagreeable effects on the stomach.

Assa Foetida. This is frequently a verry good purge in doses of from grs ij to V [2 to 5 grains] with delicate women.

Gum Guaicum. A watery solution of this is a good cathartic I have used it particularly in cases of Paralysis, the dose is a table spoonfull two or three times a day.

Senna. This plant is cultivated in Turkey, Syria and Persia, the leaves are disagreeable to the taste, and contain an essential Oil and Gum Resin, this is a safe purgative though it generally gripes a little, to prevent which we are in the habit of combining it with some aromatic or Neutral Salt, as Sal Glaub, Crem Tart.* [footnote back 1 page] &c.

Cassia Marylandica. This plant is indigenous to the Unted States and is a species of cassia Senna the dose is nearly the same, and in the present exigencies of Government requires our attention.

Senaka. This is a Cathartic, Diuretic, and Emetic, it is a cathartic in dicoction and is used in Croup and Dropsy.

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* Or In the following formula. Rx Sulp. Soda ℥ij [2 ounces] Tartrite of Antimony grs iij [3 grains] Lemmon Juice ℥i [1 ounce] Aq Fontana ℥viij [8 ounces]

M and give a table spoonfull every hour, it produces a moderate Diaphoresis and at the same time operates on the bowels, and is a most invaluable medicine I know to subdue fevers of long continuance.

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Materia Medica

Cathartics

probable as some Physicians that it has or could cure "Syphalis" by purging violently the patient thus relieved was probably only affected with gonorrhea. I have now finished the class of vegitables cathartics and shall now proceed to the second class of my division.

Cathartic Neutral Salts. Several of the Salis Medicis or Neutral Salts with Alkaline bases are employ’d in practice, but since they are so well known I shall not treat verry fully of them.

Sulphate of Soda. Or Glaubers Salts, this is verry much used, the dose is about ℥i [1 ounce] for an adult sometimes ℥fs [½ ounce] is sufficient, it cannot however in even so larger a dose as to heat the system or produce inflamation of the intestines, there are various methods of disguising the taste of those methods, sometimes lime Juice is squeezed into it, but the best method is to combine with the Sulphate of Soda Ʒfs or Ʒi [½ or 1 dram] of Cream Tart* [footnote back 1 page] this improves the taste and assists the operation.

Sulphate of Potash. Or Vitriolated Tartar. This has been employ’d in France in doses of from X grs. to Ʒij [10 grains to 2 drams] it is sometimes dissolved in Mineral Water and drank to keep the bowels gently open.

Phosphate of Soda. This has lately been employ’d and is said to be superior to glaubers Salts. I formerly used it but have lately laid it aside. I think it inferior to

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Materia Medica

Cathartics

Glaubers Salts, and is a more expensive medicine.

Sea water. This is a cathartic and a verry certain one but it is not known in what ingredient this quality resides, it is found to contain the Muriates of Soda and Magnesia together with the Sulphate of Lime, the first in the greatest quantity, next, the second and of the third there is the least, the Muriate of Magnesia is properly an active ingredient, we may immitate Sea water by dissolving some of the purging salts, and Muriate of Soda in Water. Sea Water is of use in Scrophulous affections, though common salt is not.

Mineral Cathartics. Of this article though unquestionable one of the most powerfull, I shall say but little having already mentioned it.

Turbith Minerals.* [footnote back 1 page] These are often employ’d as Cathartics, but they may be used as such though its primary operation is that of Emetic, its secondary one is that of a cathartic.

The Antimonials. These may be so managed as to produce a purgative effect, particularly the Tart. Emet. Some Physicians use this mixed with Glauber Salts, in Dysentary I like to add ¼ of a grain of it to each purgative effect. James powder we have already spoken of as an Emetic, and Dr James often gave it as a purge, he observed himself that in its exhibition more Cathartic