Colonial North America: Countway Library of Medicine

540

Materia Medica

Cathartics

Gamboge. This is the product of different vegitables, that of our shops is from a plant called "Gambogia". I have found this article verry usefull in the form of a pill containing three or 4 grains it will often purge after ℈i [1 scruple] of calomel has failed and Castor Oil will will not produce that effect.

Alloes. This is the inspisated Juice of the Alloes Pafoliata, made by cutting off the leaves near the stem, and drying the juice that is obtained from them, alloes is a good cathartic and is not often used alone, it is I believe one of the ingredients of the different kinds of purging pills used in the United States. It has been long supposed to exert a specific effect upon the Intestinal Canal, it is verry proper when there are obstructions and retention of the menses, but not in cases of hemorrhoidal tumors.

Scammony. This is the product of a species of Convolvulus. It is a concrete juice, the dose of which is from 3 to 12 grains it is generally saturated with sugar.

Collocynth. This is a verry drastic purge. It grows in Egypt, Turkey, and Persia, and the part employ’d is the pulp of the fruit, it is nauseous and bitter, and is seldom employ’d by it self, but generally combined with other medicines, the dose is from 4 to 12 grs. [grains] it violently irritates the intestines and if used alone occasions bloody stools; I do not think it

550

Materia Medica

Cathartics

Sulphur. This is found native the product of volcanoes in Italy &c, there are numerous preparations in use but none are so usefull as the flor. Sulp. the doses of which is from 1, 2, 3, 4 Ʒ [drams]. Is the most mild and certain cathartic I know, its action being somewhat similar to alloes and is admirably adapted to cure habitual costiveness, opening the bowels without producing flatulence or leaving any disagreeable effect behind, it has been used by the Physicians of Germany in Dysentary; in colic attended with flatulence as in that preceding gout & rheumatism I have used with advantage. In cutaneous eruptions of all kinds both given internally and apply’d externally. Rosentein was in the habits of using it in expelled eruptions. In cronic it is certainly usefull by determining to the skin thus diverting the action, it has also been used with much advantage in catarrhs,* (footnote back 1 page) coughs, asthma, hooping cough, and Phthisis Pulmonalis, and from its great virtue in the last it obtained the name of anima pulmonum, but whether it deserves to rank so high or not I cannot say, but from its known power of exciting the cappilaries to a moderate diaphoresis I can readily immagine it may proove usefull. In intermittants it has long been used with great success in order to prevent the accession of the fit in the following formula.

Rx Flor. Sulp. Sublim Ʒij [2 drams] Proof Spirit ℥ifs [1½ ounce] M and drink Just