ENPages That Mention deobstruent
Barton, Benjamin Smith, 1766-1815. Benjamin Barton Smith notebook on materia medica circa 1796-1798. B MS b52.1, Countway Library of Medicine.
(seq. 601)
594
Materia Medica
Emmenagogues
robust and plethoric ones. Besides the passions of the mind have much influence as amorous dispositions &c But this is a subject too delicate to dwell on, if even we had sufficient time. As some of our Emmenagogues are derived from the tonic and stimulating classes we will treat of them regularly and first of the.
Tonic Emmenagogues.* [footnote back 1 page] The preparations of Iron form some of the most important Emmenagogues they appear peculiar to retention and only proper when there is a flaxcidity of the system. My favourite preparation is the Rubigo Ferri. Dr Cullen supposes that retention of the menses depends on a constriction which I certainly do not believe, yet that is no reason why the medicine should be improper.
Chamomile. The flowers of this I have used on Heberdens recommendation with advantage.
Cold bath. Of all the tonic Emmenagogues there is perhaps not one better than the cold bath, but this is only in retention and even then should sometimes not be employ’d but with great caution.
Rubia Tinctorum. Though this is not a powerfull Tonic it has long been administered as a deobstruent and Emmenagogue. Dr Home of Edinburgh gave it to 19 Patients and cured 14 he gave it to the extent of Ʒfs [½ dram] & Ʒi [1 dram] twice a day and in general found that it