Colonial North America: Countway Library of Medicine

242

Materia Medica

Tonics

known this medicine administered to prevent costiveness. Dr Linneus remarks he has cured many cases = In some at first it agrivated the disease = it is verry certain it frequently fails. Dr W. Green gave it to the extent of 12 grains in a day. I have never cured the Epilepsy with it, yet I believe it might effect a cure. In a boy of six years of age Dr White gave it to the extent of seven grains which I have done, but it is best to begin with the 8th of a grain in Epilepsy. Anguina Pectoris is sometimes cured by it = Lepra = in this disease I have used it myself with the most remarked good result.

Arsenic. It has been supposed by some that arsenic will supersede the bark in the cure of intermittants, but I think this will never be the case, arsenic sometimes cures when the bark fails. In children when bark cannot be given arsenic may with advantage. I prefer the oxyde to Fowlers solution which is made in the following manner.

Rx Oxyde of Arsenic grs 64 [64 grains] Potash grs 64 [64 grains] Aq. Font. lbfs [½ pound]

boil this and add another fs lb [½ pound] of water with j vel ij Ʒ [1 or 2 drams] of Spt Lavend. gtt X [10 drops] of this three times a day is the usual manner of giving it, but children will not bear as large dose of the solution as Fowler recommends. I have known gtt i [1 drop] vomit a child twelve