Colonial North America: Countway Library of Medicine

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in winters after the yellow fever has been in the city than any other time. Galla. They are an excressence formed on the leafs of the oak from a puncture made by a small black insect resembling the species of our black winged fly. The gall is destitue of smell but has an acute taste. Alcohol and water extract the asstringent principle, it yields readily to both and this extract is the most powerfull astringent we have, it has been used in France by Boaldoe in Intermittant fever. Dr Cullen was in the habit of using it, but in combination with gentian, they would answer well in the intermittants of children, being easily taken and the dose small they have been found to be a good substitute for the bark, some physicians are afraid of obstructions from its use, but as it verry often purges I am enclined to think there is no foundation for this fear. I have been obliged to add opium to prevent their purging, in large doses they cause pain, and I never have been able to give them, in as large doses as some recommend. Six grains twice a day is sufficient Mr Bell recommended equal parts of of gall and hogs lard as a remidy in blind fits, this is generally too strong. Dr Cullen used one part of galls to eight of lard this

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Vis-cum or Miseltoe. This is a parasitic plant. It grows indifferently on several trees, and its properties are the same wherever it is found, it does not partake of any of the properties of the tree, to which it attaches itself, this singular fact has given rise to the question how is it nourished, I answer through the vessels of the tree upon which it grows, for colouring matter has been made to pass through the vessels of the tree upon which it grows into misseltoe. Its a powerfull astringent and considerably bitter. Dr Cullen says it seems to have but verry little strength. Collath recommends it in Epilepsy and some other convulsive disorders, but owns it sometimes failed. Sir John Hoyer used it in quartan fevers from ℥fs [½ ounce] to ℥i [1 ounce] at a dose. Gum Kino. This is brought from Africa we know but little of its Batanical History. It appears to be the production of several different plants on the coast or Gorgia, it is a verry usefull and powerfull astringent, is soluble in the saliva, and has no smell it is dissolved by water and alcohol, the latter extracts most of its virtue. I think it preferable to most other astringents, it sometimes purges, we need not be particular as verry large quantities may be taken without injury, it was

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Just as the bark does in the discharge of ulcers. A boy of 14 years of age was admitted into the Pennsylvania Hospital with calculous he discharged thick foeted urine. Dr Shepperd prescribed Uva. Ursi. for two or three weeks he was discharged cured, but returned in a short time with a relapse. In a case which came under my care I advised the patient to use Uva. Ursi. tea a cure was completed and in a short time discharged a calculous this appears with the experience of others the modus operandi of this medicine is extremely difficult to determine it purges and sometimes inflames the stomach. I cannot say how it acts on the calculous. I think it cannot be by dissolving it, some think it only prevents the increase of calculi. I believe nine cases out of ten are from gout they frequently go hand in hand. The Nephrites Podagra does not occur while the patient has gout in any other part of the body. I believe its good effects may in part be ascribed to its tonic power. I was affected for considerable time with gout in my feet, it left them and made its appearance in the kidneys, by the use of Uva. Ursi. I was considerably relieved some supposed it possessed of a sudorific power, but I confess I never suspected anything like it.

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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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would rather suppose it acts by astringent and tonic powers, it is particularly usefull in old stages or cronic cases of this disease. Dr Mead says in this hithertoo indescribable disease nothing more necessary than to give the patient posset drink as much as his stomach will bear twice a day. I have says tho Dr Followed this practice fifty years and I never knew it fail. Darwin classes it with the sorbentia in intermitting fevers. Dr Lind says that allum combined with nutmeg is next to the peruvian Bark. Dr Chalmers speaks highly of allum as a remidy in malignant fevers which appeared in South Carolina. Dr Cullen used it but always found it disagreeable to the stomach, it is difficult to account for the operation of allum in Intermitting fevers probably it is the same of the Peruvian Bark. Allum produces intestinal absorption and thereby causes constipation though it sometimes purges. I must now speak of its external application, it is used externally and frequently with advantage as in gargles for the throat, Cullen recommends it in Cynanche Tonsillaris to remove the sloughs and correct the factor and Dr Darwin recommends it in Tonsillitas, it has been used in opthalmics for some hundred years and with great success in various forms as in solution, and cured.