Colonial North America: Countway Library of Medicine

76

Materia Medica

Astringents

introduced into practice by Dr Fordicece, he used it in intermitting fevers but observed it often failed when the bark was successful. I have occasionally used it in intermittants and gonorrhea, the following were the most usual prescriptions,

Rx Kino grs 48 [48 grains] Gentian grs 64 [64 grains] Opium grs ij [2 grains]

M. fit doj XII three or four of these to to be taken in the twenty four hours;

In solution Kino Ʒiij [3 drams] Sac. Album. Ʒiij [3 drams] Gum Arabic ℥i [1 ounce] Mice. Aqua Font ℥X [10 ounces] a large spoonfull to be taken every three or four hours, Bell recommends this prescription verry highly as an injection in gonorrhea, Kino and Allum form the Pulv Styptic of the Edinburgh Pharmacopia, this is a verry usefull form. Kino is dissolved by lime water and introduced into the vagina either by a sponge or injection, its colour is a great objection to its employment, as it requires great caution to prevent detection. In hemorrhages of the urethra Mr Bell has particularly recommended it. Dr Fordyce and Cullen were disappointed in its efficacy in Fluor albus, I have never used it, but I have no doubt it may be usefull under proper restrictions. It has been used in Diarrhea and is best in the form of pills Mr Acculy used it in two cases with complete success of Fluor albus in the New York

394

Materia Medica

Stimulants

cannot say that it produced any effectual cure yet it moderated the symptoms, in one case in particular where the disease depended on an affection of the uterus it was of great service.

In Chorea Sancti Viti, It has likewise been employ’d, this verry often proceeds from unknown causes in this vallerian is said to be usefull. Dr Fordyce advises in Hemicrania Ʒi [1 dram] of the Pulv. Val. three or four times a day and to continue this for some time, I have employ’d it in this disease with great advantage in some cases where bark and Arsenic did no good were cured by valerian, I found it to improve the bark verry much when added to that medicine In Putrid Fevers, It has been found usefull as Virginia Snake Root. It has been employ’d at the Hospital in Vienna, externally apply’d experiments have proved it to be antiseptic, it is usefull in Costiveness it has been much praised as an anthelmintic, of this virtue of the vallerian I shall speak more fully under the head of anthelmintic, but will now mention one case of Epilepsy depending upon worms. I gave Calomel, Bled, Purged, but all to no effect, one morning I was told by the mother of the patient that she suspected the disorder to be owing to worms, I then gave X grs [10 grains] of the vallerian two or three times a day the boy voided a quantity

520

Materia Medica

Emetics

violently. Dr James considers Ʒfs [½ dram] a dose. Dr Monroe thought from 5 to 12 grains sufficient, we should however begin with small doses, perhaps to much is ascribed to this article. James gave it to clear out the stomach after which he poured in the bark. James powder sometimes salivates. I have not used it much but sometimes with more effect than any other antimonial in use. Dr Cullen was the first distinguished Physician who recommended the antimonials in fever and by means of his numerous pupils the practice was verry widely spread, their operation in the cure of fever I think is not completely understood. Dr Cullen ascribes their good to vomiting and nausea. I cannot I think they act by exciting vomiting alone, because if so the other emetics would do equally well, as squills, Foxglove &c. I therefore agree with Dr Fordice that there is something of a specific action which belongs to the antimonials, but I cannot agree with him that vomiting causes much of their effects to be lost, he supposes whenever a medicine vomits, that effect prevents or diminishes its other operations this however is not the case with all emetics. I have already told you that Arsenic cures Intermittants, whether it produces sickness or not, it seems indeed more powerfull to produce the effect when it excites vomiting, the vomiting induced by ipecacuanha, Lead, Copper &c, does not appear to diminish