Colonial North America: Countway Library of Medicine

234

Materia Medica

Tonics

pills contain ¼ of a grain of Blue Vitriol, one of them should be taken four times a day, at first they prove nauseous but they gradually loose this effect by being made use of for a few days. I had no experience in the use of this medicine, But from observation I think it acts more efficaciously when it is made to produce nausea. It has been used in gleets by Dr Shippen.

Cuprum Amoniacum. This is made by rubbing two parts of the supersulphate of copper with three of Vol. Sal. Amoniacum in a glass mortar this has lately been supposed to be a sulphate of copper combined with ammonia it has been recommended in many diseases but in none more properly than in Epilepsy or convulsive diseases in giving this medicine we should begin with ¼ of a grain and gradually increase it to 1 grain five or Six times a day it has made remarkable cures, but too much has been ascribed to it. But Dr Dunkan of Edinburgh speaks verry highly of it and think he has made some great cures = it has been known to produce salivation an instance of which lately occurred in the city.= Dr Cullen says he has given it to the extent of five grains and found it more manageable than the blue Vitriol. It has cured many cases of true epilepsy but has

496

Materia Medica

Emetics

take up the matter contained in the bubo. Emetics have also been employ’d in the bite of venimous reptiles and are verry usefull here.

Incarcerated Hernia. I have had no experience of their effects, they probably act by exciting nausea, and thus relieve the spasm. They are not commonly used as anthelmintics but worms are often discharged by small doses. In Syngultus or Hiccough emetics have been found usefull.

Particular Emetics. All the emetics are taken from the vegitable or mineral kingdom. Dr Duncans division of emetics is as follows, 1st Incitantia, as Turbith Mineral, Tartar Emetic &c. 2nd Evacuantia. As Ipecacuanha, Squills &c. 3rd Califacientia. As Horse Radish, Mustard seed &c. 4th Narcotica. As Tobacco, Foxglove &c, But these do not act as emetics by their Narcotic powers. I am not satisfied with Dr Duncans arangement he has a class of Incitantia but they are all incitants, he has one also of Evacuantia, but all emetics are evacuants. Professor Dobson has made the following arrangement. 1st Relaxantia, 2nd Resolventia, 3rd Colida, Warm Emetics, 4th Drastica, Drastic Emetics. In my own view of the subject I shall not follow any of their arangements, But divide them into vegitable and mineral. First of the vegitable emetics.

Nicotiana. Dr Cullen does not approve of

526

Materia Medica

Cathartics

delicate females that are purged by one or two grains of assafoetida or 2 teaspoonsfull of molasses. I think that larger doses of cathartics are necessary in warm climates than in cold ones. It is well known that the cathartic medicines differ in their degrees of power, some acting partially though at the same time they empty the intestines completely, while others are more violent in their operation, they have been divided therefore into Mitiora, and Acriora. Dr Cullen thinks there are some acting as stimulants upon the extremities of the exhalents in the intestines only, and others which likewise increas the action of the vessels, but at the same time increase the perastaltic motion, though they increase this action they cannot stimulate the intestines so as to inflame them even when taken in large doses. Dr Duncan has divided them (Cathartics) into 1st Stimulantia, as Alloes, Jalap, Gamboge, &c. 2nd Refrigerantia, as neutral salts, tamarinds, &c. 3rd Astringentia, as rheubarb &c, 4th Emolientia, as Castor Oil, manna &c,* [footnote back 1 page] this arangment has been highly spoken of, but I do not think there is much proprety [propriety] in it, many of the classes are improperly denominated, to the term Astringentia" as apply’d to the cathartic medicines I object, though I have nothing to say against that of "Emolientia" that two of "Narcotica"