Colonial North America: Countway Library of Medicine

310

Materia Medica

Stimulants

in every instance, we find exceptions to it in Jaundice when billiary concretions are passing the billiary ducts. Dr Cullen supposes opium to be usefull when the process of suppuration is going on.

Pneumatic Inflamation. The practice consists in reducing the inflamation, by partial and general evacuations, bleeding, blistering, cupping &c here opium is evidently improper, even in this inflamation some authors advise the exhibition of it, as Huxham, Ham &c, they all say it should be employ’d cautiously and not before the use of the lancet, Huxham says we must use the lancet liberally and De Haean tells us not to give opium untill after large evacuations, in the latter stage of Pneumonia opium is usefull with Oily mixtures, in an advanced stage of the disease when the difficulty of breathing has abated and the urjent symptoms are a cough, Opiates are usefull, the often appear to interrupt expectoration, but this however only for a short time and they sometimes appear to promote it as they cause stagnation of what was before insensibly dissipated by frequent coughing.

Peripneumonia Notha. Attacking Old men opium is dangerous the proper plan of

414

Materia Medica

Stimulants

without depending on laudanum. I have kept of [off] paroxysm of epilipsy by this about two hours before the expected paroxysm. I have apply'd synapisms to the neck and found them better than blisters, in Scarlatina Anguinosa, they produce a separation of the gangrenous parts, they have been supposed to have some effect on the genital organs, restoring the venerial power, there are some cases of deafness in which these cataplasms to the ancles have done some good, they were cases of arthritic kinds and are sometimes relieved by cupping &c. But synapisms are of greater use in cholera Morbus we generally give laudanum with safety, but lately where the disease has been more violent I have apply'd synapisms and give opium in other forms, since adopting this practice I have never lost an adult patient in this disease. In vertigo I have used them with great advantage, and have experienced their good effects in my own person for I have frequently kept off the vertigo by this means, they are however often however precarious remidies especially when apply'd to parts which are affected with pain. I one saw a case of a violent pain in the kidneys which by the application of these to the seat of the disease was transplanted to the bladder, it was however entirely removed by applying them to the ancles, this may be said of blisters. In Arthritic Stranguary blisters are verry serviceable, but when stranguary is induced

428

Materia Medica

Errhines

poceed [proceed] from cold and from fevers when there is a congestion of blood in the brain. I believe it to be owing to an increased sensibility in the organ of hearing, it is I think curable, Blisters applied to the Mastoid Process, cupping, and bleeding from the arm, Purgatives and flannel nightcaps are all verry usefull. In this species of deafness Linneus thought the Errhines more usefull than anything else. In Gutta Serena they have been found often usefull, this is frequently an incurable disease and is proved by dissection to be sometimes owing to tumors pressing upon the brain and optic neves [nerves]. Mr Ware in this disease has used a stimulus of a Mercurial Nature composed of X grs. [10 grains] turbith Mineral and I have employ’d this and found it usefull in one case, in another in which it had a fair trial it did no good. It would seem these remidies were applicable to particular cases, where the disease depends on Syphalis no dependence is to be placed on Errhines. But in some species which he calls Amaurosis Plethora, in which he said the errhines did good, this kind of Gutta Serena arises from the suppression of the menses sometimes, and sometimes appears in pregnant women.

Particular Errhines.

Beta Vulgaris. Or Common Beet. This is mentioned by common

492

Materia Medica

Emetics

suitable. Emetics are the best Possable medicines in some Paralytic Affections, when the head is much diseased, they have often been beneficial in Mania, not however the Phrenictic species or when there is much fever, though I have seen them do much good even when there was much excitement, nauseating doses frequently do much good where vomiting would not, they keep down and depress the violence of the strengh of Maniacal Patients, much more frequently than bleeding, cupping, &c. Emetics have been much recommended in Puerperal Fever. Mr D_ has advised us to trust chiefly to them. I was once verry fond of this practice untill in violent case I was induced to employ the lancet and found it to be more effectual.

Hemorrhages of Red Blood. Emetics have been employ’d with advantage. Dr Robinson recommended in Hemoptysis. Dr Cullen tried them although in one case he found them to increase the vomiting verry much, yet he thought they would often be beneficial; Dr Robinson thought they would produce a constriction upon the extremities of the vessels, which put a stop to the hemorrhage.

Minctus Cruentus. Or Bloody Urine, I have had much experience in this practice. I have employ’d the medicine more in Uterine Hemorrhages, it must be