Colonial North America: Countway Library of Medicine

384

Materia Medica

Stimulants

and sugar, as it does not sit easy in a solid form, it is made into a conserve thus Rx Camphor XV grs. [15 grains] Ol. Cinnamun 20 gtt. [20 drops] M. fit. it always best to give Camphor in a fluid form, but sometimes it is necessary to give it in substance. Camphor alone is not easily pulverized, but maybe done with facility by the addition of one or two drops of Spt. Vin. Rect. It is said to diminish the activity of the drastic purges, it increases the power of the mercurial ointment &c.

Sub Narcotica ex Animalibus Moscus or Musk. This is one of the few animal substances used in Medicine, it is procured from an animal of the Dear [Deer] kind which is found in different parts of the old world the power of climate is verry great upon it, both as it respects the quality and smell of musk which it yields, when pure it is one of the most valuable articles in Materia Medica, when it is impure it feels fatty, it is said to be composed of resinous and gelatinous substance. Musk is the most odiferous substance in nature of a dark brown colour of a bitter taste its chemical analysis is not sufficiently investigated. Dr Cullen places it under his great class of antispasmodics, which is different from the plan I have adopted. I know little or nothing of its effects upon the pulse, in the healthy state it produces a mild diaphoresis

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Materia Medica

Stimulants

raises the spirits and afterwards throws the person into a gentle sleep. Musk has been recommended in various diseases by Pringle in gout of the stomach, this practice has the testimony of various authors in its favour, and Cullen says he has relieved many patients by the use of musk in Tetanus, we might suppose it would be usefull and Dr Heberden has advantageously employ’d it in combination in this disease. Dr Owen of England relates a case of a young lady who was affected with a violent spasmodic disorder in which her head was drawn to her breast, after the failure of every other remidy she was cured by taking Ʒfs [½ dram] of Musk every four hours, he says as soon as the first dose was in her stomach the spasms began to abate, it is considered by the Chinise a valuable remidy for the hydraphobia they use it thus Rx Musk XVI grs. [16 grains] Cinnabar ℈i [1 scruple] M. fit. give this at one dose and if does not induce sleep in 3 hours repeat the dose, it has also been recommended in asthma Pertussis, Colica Pictonum, Subsultus Tendinum &c, accompanying low nervous fevers it has been found serviceable. Dr Cullen says it not only relieves these symptoms but it relieves the fever themselves. Mead gave it in Jail fever, it has also been used in Confluent Small Pox, Gangrene &c. It is frequently adulterated but its smell and

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Materia Medica

Stimulants

Proof Spirit lbij [2 pounds] digest for ten days I never employ’d it in but two instances and its effects in them were not verry remarkable.

Crocus or Saffron. Of this also I say nothing of my own experience but it has been used by Old Women in Small pox &c. Dr Cullen does not think verry highly of it he employ’d it in large doses but he found it imperfect. Saffron resembles camphor in its operation and the tea made from it frequently exhilarates the patient, but one of our patients was ever able to take it. One effect of Saffron that I have witnessed is its producing milliary eruption. This finishes the class of Subnarcotica.

Vallerian. This is principally a native of Europe and is a perennial vegitable there, but it is not found in this Country, we have a plant brought to the table which is a species of vallerian. I doubt not that it is a stimulant but I am not certain it should be placed so near the camphor I know of no narcotic quality it possesses and therefore I have not arranged it with the Subnarcotica, from its general operation it is ally’d to Musk. Dr Cullen calls it an antispasmodic a class which I have omitted in my list, the root of the vallerian is the part employ’d in practice, it has a strong smell which is generally not verry pleasant, but the Cat is verry fond of it, its taste is that of a warm bitter, and is a little acrid