ENPages
(seq. 631)
624
Materia Medica
Anthelmintics
it is said with much advantage. it is the Setae or bristles of the Pod we use, their action is mechanical, the dose is 1 table spoonfull in a little syrup, it has been used in Ascarides. Other remidies have also been used as Blue Vitriol, Tin, Arsenic, &c.
Oleum Terebinthinae. It was not untill about 2 years ago that this medicine was used with this view and from the cases on record seems entitled to notice. In one case where everything else had fail’d it was given in a dose of ƷIX [9 drams] and with complete success, another case where Ʒifs [1½ drams] was given twice a day and increased to ℥fs [½ ounce] twice a day and even to ℥i [1 ounce] it produced a discharge of the worms, these cases are recorded in the New York Medical Repository the medium dose however to commence with is Ʒi [1 dram] twice a day, it appears we have been too fearfull of the medicine and that our medicines have been given in too small doses. Having now remov’d the worms it becomes us to cure the diathesis which is suppos’d to predispose to their formation, and as that depends chiefly on debility it is best obviated by tonics, and of these the Rubigo Ferri is certainly the best and fully adequate.
(seq. 633)
626
Materia Medica
Blisters. I regret exceedingly that I must pass over this so hastily, for few subjects deserve more your attention, they evince in a verry striking manner the power of medicine over the constitution. The history of cantharides as an external application deserves notice, but the limits of our time will not permit us to enter particularly on it, it is sufficient to state that blisters were employ’d in antient [ancient] times among the Greeks and Romans, they were used by Hypocrates but the fly that they employ’d was not the same as ours, tho of the same species. I presume it is hardly necessary for me to mention the method of making Blisters of Cantharides. Sometimes the ointment and cantharides are mixed together before spreading them, but the most common way is spreading basilicon on leather then strew on the powder of cantharides, sometimes the flies are put into a bag of muslin and apply'd to the skin which must be previously wetted, this acts verry well and is convenient, as it may be employ’d repeatedly, in speaking of the diseases in which blisters may be employ’d for the reasons above given, I must be brief and not methodical.
Pneumonia. Their employment is known and unversally agreed to by all Physicians, but they are seldom used in the
(seq. 635)
628
Materia Medica
Blisters
first stage of this disease, my practice however is to use them early and after a little bleeding.
Cynanche Trachealis. They are apply'd to the neck and fore part of the breast, and sometimes to the back of the neck, they are apply'd even in the first stage of the disease and every physician knows their utility which is generally in proportion to the serum effused.
Nephritis Vera. Or Inflamation of the Kidneys, blisters are apply'd with the greatest advantage to the hypochondriac region.
Erysipelas. I have employ’d them with the greatest advantage of one case in a female who was affected with this disease in the head, when the inflamitory symptoms run high and the patient was near delirium the blisters seemed to more effectual when apply'd near the head than any where else.
Ophthalmia. Their utility is known to every Physician & they often succeed in giving relief when no other remedy will, they are generally apply'd to the temples, to the back of the neck, behind the ears, &c tho are best in chronic cases of opthalmia, they do not injure the sight as some have supposed. In many cases of deafness or difficulty of hearing, blisters are usefull. I have found them of much