Colonial North America: Countway Library of Medicine

58

Materia Medica

Astringents

sulpuret of ferri, /and to the third simple water, the two first was instantaneously stopped. The other bled several hours. I shall say a few words on the nature of astringents. Dr Cullen supposed an acid and an earth combined to make an astringent, this is not always the case, as for example in the sulphuret of magnesia, the gallic acid has been supposed the principal of astringency, but its principle is not satisfactorily known, the oxy sulphuret of Iron detects this principle. Green vitriol strikes a black colour, Sage for instance, yet this vegitable will not cure the intermittant fever and astringents are best used perhaps in substance but sometimes it is necessary to employ the infusion or decoction. They readily impart their qualities to water or alcohol. We now speak of the use of astringents in diseases. These have been recommended in debility which according to Dr Cullen layes the foundation of dropsy, and by him used with much advantage, but I say they are seldom proper and often hurtfull in the beginning of the disease. Dropsy often commences with increased arterial action requiring bleeding &c. Astringents being more or less stimulant

60

Materia Medica

Astringents

stimulant are improper in that stage, there are some cases in which they prove serviceable in curing dropsey, as when they check the paroxysms of fever on which the dropsy may depend, a patient under my care with typhus fever became dropsical, I became alarmed gave bark, wine &c, to remove the fever which they did and with it the dropsical swellings, many cases of a similar nature have occurred in my practice. Dr Lind used to say he who used bark plentifully during aprexy of Intermittant fevers seldom had dropsy to follow, astringents have been universally employed to stop hemorrhages, but as these are allowed to depend on the verry different state of the arterial system, we must at once perceive the impropriety of employing this remidy indiscriminately in every case. Dr Cullen has I think verry properly divided hemorrhages into active and passive, or such as are owing to increased arterial action, or such as ensue from debility, it is only in the latter kind that we expect any advantage from astringents. I believe its owing to Dr Cullens failure in the indiscriminate use of this remidy that he was led to make this just distinction in this disease,

96

Materia Medica

Astringents

The last is a verry valuable preparation and is made in the following manner, heat a saturated solution of Alum with the white of eggs untill they acquire the consistance of curd, this may be applied to the naked eye or inclosed in a bag of gauze or fine scinning, in Opthalmia Membranum, Dr Cullen used to say he thought it a speific. There is a disease not commonly met with in children, but also formed in more advanced life, and which is not noticed particularly by any author, In which I have employ'd alum whey with the greatest success. I mean that troublesome affection of the prepuce resembling verry much in its nature and appearance a dropsical swelling. You will often be called on to relieve the anxiety and solicetude of parents arising from their ignorance of the disease, and I can advise no remidy more successfull than the one Just mentioned. There are many other preparations of allum in use, and it has been used in various and numerous diseases, I have mentioned the most important.

Saccharum Saturni. I proceed to speak of Lead in doing so, I shall first mention the preparations made use of, Secondly the modus operandi, thirdly its use in diseases, by the Acetic acid we obtain two forms, the white lead and the Saccharum

118

Materia Medica

Tonics

In the secretion of the gastric Juice, they certainly have this operation, as they have been found serviceable, in promoting digestion. Dr Darwin supposes they increase the absorption of chyle, but I cannot think so. I judge it more probable that many of the effects of tonics are produced by their stimulating quality, bitters have been highly exalted for their cure in visceral obstructions, but by ascribing to them such effects we show our ignorance of the living system. Dr Cullen in his long practice found them of no service, costiveness in sedentary persons arising from torpidness of the alimentary canal, in such cases bitters may be useful, as diuretics. Dr Cullen says he never found their operation manifest but they sometimes act as such as I believe all stimulants do sometimes the Lochtransdan Taradcudine is a bitter and a diuretic, so is opium and have been usefull in dropseys but are of not much efficacy when given alone, they are often joined with alkaline salts, and in this combination the powers of each are mutually increased. Tonics are too much neglected as diuretics. Dr Cullen says he often found them injurious in continued fevers when there was

132

Materia Medica

Tonics

after dysentary it is of great use, this tree is a pure bitter, though the bark possesses it in a greater degree, in some respects it is superior to Cort Cinchona, and columbo as a bitter, but inferior as an antiseptic, quassia is used in intermittant, remittant, and continued fevers. Dr Monroe used it fevers and dropy. Dr Letsom preferred it to all other bitters in hysteria, Hypocondriasis, dyspepsia, and most nervous diseases; and assures us it seldom fails in his hands, but he was fond of long prescriptions, and used this medicine in combination with several, as the Sulphet of Zink. Sem. Card. It has been recommended in heriditary gout and disserves some credit. Combined with Columbo it is particularly adapted to dysentaries of long standing. Haller used it in calculous. Quassia Poligama. This is a tall and beautifull tree growing in the West Indies described by Mr Lindsay every part except the pulp is bitter, the bark is most so, this I am of opinion is incorrect, the wood is the most intence bitter. Dr Lindsay used it in remitting fever with success, he also employed it in dropsy and chlorosis, it has been used in a disease called by the Nosologists Pica with success. Pica or a depraved appetite in some women during