Colonial North America: Countway Library of Medicine

98

Materia Medica

Astringents

Saccharum Sat. I believe now the latter the only preparation used internally the extract of lead is produced by boiling vinegar and litharge, it is recommended by Mr Golard as preferable to any other preparation of lead, but it differs verry much from Sach. Sat. this metal is easier calcined than any other none of the preparations made by the fire are taken internally, but are used externally. Booerhave says it brings on consumption of the lungs and other troublesome symptoms. Mr A supposes the preparations of lead never enters the system but I am led to believe they are sometimes absorbed one of the most dreadfull effects from lead is to produce Colica Pictonum which sometimes terminates in palsy. I have even doubted whether this was brought on by lead. I think the Mallic Acid or Cyder will bring on the same disease it has made its appearance in many parts of Pennsylvania from the use of Apple Butter, lead sometimes produces rheumatism of the wrist and palsy of the arms this I have seen in painters and glaziers, a quack advised some man who worked in lead to take every morning some bread and butter or oil, by blending its action on the stomach, from this hint I advised a potter to follow this practice he informed me he always prevented it in his

100

Materia Medica

Astringents

hands by taking soup before he began to glaze, bakers are subject to this disease which in some measure serves to show it does not always proceed from the action of lead, type founders are also subject to this complaint. Colica Pictinum. The bowels should always be kept open, for which purpose the christals of tartar and castor oil should always be recommended sometimes the puse [pulse] is full, when bleeding will be necessary. Dr Cullen says it is never accompanied with fever but he is certainly mistaken. Mercurial purges are verry good, but in general Ol. Recini will answer every purpose, and I prefer it in this disease Opium after the bowels have been opened maybe used to relieve pain. Stone says that opium purges by rousing intermittants from their torpor. I have used the warm bath with happy effects and have also poured cold water on the patients feet with advantage, the bad effects of lead is seldom produced by too large doses accidentally taken as by small doses repeatedly taken, large doses sometimes vomit and purge it has been used externally in inflamation as Erysipelas, in injections, in application to sore eyes &c. I think it verry seldom does harm Cullen says it induces mortification, but Darwin says that lead water applied to Erysipelatous

156

Materia Medica

Tonics

Amygdala Amara. Or Bitter Almond nut is a pure bitter, Professor Bergius used it with Sal. Tart in intermittant fevers to prevent a recurrence of the Paroxysms, it possesses a quality that is poisonous to some animals as the fox, cat &c.

Citrus Aurantium. Or Citron Orange, the root is an excellent bitter and with this it contains a considerable quantity of aromatic oil it has long been employ'd in the cure of intermittant fevers and some respectable French Writers say with advantage but as Dr Cullen says it is so rarely employ'd except with other bitters that we are prevented from observing its peculiar qualities. Urieth Foard used it in five cases of quartan fever with success in one the paroxysm was prevented after the first dose, in the other after the second, he gave Ʒi [1 dram] every three hours combined with gentian and chamamile flowers, it formed an agreeable tincture, the flowers have been used in Epilepsy, &c, but experience has not confirmed their utility, a decoction of leaves have been recommended in Epilepsy with chocolate also in Colica Pictonum. De Haen found it of no use in this disease, it may be used in some convulsions as Colica &c.

Arnica Montana. Or Leopards Bane,

284

Materia Medica

Stimulants

functions with respect to the effect of opium here, large quantities of it impair the appetite, create langor, nausea, and sometimes induce vomiting, the intestinal discharge is diminished but the other I think are increased, though this is not an universal opinion, the action of the absorbants being also increased the secretions at first sight appear to be diminished, the use of opium impairs the appetite upon this account, the inhabitants of India during a dreadfull famine that affected them took large quantities of opium in order to diminish the desire for food. A verry injenious writer Dr G. has said that opium is nutritious, because it is a possative stimulus, and really combines with oxygen but this appears too true to be ridiculed. But I think few men of sence will ever employ it for that purpose, opium impairs digestion and induces vomiting, and this not only when large doses are employ’d = these effects are however most common when the doses are large, it also diminishes the intestinal evacuation, and this is the most common inconvenience resulting from its use, this however is not an universal effect for it sometimes purges. Mr Steel informs us he gave opium in Colica Pictonum it purged. I believe opium produces this effect when there is a great torpor

338

Materia Medica

Stimulants

strongly recommended in Colica Pictonum, which is sometimes though not always the effect of lead, it may be employ’d both externally and internally. Stall says that opium alone has often proved purgative, in Colica Pictonum he used it with great success it should be combined with purgatives and may be employed in verry large doses. Stall gave 13 grains French weight, and a french Physician 69 grains without producing sleep.

Strangulated Hernia. The use of opium is approved of here by Richester and Van Sweeten, bleeding in my opinion is the most proper practice, but I refer you to the Professor on Surgery. In mania opium has been employ’d with seeming success also in Melancholia. Dr Young gave it in the former. Dr Cullen employ’d it and found it sometimes to moderate and sometimes to increase the disease, he says some cases depends on an organic affection of the brain, and such it is hurtfull, but in recent cases he says it may be often advantageous, the system requires large doses, but after emetics Cullen says it operates more easily, there are many cases of mania in which X grs. [10 grains] of tartar is a medium dose, it is also said that opium makes it operate more easily. I have not often derived much advantage from opium in mania though I have frequently exhibitted it, there are many cases of mania proceeding from distress &c. When