Colonial North America: Countway Library of Medicine

114

Materia Medica

Tonics

Tonics. It maybe proper to point out what is ment by these medicines which are called tonics, by tonics I mean such medicine or medicines as when applied externally or internally to the living body, as will impart strength and tone, without much increasing the heat of the body, those medicines which increase the force and frequency of the pulse and heat of the body, are called Incitantia. Dr Darwin objects to the word tonic, as he thinks it conveys an idea and meaning of a mechanical nature which is not applied to the living body. Dr Gregory employed the term Roborantia or strengtheners. I prefer using that of tonics to adapting that on a new one. Dr Cullen supposed that of the tonic power resides on the same principle, in substance with their bitter taste, this opinion though sometimes correct, is often eronious, bitters are not always tonics, and there are many that are not tonics for instance Opium, the most powerfull tonics are destitute of bitterness, as the preparations of Iron, Tin, Zinc &c. The galls are not bitter, yet certainly they are tonics, the cold bath and cold air are tonics, yet whoever supposed them bitter, Allum and the focil acids are tonics, but possesses