Colonial North America: Countway Library of Medicine

158

Materia Medica

Tonics

this is found principally in the mountainous parts of Germany, Professor Bergius says it is Emetic, Diuretic, Diaphoretic, Errhine, and Emmenagogue, it is used in Germany to dissolve coagulated blood. Dr Cullen of Vienna used the flowers in Spasmodic paralytic diseases from ℥i to ℥ij [1 to 2 ounces] a day he speaks of its efficacy in intermittant fevers. Dr Haen says he does not know of a medicine more entitled to the name of a specific than this, he says it is preferable to all others in Dysentaries and malignant fevers, he used it likewise in Phthisis, Collequative sweats &c, ℥fs [½ ounce] every two hours. Dr Monroe gave it with good effect in several cases of intermittant fevers it has been used in Scorbutic diseases. Authors inform us when it cures paralysis it excites much uneasiness; if we believe all that is said of this medicine we should rank it with the most valuable. It has been used but little in Britain, and never that I know of in America, however it is a medicine deserving attention.

Eupatorium Perfoliatum. I have not spoken of this before in any of my lectures. It grows in wet situations, in New England it is called thorough stern, in Virginia Cross Wort and in what the Indians call Ague Weed, the leaves are evidently bitter

424

Materia Medica

Errhines

opium and it prevented the dull headache, which the latter alone is apt to occasion, it also acts as a laxative upon verry delicate women, I have known 2 or three grains act in this manner on such persons it has sometimes excited salivation. Of late it has been used in caries Mr Block has advised Assafoetida ℥i [1 ounce] Camp Ʒi [1 dram] to be mixed together and that Ʒi [1 dram] of this mixture should be taken morning and evening, he says he cured a caries of humors by this method, the medicine has also been recommended by other Physicians in cases of carries of Syphilis, it has been used in our Hospital without success, it is employ’d in various forms, in the solid form as pills or in solution, it is best however in tincture as in the Spirit Volatalis of the Edinburgh Dispensatory

Gum Ammoniac. This is a peculiar gum resin has little of the foetid odour therefore Cullen thinks its powers are considerable I have employ’d it but a little. Dr Wistar thinks highly of it in asthma, for a more acurate account of this valuable medicine (see) Daphne Mezereon.

Stimulating Evacuants or Errhines. Are those substances that occasion a discharge from the nose either of mucus or thinner fluid, this evacuation is generally ended with sneezing but not always, their effect is only to increase the natural secretion, they not only increase it but continue for some time

426

Materia Medica

Errhines

they are therefore often usefull in Rheumatic Affections of the neighboring muscles and in congestion of the head near the nose. Dr Cullen however thinks they may affect the whole head they are generally thought to act topically. I believe they sometimes produce sneezing, when taken into the stomach, Errhines have been employ’d in Hydrocephalus Internus. Dr Patterson thinks before exhibitting them some precautions should be taken. I have never employ’d it in this disease when it affected children but I have in the case of adults. I consider them safe and perhaps usefull. Errhines and particularly Mercurial ones might be employ’d in Epilepsy attended with congestion of the head without an affection of the mind. I used the Turpeth Mineral in one case in our Hospital with considerable success it produced a salivation, in some cases of deafness they might always be employ’d, I am not capable of pointing out the different species of deafness, it proceeds however from a variety of causes, one of which is an affection of the Eustachian tube, and generally arises from what is called catching cold which produces inflamation of the tube. this species is characterised by a noise which seems to be heard in the ears of the patient similar to the sound of boiling water, the roaring of wind, or distant thunder. I have always found this to

430

Materia Medica

Errhines

writers as a stimulatory, and among others Dr Cullen says that the juice snuffed up the nose on his trial excited no durable or large evacuations, the powdered root of the Beet is likewise an errhine.

Tobacco. The powder of this plant is a considerable errhine but custom renders it useless as a stimulatory it will still however continue to occasion a considerable discharge. Dr Cullen says and I agree with him that it is dangerous to leave of snuff suddenly after having been accustomed to take it, especially to those who have short wicks and are subject to compression of thought, it is proper that both physician and patient should recollect this, since the sudden abstinence from snuff might induce gout, dimness of sight &c. Snuff is not always a simple powder of tobacco but I have heard that it is adulterated with finely Pulv. Glass in order to render it more irritable to the nose of our Ladies and Gentlemen who are in the habit of taking snuff. Sal Ammoniac and potash are certainly added, the following observations of Dr Cullen deserves attention among the effects of Snuffing, says he I have all the symptoms of dyspepsia induced by it, these were relieved by abstainance from the article. I think the use of snuffs bad practice, and that it is especially prejudicial in persons disposed to melancholia but I cannot agree with him that nervous affections are more common

432

Materia Medica

Errhines

at present than they were formerly, snuff of the tobacco and indian turnip is said to be usefull in amaurosis, candour obliges one to declare that the use of tobacco does not appear unfavorable to longevity, numerous instances have been collected of persons who have arrived to an old age, and who had long been in the habit of chewing and snuffing, snuffing should be avoided by all those who wish to shine as public speakers as it is injurious to the voice.

Assarabacca. This is a most powerfull errhine and common about the hills of Pennsylvania and is called crowfoot and wild ginger, this is the basis of the Pulvis Stimulantorius of the London and Edinburgh Colledges. Dr Cullen says that grs iij [3 grains] of it is a dose and that four grains make a good snuff.

Squill. The common squill is a considerable errhine.

Poke root. The powder of the root of the common poke of this Country is also an errhine, the assarabaca, squill, and poke root should have been mentioned before tobacco.

Digitalis or Foxglove. The pulv. leaves of the foxglove are considerably errhine, and when apply'd to the nose occasion a discharge. I shall now speak of the more acrid and powerfull of this class of medicines.

Euphorbium Officinale. Dr Cullen says the more acrid the errhine of which this is one, are apt even in moderate doses to inflame the