Colonial North America: Countway Library of Medicine

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Materia Medica

Tonics

this recent stage and while the contageon is still acting it is improper but maybe of use if the disease continues by force of habit, two cases that I have seen have taght [taught] me to be cautious of its use. The first, a boy for the want of sufficient depletion and by the use of the bark was carried of [off] with Hydrocephalus Internus, the second from the same cause was attaked with a dropsy and was with difficulty saved.

Asthma. This sometimes depends on a plethoric State of the lungs when the bark must be hurtfull, but there is another kind owing to what Dr Cullen calls the mobility of the system, and which by some is called the tristemic asthma, where it may be usefull combined with opium, it has been usefull in cases of Mania.

Angina Pectoris. This has seldom or never appeared in this City it is now common in London where it is treated with purging and bark. I know nothing from experience, but from my Idea of this disease. If not improper the bark would be of use, it should be given with much caution, upon dissection on subjects that died of this disease, the coronary arteries of the head have been found completely ossafy’d [ossified]

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Materia Medica

Stimulants

increased warmth of the bed, and clothes, the patient should endeavor to sleep in an erect a posture as possible, either sitting up or having the head of the bed elevated, he should always preceive himself as cold as possible.

Histeria. In this common affection opium is much recommended, this disease like Epilepsy often depends on a plethoric state of the system, and in such cases opium must be improper but when there are irregular feelings depending on the mobility of the system opium is proper. Dr Cullen however says that the frequent use of opium increases the mobility of the system, in those cases of hysteria depending upon the passions of the mind opium is usefull in large doses.

Palpitations of the Heart. Are sometimes owing to an organic affection of that organ, but it frequently arises from spasm, here opium is extremely usefull.

Asthma. Opium is sometimes injurious or when it depends on a turgessence of the vessels of the lungs, but in asthma of Spasmodic or Catarrhall affections it is a usefull remdy. I believe asthma is often an arthritic affection from observations in my practice. I know a Lady of a gouty family who has violent attacks of asthma, and nothing relieves her but the pain setting in her feet when the asthma leaves her, the same remarks apply to palpitation, this sometimes goes of in the form

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Stimulants

it to its ancient seat, but another application of the camphor translated it to the knee, and he did not use the remidy again for fear of driving the disease to the internal organs. I therefore think camphor a dangerous remidy in acute rheumatism and gout.

In Gonorrhea, I formerly used the medicine but have now laid it aside.

Bronchocele. In this affection of the thyroid gland Camphor has been found beneficial, it has also been used in Epilepsy, combined with Cuprum Amoniacum, Vit. Alba, flor. zink &c camphor has been employ'd in Tetanus, but not verry frequently. Dr Miller says he found it usefull in Asthma. It has been advantageously employ'd as an anodoyne in a painfull and difficult Menstruation by some British Practitioners and myself this medicine has been used in Mania It has failed in some cases and done great good in others, I presume it is best adapted to Melancholic Mania, when the pulse is low and the countenance pail. Camphor dissolved in the Mcilage of Gum Arab. has been externally apply'd by some German Practitioners in cases of Burns. Camphor has been employ’d in many more affections which it is unecessary to mention. Camphor may be given in doses of 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8 to 50 vel [or] 60 grs pr diem [grains per day] there are various forms in which it may be exhibitted, it may be suspended in water with Gum Arabic

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Stimulants

raises the spirits and afterwards throws the person into a gentle sleep. Musk has been recommended in various diseases by Pringle in gout of the stomach, this practice has the testimony of various authors in its favour, and Cullen says he has relieved many patients by the use of musk in Tetanus, we might suppose it would be usefull and Dr Heberden has advantageously employ’d it in combination in this disease. Dr Owen of England relates a case of a young lady who was affected with a violent spasmodic disorder in which her head was drawn to her breast, after the failure of every other remidy she was cured by taking Ʒfs [½ dram] of Musk every four hours, he says as soon as the first dose was in her stomach the spasms began to abate, it is considered by the Chinise a valuable remidy for the hydraphobia they use it thus Rx Musk XVI grs. [16 grains] Cinnabar ℈i [1 scruple] M. fit. give this at one dose and if does not induce sleep in 3 hours repeat the dose, it has also been recommended in asthma Pertussis, Colica Pictonum, Subsultus Tendinum &c, accompanying low nervous fevers it has been found serviceable. Dr Cullen says it not only relieves these symptoms but it relieves the fever themselves. Mead gave it in Jail fever, it has also been used in Confluent Small Pox, Gangrene &c. It is frequently adulterated but its smell and

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Stimulants

in healing than one produced by flies, verry few are able to sleep under the operation of this application, the stimulus given by the garlic is less than the flies or silaquosa, taken into the stomach it acts as a stimulus and promotes digestion, it often passes of by the perspiration giving its odour to that excretion, it stimulates the pulse therefore must be improper in large doses and inflamitory diseases its stimulus is diffused over the whole system verry readily, it is a diuretic, and Dr Sydenham has cured dropsy when the circulation is languid and which are unattended with fever, it would I think prove usefull in scurvy. Dr Lind recommends it both as a method of preventing and as a cure of disease, when it occurrd, garlic promotes the secretion of the lungs and therefore in asthma and other diseases in which expectorants are requisite garlic will be found usefull apply’d even to the feet. I have witnessed a case in which the patient was unable to lie down and her lungs were charged with mucus which was relieved by the garlic, it prevents the recurrence of the paroxysm of intermittants beginning with a dose every morning and evening and increasing gradually, after the cure is effected the quantity should be gradually diminished. Bergius used the garlic in Rheumatic deafness he directs the ball made by a silk worm to be dipt in the juice of garlic and pushed into the ear, it acts probably by restoring the