Colonial North America: Countway Library of Medicine

145

Diaphoretics

be justly Styled the Opprobrium Medicine, much which proceeds from the too liberal use of cathartics; my practice has been after a verry lenient cathartic to administer an anodyne diaphoretic and the Cretaceous Mixture, after which I administer as a tonic to the Intestines an infusion of the black berry root, the manner of preparing the infusion is as follows.

Rx Manipulus Aq. Bullien lbi [1 pound]

Put them in a teapot and let them simmer by the fire to ⅔ and then give a desert spoonfull every two or three hours, after a little time the bowels will become so constipated as to require a gentle laxative; This medicine though so little known to Practitioners Is I believe by far the best tonic we have in such cases, it is also peculiarly adapted to the Diarrhea of Old People.

220

Materia Medica

Tonics

In this disease I have forbid the use of bark, because I believe it to be hurtfull.

Phthisis Pulmonalis. In this disease the preparations of Iron are sometimes used to advantage though they have never performed a cure, they have been used in that debility which predisposes to Phthisis perhaps with the effect of preventing the disease, in such cases it is my favorite preparation combined with Cret ppt. in that variety of consumption described by Murray and Sydenham in which riding on horseback is so efficacious the Iron is of great use.

Hemorrhoids. This disease sometimes depends on increased action of the Intestinal Arteries &c, here the use of Iron would be improper. In hemorrhoids of old men it sometimes depends on a laxity of the vessels as in the decline of life and in the studious and sedentary, in these cases Iron will prove usefull though more so when it proves laxative. In this disease I have forbid the use of the bark because I believe it to be hurtfull.

Dyspepsia. The preparations of Iron have been employ’d in this disease with more success than any other medicine, in patients of a plethoric habit I believe it to be hurtfull,

502

Materia Medica

Emetics

the dose. I have already spoken of our medicine under the head of emetics, it has likewise been advised in Intermittants. Dr Cullen says he knew a physician who cured these fevers by nauseating doses of Ipecac. Just before the Paroxysm, it answers better than the antimonial preparations.

Phthisis Pulmonalis. It has been employ’d in small nausiating doses, and continued for some time. I combine grs i or ij [1 or 2 grains] of the Ipecac with grs iv or vi [4 or 6 grains] of Cretta. I merely give enough to nauseate in Asthma. It was much praised by Dr Akenside, I advise you to read his paper, he says that he is acquainted with no better remidy in this disease, than Ipecacuanha. In a violent paroxysm of spasmodic or convulsive asthma he gave ℈i [1 scruple] to relieve it, but in the habitual indisposition he gave from grs iij to iv [3 to 4 grains] every morning or every other morning to excite nausea, he says that grs v [5 grains] pukes some people, in the humeral Asthma this has been recommended along with other emetics. Dr Akenside thinks this is an unnecessary distinction, in the confluent small pox when the patient is nearly strangled from being unable to expectorate, I give Ipecacuanha. Cullen thinks that it is usefull in Asthma by determining to the skin, he was not verry successfull in the employment of it. I give it upon the authority of Dr Akenside with great advantage in the spasmodic asthma

506

Materia Medica

Emetics

advantage, it puked the first day but not afterwards. I have had myself a great deal of experience here, I have used it in both recent and old cases with much benefit. I had almost said it was a specific, but it is best adapted to some particular kinds Viz Those running on to typhus, my method of exhibitting it differs from most others instead of using the infusion I give the powder combined with Opium and cretta. The following is my general formula

Rx Ipecacuanha grs Xij [12 grains] Opium grs ij [2 grains] Cretta XXiv [24]

M fit and divide into eight doses, grs viij [8 grains] of this is the proper proportion when the Ipecac is good, Cretta is the most particularly usefull, thus it appears one dose contains grs iss [1½ grains] of Ipecac. grs ¼ [¼ grain] of opium and grs iij [3 grains] of cretta. I have employ’d cretta in a great number of cases of dysentary both in publick and private practice, and it seldom fails to produce good effects. Dr Chisholme combined it with calomel. I think Ipecacuanha best adapted to those approaching to the Nature of Hemorrhages or Dysenteria Cruenta, with hardendened feces. I do not however employ it untill after purging several times. I conclude with advising you to make use of the form which I have just given you, and if you are not successfull with it I will be content to loose half the confidence which you may repose in my opinion or advice.