Colonial North America: Countway Library of Medicine

238

Materia Medica

Tonics

copper acted too much alike, when they were used as escharotics, they seem to act alike on the system, Copper sometimes induces salivation.

Scrophula. In a case of this kind in the Pennsylvania Hospital, I gave the bark and applied the verdigris in rag to the ulcers the patient was discharged in a few weeks without the aid of mercury.

Chancre. It has been used in venerial ulcers and may be applied in three ways either in the form of powder, solution, or ointment. In affections of the eyes some of the preparations of copper have been used with complete success. Dr Cullen thinks it too irritating, to prevent nausea as I said before it must not be given on an empty stomach cinnamon also will obviate its nauseating tendency.

Nitrate of Silver or Lunar Caustic. One part of silver to four parts diluted nitric acid it has long been used as an escharotic, and will long be continued in indolent ulcers, a solution of nitrate of silver proves highly usefull and it possesses the advantage that its strength may be decreased to any degree it is remarkable in removing leprous eruptions, venerial buboes, and ringworms, when used to remove a chancre it should be applied in the form of solution with a camonels [camels] hair pencil, taking