Colonial North America: Countway Library of Medicine

266

Materia Medica

Stimulants

such cases of Pulmonary Consumption as when we use stimulants, this is a usefull article in hoarseness which generally succeeds measles. I have used a watery solution of Gum Arabic and water combined with Vol. Alk. = Alkali has been used in nervous headache with great advantage 50 grs. [grains] in Low diseases may be sufficient for 24 hours = But less doses may do in others = But it should be given only in the intermission. Mr Martin has used it in that species of Dysentary attended with typhus fever with the happiest effects = it has been used in diarrhea, it is highly recommended in that distressing disease called water brash, in asketis attended with venerial obstructions, I have used it with evident advantage, I therefore recommend it to your attention. Martin has used it in old ulcers with great advantage, he gave it internally and applied the caustic externally to the sore, he has used it to the extent of a drachm [dram] in 24 hours, in persons induced by the bite of the rattle snake, viper &c. The Volatile Alkali has been highly recommended for the cure of the bad effects which follow the bite of such animals, but the Abe Fontana says that this fluid given internally and applied externally to the part bitten even at the time it happens will not prevent the

412

Materia Medica

Stimulants

Dr Mead relates a case of dropsy of the ovarium with ascites which was cured by one tablespoonfull of an infusion of horse radish. In the Scurvy as in dropsy they must act be promoting an evacuation by the skin and kindneys, a strong infusion of horse radish may be given in water to the extent of half a pint two or three times a day, our plants are taken into the circulation for some of them communicate their taste to the flesh of Animals, a weak infusion of mustard in warm water sometimes checks vomiting. Perhaps it is most serviceable in arthritic vomiting, it should not be used too strong for it then might increase the affection. I think that a propper proportion is a teaspoonfull of mustard to a gill [4 ounces] of water which must be agitated and left to subside and the cleanest part exhibitted in a dose of a teaspoonfull at a time. They are employ’d with meal when powerfull effects are to be produced externally, two parts of Pulv. mustard seed and one of rye meal are mixed together with milk, the preparation to the skin acts as a rubefacient and excites great pain, if kept on too long it produces a separation of the epidermis, externally apply'd mustard and horse radish stimulate the system more quickly than cantharides and more quickly in dentition. I have removed convulsions by synapisms apply'd to the rist and ancles, and in convulsions in small pox

464

Materia Medica

Sialagogues

from intermittant and remittant fevers, or from obstruction of the viscera, but it should not be employ’d in those cases untill the phlogistic diathesis of the system has been somewhat reduced. I think it better suited to anasarca than ascites, it sometimes fails to do good in dropsy which afterwards yields to the diuretic medicines, upon the whole I am of opinion that mercury has done good in dropsy, but it frequently has also been productive of evil, it promotes absorption.

Jaundice. I have but little to say when we consider the cause and aspects of this disease we might suppose mercury to be usefull and according it is said to be so by Dr Clark, Dr Saunders, and Monroe. In Germany mercury has been employ’d to advantage, & it has sometimes been preceded by Sal. Ammoniac as an emetic.

Epilepsy. It has been frequently used with a view to excite salivation but I find few cases of cures recorded. Some physicians say who have employ’d it, that it suspended the disease and moderated the symptoms, even this is effecting a verry desirable end, but I think that tonics generally answer better. I consider mercury best adapted to those cases attended with plethora. Dr Hoffman gave the preparations of mercury in this disease. Some epileptic patients have been found with an effusion in the ventricles of the brain, mercury by

560

Materia Medica

Diuretics

Hydrathorax. I have used it in many cases, but in some it does little or no good. I have not found it usefull in acites, this is indeed seldom curable in adult patients, though it is sometimes by emetics or an attack of some other disease. An Eminent Physician in this City has told me he thought Fox Glove prejudicial in Acites. I have however cured a boy of 11 years of age, of this species of the dropsy by Digitalis. Dr Ferrin of Manchester paid particular attention to the subject, he gave our medicine to 24 patients with dropsy 2 of them were cases of Anasarca, 7 of Acites, 2 of Hydothorax and the rest were complicated, 3 of these he cured, with the others he failed, the latter were all those with acites, and several in whoom the disease was complicated. Dr Darwin thought it best suited to those patients who had been intemperate in drinking, after giving the Fox Glove, he adminestered a decoction of Artichoke or the bark, he also gave grs 1 [1 grain] of opium at bed time. I continued it for 3 or 4 weeks, I have found his remarks to be just and therefore I think it worth recollecting.

Hydrocephalus. The Digitalis has been given by some authors but without much success. I thought it advantageous in one case but it did not cure, the Dropsy often follows the "Scarlatina" and to this I think the diuretics verry well adapted. I cured one case

576

Materia Medica

Diuretics

medicine acts by transferring the inflamation to more distant parts or rather to the more external parts of the faces. Dr Tennant gave it in Rheumatism, Gout, and in Dropsy. In the chronic rheumatism I think it would be usefull, Mr tells us he did not make complete cures of Dropsy. In one case of Dropsy I found it extremely usefull, she had Hydrothorax combined with a pulmonary affection and with anasarca, she afterwards died of Phthisis, it has done harm in dropsies by being used in all forms. Dr Milnor however has given testimony of its utility, and of 13 who were affected with acites he cured 6 his statement demands attention, and in the form of Dropsies Physicians should always use it. Dr Percival recommends it and says he cured one case of Hydrathorax. A black man in the Pennsylvania Hospital who was affected with universal dropsy was cured by a liberal use of a strong decoction of senaka accompanied with small doses of calomel, in chronic headache to which women are subject, it is much used. Dr Monroe cured a woman of it by giving ℈i [1 scruple] divided into 4 pills. 1 to be taken 4 times a day.

Lactuca Sylvestris. Or Wild Lettuce. This is verry highly recommended as a cure for dropsy by Dr Collier of Vienna, it is verry much like the common Opium Lettuce, this has