Colonial North America: Countway Library of Medicine

390

Materia Medica

Stimulants

Proof Spirit lbij [2 pounds] digest for ten days I never employ’d it in but two instances and its effects in them were not verry remarkable.

Crocus or Saffron. Of this also I say nothing of my own experience but it has been used by Old Women in Small pox &c. Dr Cullen does not think verry highly of it he employ’d it in large doses but he found it imperfect. Saffron resembles camphor in its operation and the tea made from it frequently exhilarates the patient, but one of our patients was ever able to take it. One effect of Saffron that I have witnessed is its producing milliary eruption. This finishes the class of Subnarcotica.

Vallerian. This is principally a native of Europe and is a perennial vegitable there, but it is not found in this Country, we have a plant brought to the table which is a species of vallerian. I doubt not that it is a stimulant but I am not certain it should be placed so near the camphor I know of no narcotic quality it possesses and therefore I have not arranged it with the Subnarcotica, from its general operation it is ally’d to Musk. Dr Cullen calls it an antispasmodic a class which I have omitted in my list, the root of the vallerian is the part employ’d in practice, it has a strong smell which is generally not verry pleasant, but the Cat is verry fond of it, its taste is that of a warm bitter, and is a little acrid

531

* And consequently differing from every other purgative and usefull in Dysentary; in the following formula.

Rx Pulv Rhoi Ʒfs [½ dram] Ipecac. Pulv grs XV [15 grains] G. Opii grs IV [4 grains] Ol. Cinnam gtt V [5 drops]

M. make into 10 pills of which one is to be taken every two or three hours, to relieve the griping pains.

** It was once thought to be a specific in Jaundice, I have used the following formula with great advantage in this disease.

Rx Pulv Rhoi } Aloes Socot } aa Ʒi [1 dram each] Sapo Castel }

M and made into 30 pills and given Prore Nata.

In Dysentary it is advantageously employ’d thus

Rx Pulv Rhoi ℥i [1 ounce] Saffron Ʒij [2 drams] Cardimon Seed Ʒij [2 drams] Nutmeg No 1 [1 nutmeg]

Bruise them all together and put them in a bottle containing one pint of Good French Brandy — Set the bottle in a pot of cold water — Hang the pot over a moderate fire and suffer the water to become, and continue regularly hot — but not to boil — After remaining in this situation about twelve hours it will be fit for use — During this process a cork must be sat loosely in the bottle — A black glass bottle is best, as it is less liable to break by