Colonial North America: Countway Library of Medicine

414

Materia Medica

Stimulants

without depending on laudanum. I have kept of [off] paroxysm of epilipsy by this about two hours before the expected paroxysm. I have apply'd synapisms to the neck and found them better than blisters, in Scarlatina Anguinosa, they produce a separation of the gangrenous parts, they have been supposed to have some effect on the genital organs, restoring the venerial power, there are some cases of deafness in which these cataplasms to the ancles have done some good, they were cases of arthritic kinds and are sometimes relieved by cupping &c. But synapisms are of greater use in cholera Morbus we generally give laudanum with safety, but lately where the disease has been more violent I have apply'd synapisms and give opium in other forms, since adopting this practice I have never lost an adult patient in this disease. In vertigo I have used them with great advantage, and have experienced their good effects in my own person for I have frequently kept off the vertigo by this means, they are however often however precarious remidies especially when apply'd to parts which are affected with pain. I one saw a case of a violent pain in the kidneys which by the application of these to the seat of the disease was transplanted to the bladder, it was however entirely removed by applying them to the ancles, this may be said of blisters. In Arthritic Stranguary blisters are verry serviceable, but when stranguary is induced

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Tinct. Cantharid. This verry active medicine is used in two verry oposite indications, to increase the tone of the kidneys, in suppression and incontinence of urine. In Plethoric and full habits, small doses induce stranguary while the reverse proves diuretic. It has been exhibitted with too timid hands and consequently has often proved deleterious, thus 10 or 15 gtt. [drops] will induce stranguary when Ʒfs [½ dram] will relieve the disease. It is especially adapted to Atonic Dropsies in which I have given to the extent of Ʒiij [3 drams] in 24 hours and upon the whole I think it better adapted to this disease than any Diuretic I know. Cullen denies it exerts any effect upon the kidneys.

* 573.4

580

Materia Medica

Diuretics

advantage in Dropsies in combination with camphor, in one case of a black Woman it reduced the swelling in one night. Cantharides have been employ’d in Fluor Albus and in gleets; Dr Monroe gave a Tincture of them verry advantageously, they have been used for Cutaneous affections. Dr Brown gave them in Hydraphobia and thought he cured that disease by exciting a new one, Viz, Stranguary, others have used them besides Brown, the administration of the Tinct of canth, in Typhus was approved of by Dr Home. I have given from 6, 10, or 15 gtt. [drops] 2 or 3 times a day, it increased the force and fulness of the pulse. I have upon the whole found it of service, sometimes in large doses.

Neutral Salts. All the Neutral Salts are Diuretics but the principal of them are Nitre, Crem. Tart. & the Sal Diureticus. Dr Home has spoken of the powers of Crem Tart in Dropsy, he and myself have given Ʒij [2 drams] four or five times a day in water, to advantage, I think it well adapted to the febrile state of Dropsy where bleeding is proper. Home sometimes gave large quantities in water.

Cold. You all know that cold is a duretic and that standing in cold will operate in this way. I am acquainted with a gentleman that cannot put his hand into cold water without a strong inclination to pass his urine.

586

Materia Medica

Antilithics

of the Urinary Organs, it has also been employ’d in Dyssuria, Stranguary, Bloody Urine, and Catarrhus Vesicae, or a great secretion of mucous from the Bladder. I have generally found in Gouty patients where this depends on inflamation or irritation of the bladder, I think Uva Ursi improper in some cases of fluor albus and in gleets. I have found this medicine usefull in Virulent Gonorrhea of long standing. I have likewise found it beneficial one case of which the running was accompaneed with Hernia Humoralis and great irritation of the Urethra, this was cured by chewing the leaves of the Uva Ursi and taking the infusion, Bell says it is not where the prostate gland is effected; I think it not unlikely that the infusion or decoction might be advantageously injection, in some cases of Catarrhus Vesica, and also in the Uterus. Upon the whole I think Uva Ursi will remove the symptoms of calculous already existing, that it will prevent the formation of the stone that it will destroy them sometimes after they have formed, the mode of its operation is difficult to explain. I injected it into the stomach of an animal we are told by Gyraldi that it inflames that organ but I doubt this, and in other places I have had good reason for dobting others of his experiments and assertions. Dr Haller supposed it acts

636

Materia Medica

Blisters

Pyrosis. When the disease does not yield to mild means, Blisters should be used on the Epigastric Region and sometimes on the ancles and calves of the legs.

Bite of the Rattle Snake. Blisters have been employ’d, an account of this practice I have published in the Philadelphia Transactions of Medicine.

Small Pox. Dr Driensder apply’d a blister on the arm with much advantage, where he was afraid of violent inflamation.

Incontinence of Urine. They should be apply’d upon the sacrum or pubis, so as to keep up the stranguary.

Gangrene. In gangrene they are verry serviceable, stopping the disease almost immediately. I refer you to Dr Physicks valuable paper in the Phylosophical Transactions of Philadelphia.