Colonial North America: Countway Library of Medicine

10

Introduction

Experience

and insufficiency of Linneus arrangements, though his classes may have some resemblance, his class Pentaria is an exception, in this class he places Chinchona, Strammonicum, Jalap, Ipecacuanha, and Potatoe, all which possess very different virtues. In his class Herinaria he has Rice, Pine Apple, Garlic, Squills, and Alloes. In the 13th Class Some of the most excellent plants with hellebore, Chocolate, and Gamboge, these are sufficient to prove the unnatural arrangement of Linneus. Dr Rush has divided the system into particular or minor systems and is proposed to class them as they operate on each of those. In some such method I think a division might be made of more lasting duration, but I fear the time has not yet arived for a complete arangement on this plan it would be easy to shun the objections such a system would be liable to. I reject the idea of one medicine being confined in its operation to one system alone. Opium for instance operates on several, this is evident from its carrying a more evident secretion of bile, and in the yellow fever brings back lost pain, in the viscus, it acts on the lungs increasing the secretion of

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Materia Medica

Stimulants

fond of it as an antispasmodic. It has been used in Epilepsy and some other nervous affections as Chorea and Mania, with advantage in the spasmodic asthma of children, it has often been extremely usefull, it would be well for you to read, Dr Millers observations on this subject and those of Dr Rush on cynanche trachealis. Dr Miller gave it by the mouth and injection and found no medicine more usefull, he did not however confide entirely to this medicine. Dr Kuhn of Lancaster used it in injection and was not verry nice to the quantity and threw up about Ʒi [1 dram] in six ℥ [ounces] of water. I have also employ’d this medicine but not alone, there is another disease the Cynanche Maligna Trachealis in which it has been employ’d, here the excretions must be kept up and the squill combined with ammoniac is usefull, but the combination of Assafoetida with the oxymel of Squill is better. Dr Johnson of Worcester used it here he gave the bark, and between the doses gave a large spoonfull of the infusion of assafoetida, this is different from the croup of this country, the patient has at first the symptoms of scarlatina anguinosa and is often fatal. Assafoetida has been employ’d in common spasmodic asthma, all the foetid gums enter the circulation and act as expectorants, but none are better than this, it is said they prevent and remove the effects of opium. Dr Monroe gave it for this purpose along with

432

Materia Medica

Errhines

at present than they were formerly, snuff of the tobacco and indian turnip is said to be usefull in amaurosis, candour obliges one to declare that the use of tobacco does not appear unfavorable to longevity, numerous instances have been collected of persons who have arrived to an old age, and who had long been in the habit of chewing and snuffing, snuffing should be avoided by all those who wish to shine as public speakers as it is injurious to the voice.

Assarabacca. This is a most powerfull errhine and common about the hills of Pennsylvania and is called crowfoot and wild ginger, this is the basis of the Pulvis Stimulantorius of the London and Edinburgh Colledges. Dr Cullen says that grs iij [3 grains] of it is a dose and that four grains make a good snuff.

Squill. The common squill is a considerable errhine.

Poke root. The powder of the root of the common poke of this Country is also an errhine, the assarabaca, squill, and poke root should have been mentioned before tobacco.

Digitalis or Foxglove. The pulv. leaves of the foxglove are considerably errhine, and when apply'd to the nose occasion a discharge. I shall now speak of the more acrid and powerfull of this class of medicines.

Euphorbium Officinale. Dr Cullen says the more acrid the errhine of which this is one, are apt even in moderate doses to inflame the

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Materia Medica

Sialagogues

has commenced, in the East Indies they prefer the unction to the internal use of our medicine. I have employ’d mercury to great advantage in hepatetis, its frequently attended with cough, in this stage mercury produces an astonishing effect.

Broncocele or Goitre. I have elsewhere given my opinion with respect to opium in it, there are a great variety of remidies proposed for the cure of it, but I confine myself chiefly to opium. I have but little to say respecting mercury here. Dr John Professor in England uses the mercurial Pills with great advantage, some writers say that mercury does harm while others say that it only stops the progress of the disease, it is certain it has sometimes yielded to mercury, it sometimes cures itself, or is cured by some other disease as is exemplified frequently.

Dropsy. I have always spoken of its employment in dropsy of the brain, the use of mercury in dropsy is not a modern practice. I have advantageously employ’d the turbith Mineral in combination with the squill especially where the dropsy was accompanied with some obstruction of the viscera. Dr Lind has cured about 40 cases of dropsy by exciting a salivation, the East India practitioners however observe that a salivation does harm in dropsy, also some Europians that have taken mercury for syphilis suffer most from dropsy. Mercury seems to be best adapted to those cases of dropsy arising

484

Materia Medica

Emetics

emetics, this Idea I do not believe to be correct, because this diaphoretic quality is not common to all the emetics, but belongs only to Epecac. and the preparations of antimony, and is not a property of squills. Dr Robinson supposed that emetics produced a constriction of the extreme vessels, Mr Hunter thought there was a sympathy between the stomach and the testacles, he therefore gave emetics in Hernia Humeralis, Mr Monroe informs us that that when a moderate emetic is taken the stomach remains undisturbed for sometime, the antimonial emetics induce purging and a full pulse, squill occasion a flow of urine, it has been supposed the power of vomiting is given to the stomach to enable it to throw of [off] noxious substances, the nausea produced by emetics is termed a sensation of a peculiar kind, inducing vomiting, purging, and sweating. I think we should always keep out of view the Vis Medicatrix Natura, the Idea which Dr Booerhave entertained upon this subject were verry correct, all emetics are not noxious is clearly evinced by water being heated to a certain degree will produce vomiting, it has been said it relaxes the stomach, this cannot be the reason since four times the quantity of warm tea does not excite vomiting, there is nothing noxious in the tickling of a feather.

Of the Use of Emetics in Diseases, and first in fevers, their employment here previous to