Colonial North America: Countway Library of Medicine

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