Colonial North America: Countway Library of Medicine

145

Diaphoretics

be justly Styled the Opprobrium Medicine, much which proceeds from the too liberal use of cathartics; my practice has been after a verry lenient cathartic to administer an anodyne diaphoretic and the Cretaceous Mixture, after which I administer as a tonic to the Intestines an infusion of the black berry root, the manner of preparing the infusion is as follows.

Rx Manipulus Aq. Bullien lbi [1 pound]

Put them in a teapot and let them simmer by the fire to ⅔ and then give a desert spoonfull every two or three hours, after a little time the bowels will become so constipated as to require a gentle laxative; This medicine though so little known to Practitioners Is I believe by far the best tonic we have in such cases, it is also peculiarly adapted to the Diarrhea of Old People.

193

Diaphoretics

Laurus Sassafras. This is an indigenous plant of the United States and stands next to Guaicum. In the shape of tea or decoction it is a verry popular practice to administer one or two lb [pound] pr Diem [per day]. It also enters as an ingredient in the Lisbon Diet Drink, (as follows).

Rx Rad. Sarsaparilla ℥iij [3 ounces] Cort. Rad. Sassafras ℥fs [½ ounce] Shavings of Lignum Vita Ʒiv [4 drams] Liquorice Root Ʒiv [4 drams] Merzereon Ʒifs [1½ drams] Red Saunders Ʒi [1 dram] Aq. Bulliens lbvi [6 pounds]

Macerate with a gentle heat 6 hours, then boil it down to lbiij [3 pounds] adding towards the end the Mezereon and strain the liquor. Dose iij or iv ℥i [3 or 4 ounces] four or five times in a day. the Saunders only gives it

514

Materia Medica

Emetics

the only medicine used in that disease. I have not yet try'd that practice Dr M_ has spoken highly of an emetic called the dry Vomit which is composed of equal parts of Tart. Emet. and Blue Vitriol, the dose is five grains without any liquid from which it is so called, sometimes some of the preparations of mercury are emetic, principally the saline ones, as Corosive Sublimate &c.

Turbith Mineral. This acts briskly as an emetic in doses of of from 3 to 5 or 6 grains, for an adult, it is usefull for this purpose in particular, but if a purge be not given after it pukes it is apt to salivate. I employ it to produce this effect, it is sometimes given in "Hernia Humoralis". Dr Cullen does not like this preparation as an emetic but I have used it in various affections. I have prescribed it in Cynanche Maligna and Scarlatina Anginosa, with success, as an emetic, it appears to throw off an unusual quantity of water from the stomach. I lately gave in "Cynanche Maligna" grs 3 [3 grains] of it to a child 4 years old.

Sulphate of Zinc. Or White Vitriol. This is a quick emetic in doses of from 5 to 6 grains, on this account it is generally given when poisons has been taken into the stomach. I prefer however the Ipecacuanha, or an infusion of mustard in those cases. The Vitriolic Solution has been much praised by Dr Morely his formula is as follows Rx Vit Alba. Ʒiij [3 drams] Rock Allum Ʒi [1 dram] Aq. Bullions lbi [1 pound]

570

Materia Medica

Diuretics

noticed as a Diuretic, an infusion of Tobacco is made as follows.

Rx Fol. Nicotiana ℥i [1 ounce] Aq Bulliens lbi [1 pound]

Dr Fowler gave tobacco in this form and began with 60 gtt. [60 drops] 3 times a day.

In Dysuria, Dr Fowler gave 80 gtt. [80 drops] twice a day and found it to make complete cures, Bergius apply’d a fomentation of Tobacco in Phymosis. In Dropsy, I have given it with great advantage in the Pennsylvania Hospital, but my experience in this practice has not been great.

Scilla Maratima.* [footnote back 1 page] Or Squills. As a Diuretic this is equal if not superior to Digitalis. It is generally given in pills or with Gum Ammonic & syrup, there is certainly a resemblance between its Medical Properties and Digitalis. The squill is Emetic, Diuretic, and Cathartic and of course its primary effects upon the heart and arteries are those of a Stimulant, it however acts as such more powerfully than Digitalis. Next to the lancet says Withering I know of nothing that lowers the pulse like squills. Dr Home gave grs X [10 grains] of Squills with grs X [10 grains] of Nitre (with water) to act as a vomit, in Dropsies, this often purged and increased the urine at night, he supported the patient by means of cordials. Dr Cullen does not approve of this practice, the squill is a most powerfull Diuretic

574

Materia Medica

Diuretic

he gave it Pneumonia. Some of the Physicians of Edinburgh and Copenhagen tells us that they found it injurious in Phrenitis Vera. I should suppose that it was improper in true Pneumonia being a pretty powerfull and perminant Stimulus. I have not employ’d it in this disease but I have in Pneumonia Trachealis & in the West India Pneumonia, it has been used in Cynanche Trachealis or Croup,(5) [footnote back 1 page] by Dr Archer of Maryland and he says with great success. I have given it in many cases of croup & exhibitted it in strong decoction of the root and that in large doses, it is most efficacious when it is Emetic or Diuretic, and sometimes it acts as a cathartic but not often. I gave it with advantage combined with calomel and Ipecacuanha, but nevertheless have not forgotten the lancet, with respect to the dose it is not necessary to be precise, the following is my formula.

Rx Senaka root ℥i [1 ounce] Aq. Bulliens lbi [1 pound]

Beat or cut the root then add the boiling water, it should then be put down to the fire, but without boiling it, and frequently strained, it is fit for use in half an hour, to a child 5 years old I gave a desart [dessert] spoonfull every 3 or 4 hours untill it excites plentifull puking & expectoration we should avoid copious puking. I think that this