Colonial North America: Countway Library of Medicine

516

Materia Medica

Emetics

Cochineal grs iij [3 grains]. M. fit. in a mortar, let it subside and strain for use, the last article is added merely to colour the solution. Dr Morely says a tablespoonfull is a dose for an adult, and a teaspoonfull for a child, he thinks this the best method for treating consumption I think the medicine is the better if the allum be omitted especially in whooping cough as it may be apt to purge. Dr Morely employ’d this solution in dysentary.

Tartar Emetic.9 [footnote back 1 page] This is a preparation of antimony most commonly used in England and the Unted States. It is made by equal parts of Glass of Antimony and Crem. Tartar boiled together untill the latter is saturated, the mixture is then suffered to cool and it deposits crystals of tartar Emetic, it is decomposed by heat, the alkalies &c. To assist its operation we often use chamomile tea, the dose is from 1 to 5 grs. [grains] when it is desired to puke* [footnote back 1 page] and purge 1 o 1½ grs grains of Tart Emetic combined with 8 or 10 of Ipecacuanha I have found it a verry usefull emetic, when we wish to give it alone and do not know the constitution of the patient we dissolve 5 grs [grains] in 6 tablespoonfull of warm water and give 1 spoonfull every 15 minutes untill it pukes.

Kermes Mineral. This may be made by boiling antimony in a pure alkaline solution, filtering, cooling, and suffering chrystals to deposite, this is much used in France and the