Colonial North America: Countway Library of Medicine

526

Materia Medica

Cathartics

delicate females that are purged by one or two grains of assafoetida or 2 teaspoonsfull of molasses. I think that larger doses of cathartics are necessary in warm climates than in cold ones. It is well known that the cathartic medicines differ in their degrees of power, some acting partially though at the same time they empty the intestines completely, while others are more violent in their operation, they have been divided therefore into Mitiora, and Acriora. Dr Cullen thinks there are some acting as stimulants upon the extremities of the exhalents in the intestines only, and others which likewise increas the action of the vessels, but at the same time increase the perastaltic motion, though they increase this action they cannot stimulate the intestines so as to inflame them even when taken in large doses. Dr Duncan has divided them (Cathartics) into 1st Stimulantia, as Alloes, Jalap, Gamboge, &c. 2nd Refrigerantia, as neutral salts, tamarinds, &c. 3rd Astringentia, as rheubarb &c, 4th Emolientia, as Castor Oil, manna &c,* [footnote back 1 page] this arangment has been highly spoken of, but I do not think there is much proprety [propriety] in it, many of the classes are improperly denominated, to the term Astringentia" as apply’d to the cathartic medicines I object, though I have nothing to say against that of "Emolientia" that two of "Narcotica"

528

Materia Medica

Cathartics

too is verry unexceptionable the time before us will not allow of a dicussion of those diseases* [footnote back 1 page] in which our medicines are employ’d and I leave this subject unmentioned with less regret since I can refer you to Dr Hamilton's work on Cathartic's.** [footnote back 1 page] I would observe however that Hamilton goes to far, sometimes with them. In my view of the Cathartic Medicines I shall first speak of those which are derived from the vegitable, next of the neutral Salts, 3d of the Mineral Cathartics lastly of those that are spontaneous.

Vegitable Cathartics. These form an exclusive class, and I shall only treat of those most usefull, many of the dry'd fruits containing sacharine matter are gentle cathartics.

Manna. This is a sacharine matter of a peculiar kind not as Cullen says possessing as a purge no more power than as much brown sugar. Molasses also purges and that in greater degree than sugar in some persons its effects are verry different. Honey also is more laxative than sugar.

Oleum Ricini. Or Castor Oil. This obtained from the Palma Crista which grows Plentifully in the Unted States, it is not a native but is derived from the West Indies, the dose for an adult is ℥i [1 ounce] or a large tablespoonfull, some persons require more and they are not generally easily affected by other purges, the Castor Oil is usefull in all cases where purgatives are usefull