Colonial North America: Countway Library of Medicine

100

Materia Medica

Astringents

hands by taking soup before he began to glaze, bakers are subject to this disease which in some measure serves to show it does not always proceed from the action of lead, type founders are also subject to this complaint. Colica Pictinum. The bowels should always be kept open, for which purpose the christals of tartar and castor oil should always be recommended sometimes the puse [pulse] is full, when bleeding will be necessary. Dr Cullen says it is never accompanied with fever but he is certainly mistaken. Mercurial purges are verry good, but in general Ol. Recini will answer every purpose, and I prefer it in this disease Opium after the bowels have been opened maybe used to relieve pain. Stone says that opium purges by rousing intermittants from their torpor. I have used the warm bath with happy effects and have also poured cold water on the patients feet with advantage, the bad effects of lead is seldom produced by too large doses accidentally taken as by small doses repeatedly taken, large doses sometimes vomit and purge it has been used externally in inflamation as Erysipelas, in injections, in application to sore eyes &c. I think it verry seldom does harm Cullen says it induces mortification, but Darwin says that lead water applied to Erysipelatous

104

Materia Medica

Astringents

Sach. Sat. in cases of hemorrhagy, in hemoptisis, hemorrhages from the stomach and intestines, and in uterine hemorrhages both of pregnant and non-pregnant women, in case of hemoptisis which threatened the speedy death of my patient I gave the Sach. Sat. in doses of grs. vi [6 grains] every two hours for several hours together. I ascribed the recovery of my patient solely to this treatment Dr B says he knows of many cases of hymoptosis that were cured by Sach. Sat. I made use of the following formula in hymoptisis

Rx Sach. Sat. grs 1 [1 grain] Conserve of roses grs. iij [3 grains] Tinct Opii gtt v [5 drops]

Mice fit Bol. Ni give this every six hours. I have given the Sach. Sat. in many cases of Uterine hemorrhage and have never known this medicine to produce any serious inconvenience. In one case it seemed to occasion a slight degree of tenesmus but this was soon removed by a dose of castor oil. I am certain that Sach. Sat. sometimes acts as a laxative when in small doses, in its administration I always combine with it a small portion of opium and I think the lead may be given in larger doses with than without the opium, the dose must vary according to the state and age of the patient. In uterine hemorrhages I seldom give less than two grs. [grains] at a time in combination with opium fs gr. [½ grain] once

388

Materia Medica

Stimulants

the granulations which it forms between the fingers are pretty good tests with respect to the dose. Mr Wall says that under grs vi [6 grains] he never knew it do any good, Cullens dose is from X to XXX grs. [10 to 30 grains].

Small has published a dissertation in which he endeavors to prove this article worthy attention Artificial Musk. This has been recommended by Musgrave and many Physicians and by Mana invented, and is thus prepared Rx Ol. Amber Ʒi [1 dram] concentrated Nitric Acid Ʒiij [3 drams] the acid is to be added to to Oil guttation and after the action has ceased the product is to be well washed in water it is then to be dissolved in Alcohol in propotion of X grs. [10 grains] Musk to a pint of Alcohol, two drops of this is a dose to a child, it is said to be equal to the best animal musk, it is much employd in many diseases &c.

Castor. This is generally supposed to be obtained from the inguinal glands of the bever, but we now know it is a peculiarly odiferous matter which is produced from 2 bogs, the best castor is brought from Russia in round hand balls. Dr Cullen says it is often found a powerfull antispasmodic in nervous diseases, it is also employ'd as an emmenagogue. Castor is best given in substance and in large doses from X to XXX grs. [10 to 30 grains] or even to Ʒi [1 dram]. The tincture is made thus Rx Castor Ʒij [2 drams] Proof

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