Colonial North America: Countway Library of Medicine

542

Materia Medica

Cathartics

probable as some Physicians that it has or could cure "Syphalis" by purging violently the patient thus relieved was probably only affected with gonorrhea. I have now finished the class of vegitables cathartics and shall now proceed to the second class of my division.

Cathartic Neutral Salts. Several of the Salis Medicis or Neutral Salts with Alkaline bases are employ’d in practice, but since they are so well known I shall not treat verry fully of them.

Sulphate of Soda. Or Glaubers Salts, this is verry much used, the dose is about ℥i [1 ounce] for an adult sometimes ℥fs [½ ounce] is sufficient, it cannot however in even so larger a dose as to heat the system or produce inflamation of the intestines, there are various methods of disguising the taste of those methods, sometimes lime Juice is squeezed into it, but the best method is to combine with the Sulphate of Soda Ʒfs or Ʒi [½ or 1 dram] of Cream Tart* [footnote back 1 page] this improves the taste and assists the operation.

Sulphate of Potash. Or Vitriolated Tartar. This has been employ’d in France in doses of from X grs. to Ʒij [10 grains to 2 drams] it is sometimes dissolved in Mineral Water and drank to keep the bowels gently open.

Phosphate of Soda. This has lately been employ’d and is said to be superior to glaubers Salts. I formerly used it but have lately laid it aside. I think it inferior to