Colonial North America: Countway Library of Medicine

256

Materia Medica

Tonics

it in this disease with the happiest effacts = In itch* [footnote back 1 page] and lepra when long continued it is found usefull.

Muriatic Acid. This is also worthy of notice and has been found usefull in Dyspepsia in doses of gtt. X. [10 drops] three times a day in water = It has been taken laterally as a remidy for calculous =In Anguina Pectoris if used in a gargle it has been found usefull.

Nitric Acid. I have never spoken of this before as a tonic, but I believe it may be given in such doses as benefit may be derived from its tonic powers which I have known it possess = it has been used in Syphilis with efficacy but I believe it has never made an entire cure of this disease, I cannot therefore recommend it and think it would be criminal to trust the cure of this disease to it solely, in Lepra and Hepatitis it has been used with advantage.

Muriate of Soda. Or common Salt. The tonic effects of this are obvious from the dayly use of tonic provisions, in the low state of typhus salted provisions prove the best tonic, yet some of the good effects of this medicine cannot be attributed to its tonic powers as in Hymoptisis in which disease it proves verry efficacious, it sometimes cures nausea and proves strengthening to the stomach, it is said to injure the teeth but I believe the opinion to be erronious, it has

544

Materia Medica

Cathartics

Glaubers Salts, and is a more expensive medicine.

Sea water. This is a cathartic and a verry certain one but it is not known in what ingredient this quality resides, it is found to contain the Muriates of Soda and Magnesia together with the Sulphate of Lime, the first in the greatest quantity, next, the second and of the third there is the least, the Muriate of Magnesia is properly an active ingredient, we may immitate Sea water by dissolving some of the purging salts, and Muriate of Soda in Water. Sea Water is of use in Scrophulous affections, though common salt is not.

Mineral Cathartics. Of this article though unquestionable one of the most powerfull, I shall say but little having already mentioned it.

Turbith Minerals.* [footnote back 1 page] These are often employ’d as Cathartics, but they may be used as such though its primary operation is that of Emetic, its secondary one is that of a cathartic.

The Antimonials. These may be so managed as to produce a purgative effect, particularly the Tart. Emet. Some Physicians use this mixed with Glauber Salts, in Dysentary I like to add ¼ of a grain of it to each purgative effect. James powder we have already spoken of as an Emetic, and Dr James often gave it as a purge, he observed himself that in its exhibition more Cathartic

622

Materia Medica

Anthelmintics

being too small as I think much larger may be given, it should be given in a little syrup or molasses as the taste is verry unpleasant.

Calomel & Aloes. We come now to speak of those medicines adapted to the cure of Ascarides. Calomel and Aloes given as Cathartics also Enemeta of various substances, as Ʒi [1 dram] of alloes in 1 lb of warm water, lime water, Olive Oil which acts by suffocating them, Common Salt, an infusion of Tobacco, a Solution of Assafoetida, or Hepar Sulphuris. Dr Kuhn is much in the habit of using enemeta and says he has seldom fail'd with one or either of these substances. I prefer the solution of Common Salt, after using the injection some time an active purge of Calomel should be given to remove them.

Polypodium Felix. Or Male Fern, has been used a long time in the cure of Tenea. The symptoms indicating their presence are a constant gnawing pain about the stomach, the dose of the powder is from Ʒi to Ʒiij [1 to 3 drams] taken in a little syrup, and a strong purge given after it has been repeated three or four times. A case is related of one worm 45 feet long being discharged by it, it formed the base of Madame Noufers vermifuge powder wich Louis XVI gave so much for

Dilochos Pruriens. Or Cowhage has been given