Colonial North America: Countway Library of Medicine

252

Materia Medica

Tonics

I believe it is the most active ingredient in all the cancer powders of the efficacy of which I once had an opportunity of Judging in a case of cancer in in the Pennsylvania Hospital and certainly produced a cure, Plumpkins composition is as follows Rx brownFoot one handfull, dogs fennel three sprigs, crude sulphur and White Arsenic each three thimblefulls I have not the least doubt of this medicine, arsenic has been of great service in cancer. In syphilis I believe from my modus operandi of the medicine it certainly would be of service, it certainly does sometimes produce salivation, looseness of the teeth and all the effects which mercury does.

Flowers of Zinc. This preparation is employ'd in Epilepsy from 1 gr. to grs ij [1 to 2 grains] in twenty four hours = In this dose it is said to be of verry great advantage it has been used in the Pennsylvania Hospital with much efficacy, in combination with Cuprum Ammoniacum it may be exhibitted in larger doses than when alone, the flowers of Zink have been used in ulcers from gunshot wounds with the best effects.

Supersuphate of Zinc. Of this there are two kinds, this preparation has been used as an injection in Gonorrhea, it has also been used in Epilepsy and whooping cough. In the latter disease I have exhibitted

548

Materia Medica

Cathartics

Magnesia. This is an earth and was used so long ago as the time of Count Desaline of Rome, but to the illustrious Dr Black we are indebted for its introduction into general use, in its fixed state it is a carbonate of Magnesia, and from this fact it was given with a view to produce a chimical decomposition and hence was exhibitted in acidities of the stomach, when given it should always be calcined to prevent the flatulence arising from its operation without calcination, in this form it is infinitely the best purgative we possess for the bowel complaints of children, combined with equal parts of sulphur it is a verry valuable cathartic, also to neutralize the acidity of the stomach in children at which time its secondary operation is to purge thereby remove the griping generally attendant upon acidity. When exhibited for this purpose the following is the best formula. Viz.

Rx Pulv. Rad. Rhoi grs VI [6 grains] Magnesia calcinat grs XX [20 grains] Oleum Anis gtt iv [4 drops] Laud Lig gtt ii [2 drops] Loaf Sugar Ʒi [1 dram] Aq. Font. ℥i [1 ounce]

M. Give one table spoonfull every two or three hours, in this way it operates verry mildly, and certainly.

549

* Rx Flor. Sulp. } Pulv. Elecampaine } aa ℥i [1 ounce of each] Suc. Glycerhiza } Mel ℥iv [4 ounces]

A portion as large as a nutmeg is to be taken thrice a day. This in the space of thirty years I have prescribed to many hundred patients, and in some protracted, obstinate, and most distressing cases; Yet I can affirm, that in no instance has it ever fail'd to cure. "Townsends Guide to Health"

550

Materia Medica

Cathartics

Sulphur. This is found native the product of volcanoes in Italy &c, there are numerous preparations in use but none are so usefull as the flor. Sulp. the doses of which is from 1, 2, 3, 4 Ʒ [drams]. Is the most mild and certain cathartic I know, its action being somewhat similar to alloes and is admirably adapted to cure habitual costiveness, opening the bowels without producing flatulence or leaving any disagreeable effect behind, it has been used by the Physicians of Germany in Dysentary; in colic attended with flatulence as in that preceding gout & rheumatism I have used with advantage. In cutaneous eruptions of all kinds both given internally and apply’d externally. Rosentein was in the habits of using it in expelled eruptions. In cronic it is certainly usefull by determining to the skin thus diverting the action, it has also been used with much advantage in catarrhs,* (footnote back 1 page) coughs, asthma, hooping cough, and Phthisis Pulmonalis, and from its great virtue in the last it obtained the name of anima pulmonum, but whether it deserves to rank so high or not I cannot say, but from its known power of exciting the cappilaries to a moderate diaphoresis I can readily immagine it may proove usefull. In intermittants it has long been used with great success in order to prevent the accession of the fit in the following formula.

Rx Flor. Sulp. Sublim Ʒij [2 drams] Proof Spirit ℥ifs [1½ ounce] M and drink Just

552

Materia Medica

Cathartics

before the expected accession. I had a patient not long since for whoom every thing was try’d ineffectually she at last got hold of this prescription and cured herself. I have also lately used with much advantage in colic pains from spasm.

Rx Flor. Sulp. sublim Ʒi [1 dram] Cows Milk ℥ij [2 ounces]

M a draught to be given every 3 or 4 hours.

Cold. This when apply’d to the feet are often cathartic, and frequently succeed in relieving violent constipation when other means have fail'd, in cases of "Colica Pictonum" I found great advantage from water being apply’d, in evacuating the intestines, perhaps the practice is a nicer one than it at first would appear to be, it is improper when there is an inflamation of the intestines, certain kinds of gestation have a remarkable effect upon the intestinal canal, riding on horse back is verry of a cathartic but sometimes it induces costiveness. Linneus proved it to be an anthelmintic.