Colonial North America: Countway Library of Medicine

570

Materia Medica

Diuretics

noticed as a Diuretic, an infusion of Tobacco is made as follows.

Rx Fol. Nicotiana ℥i [1 ounce] Aq Bulliens lbi [1 pound]

Dr Fowler gave tobacco in this form and began with 60 gtt. [60 drops] 3 times a day.

In Dysuria, Dr Fowler gave 80 gtt. [80 drops] twice a day and found it to make complete cures, Bergius apply’d a fomentation of Tobacco in Phymosis. In Dropsy, I have given it with great advantage in the Pennsylvania Hospital, but my experience in this practice has not been great.

Scilla Maratima.* [footnote back 1 page] Or Squills. As a Diuretic this is equal if not superior to Digitalis. It is generally given in pills or with Gum Ammonic & syrup, there is certainly a resemblance between its Medical Properties and Digitalis. The squill is Emetic, Diuretic, and Cathartic and of course its primary effects upon the heart and arteries are those of a Stimulant, it however acts as such more powerfully than Digitalis. Next to the lancet says Withering I know of nothing that lowers the pulse like squills. Dr Home gave grs X [10 grains] of Squills with grs X [10 grains] of Nitre (with water) to act as a vomit, in Dropsies, this often purged and increased the urine at night, he supported the patient by means of cordials. Dr Cullen does not approve of this practice, the squill is a most powerfull Diuretic