Colonial North America: Countway Library of Medicine

32

Materia Alimentaria

Gums

When powdered it resembles the farinacia, it is not a simple body but a compound of sugar and oil in different proportions, the Plumb, Cherry, Almond and also some of the bulbous roots contain mucilage similar to gum Arabic. Those trees which afford gum have generally astringent bark, though this is not always the case, it is acid in some plants, cultivation deprives plants of their astringency in some instances. Gums contain more carbone and less oxygen than sugar. Dr Gistanner says that animal mucilage contains little nourishment, but this is to support a favorite theory rather than truth, as he supposed it to depend on deficiency of oxygen, but according to this theory Opium ought to be the most nutritious article as it contains a great quantity of oxygen. Dr Young my former pupil made a number of experiments of Rabbits, confining some of them fourteen days to a diet of Gum Arabic, the did not gain flesh but looked healthy. To prove the nutritious qualities of gum Arabic Dr Gistanner relates the case of a child with Catarrhus visco, it discharged great quantities of mucilaginous fluid somewhat resembling gelly. The Dr in the first place

80

Materia Medica

Astringents

chewed increases the saliva, the leaves are more active than the stalk, they contain more Gum than Resin, water is its best menstruum, and I prefer the decoction to infusion. It was first introduced into practice about the year 1745. Some German Physicians have praised its qualities in the most unqualified terms, whilst others have said as much against it. Dr Haen highly recommends it in calculous cases he gave it in doses from ℈i [1 scruple] to Ʒfs [½ dram]. Dr Fenican has used it with advantage in nephrites, he cured twelve out of sixteen by giving mild purgatives, he gave it in doses of 5 grs. [5 grains] larger doses excite nausea but I have frequently taken from a ℈i [1 scruple] to Ʒfs [½ dram] without any disagreeable sensation. In Catarrhus Visico. I have no doubt it is a verry valuable medicine, it may do harm if a febrile state exists. I have used it with great advantage in that species of Nephritus Podagra. It sometimes produces a lightness of the chest, this I have myself experienced. Bark has the same effect on me. It has been recommended in gonorrhea and I can recommend it to you in cases of long standing both internally and in the form of injection. I thought I was the first that used it in this disease, but I find Mr Bell has

586

Materia Medica

Antilithics

of the Urinary Organs, it has also been employ’d in Dyssuria, Stranguary, Bloody Urine, and Catarrhus Vesicae, or a great secretion of mucous from the Bladder. I have generally found in Gouty patients where this depends on inflamation or irritation of the bladder, I think Uva Ursi improper in some cases of fluor albus and in gleets. I have found this medicine usefull in Virulent Gonorrhea of long standing. I have likewise found it beneficial one case of which the running was accompaneed with Hernia Humoralis and great irritation of the Urethra, this was cured by chewing the leaves of the Uva Ursi and taking the infusion, Bell says it is not where the prostate gland is effected; I think it not unlikely that the infusion or decoction might be advantageously injection, in some cases of Catarrhus Vesica, and also in the Uterus. Upon the whole I think Uva Ursi will remove the symptoms of calculous already existing, that it will prevent the formation of the stone that it will destroy them sometimes after they have formed, the mode of its operation is difficult to explain. I injected it into the stomach of an animal we are told by Gyraldi that it inflames that organ but I doubt this, and in other places I have had good reason for dobting others of his experiments and assertions. Dr Haller supposed it acts