Colonial North America: Countway Library of Medicine

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Materia Medica

Tonics

this is considerably bitter and pretty pure, containing a considerable quantity of mucilage and some astringency it has been used in consumption. Bergius recommends it boiled in milk, my own experiments of it amounts to nothing.

Humulas Lupulas. Or common hop, is a simple and pure bitter, the flower is odorous its principal use is in malt liquors preventing their becoming acessant. Ray informs us that since the introduction of hop in bear there have been four cases of calculi in London there must be some fallacy in this opinion. Dr Sydenham mentions the ill effects of malt liquors in generating calculi, the hop says Dr Darwin may contribute to gravel in the kidneys as the intemperate ale drinkers are the most subject to gravel. I am disposed to favor this opinion from experience, I know it will bring on paroxysms of fever of gravel &c. A single glass of Porter will bring on Paroxysms of nephritis in myself. Dr Dobson ascribed this effect to fixed air, it ought to be placed among the first of the bitter tonics. Linneus ascribed a narcotic quality to the hops, I am disposed to believe there is some foundation for this opinion. Dr Wells has recommended the hop pillow in cases of mania

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Materia Medica

Tonics

or great wakefulness, to induce sleep, the tonic power of the porter depends on the hop. It is peculiarly adapted to the low state of Typhus fever. I believe porter imparts more real and durable strength than wine in smaller quantities. I believe it amongst the most proper remidies in chlorosis. I have used a tincture prepared as follows

Hops Ʒ iij [3 drams] Alkohol ℥ viij [8 ounces]

Dose gtt 60 [60 drops] which is equal to 20 gtt [20 drops] of Laud. Liq., this tincture is particularly good for such patients as are affected with giddiness, stupor, head ache &c from taking Laudanum.

Faba St.Ignatii. Or Saint Ignatius Bean, this is a tree producing a gourd like fruit, the seed is an intense bitter, with a narcotic quality, this union of narcotic is very frequent. It has never been used in America that I know of except by Dr Duffield, Ʒfs [½ dram] given to a dog produced a flow of saliva, and convulsions and death in less than half an hour. It should be used with great caution. In the Madrid Pharmicopia it is recommended in intermittant fevers. Dr Lind grs ij [2 grains] in ℥ ij [2 ounces] of water and says it cured two quartans, but failed in twice that number. Valuntine cured a case of epilepsy by the use of a few grains of it.

Nux Vomica. Bergius thought this a species of faba,

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Dorchus Carota. Or Wild Carot, the root or seed may be used in infusion and has succeeded when every thing else had faild, tho it seems at first inactive, it is certainly more powerfull than the garden vegitable used for culinary purposes tho I have used the latter in its stead when the former could not be procured, the infusion should be given to the extent of 1 lb increasing to lbij [2 pounds] pr Day.

Humulus Lupulus. In infusion has been used it is said with much advantage. It must be given to the extent of one pint pr day and will seldom fail to lull the pain arising from calculi. In Nephritis it will repair the disease in a few days.

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Medical Recipes

A Tonic. — The following is one of the best recipes for a good Tonic and Strengthening pill that we know of:

Rx Ext. of Hop Ʒi (one drachm [1 dram] Pulv. Hop Ʒfs (half ditto [½ dram] Pulv. Rhubarb Ʒfsj (one & half) [1½ dram] Pulv. Ginger Ʒfs (half do) [½ dram] Syrup a sufficient quantity

Make into thirty six pills. Take two morning and evening. These are tonic, gently aperient and corroborant.

Preparation of Slippery Elm Rx A table spoonful of Slippery Elm and a table spoonful of Brown sugar. Mix them in a tea cup full of Cold water. Put it in a pint of water and boil it more or less as may be desired. Strain through a thin rag, and grate nutmeg and sugar over it.

Recipe for Rheumatism Chronic. Rx Oleum Sassafras ℥fs [½ ounce] Ol. Lavender ℥fs [½ ounce] Spt. Hartshorn ℥ifs [1½ ounces] Spt. Vini ℥iv [4 ounces] Gum Camphor ℥i [1 ounce]

Mix.