Colonial North America: Countway Library of Medicine

592

Materia Medica

Emmenagogues. That set of Medicines employ'd with a view to bring on Catamenia when they have never appeared, and to restore them when suspended, are called Emmenagogues or Menagogues, it has been disputed whether such medicines exist, but independent of all argument, my own experience has proved to me that they are not an inconsiderable class producing that effect, there are it is none which at all times specifically act upon the Uterus, but there are many that frequently produce that effect upon that organ. I have not time to consider this peculiar function, said to be peculiar to the females of the Human family, but this is not the case since there are some animals that menstruate, tho not at so regular periods as the females of the Human race, this is an interesting subject in a Physological point of view, but I must pass it over for the reasons I just mentioned. In treating of Emmenagogues and the employment it is necessary to keep in view that by the retention of the menses we mean we understand a stopping or irregular appearance after having flow’d at the regular period. It is by no means certain that retention is the effect of debility or atony; for I have known the periodical flow to appear in languid and debilitated girls, and retention occur in

612

Materia Medica

Emmenagogues

But above all things let your attention be directed to the state of the system. this is a golden rule and should be attended too.

Cathartics. Purgatives are also highly usefull by concentrating the disease in the Hypochondriac region, the principle of which is alloes combined with calomel from its acting on the viscera immediately in contact with the uterus, the following is the formula

Rx Soccot. Alloes grs iij or iv [3 or 4 grains] Calomel grs ij or iij [2 or 3 grains]

M and give in doses so as to act as a cathartic.

Venesection. Sometimes we find obstructions of the Catamenia, in plethoric females who are at the same time effected with head ache, and in such cases venesection is proper, a well regulated exercise is a necessary emmenagogue it is necessary also to keep up a proper tone of the system, this often succeeds when every other remidy fails.