Colonial North America: Countway Library of Medicine

318

Materia Medica

Stimulants

employ'd it from the second day. Authors observe that Dovers powders increase the pain in rheumatism untill the sweat comes on. Opium is a verry dangerous remidy in acute rheumatism when it does not sweat, Ipecacuanha diminishes its narcotic effects, small doses of Ipecacuanha has a remarkable effect on the nerves. Dr Hamilton found opium usefull with mercury in acute rheumatism, in the inflamitory gout of the extremities opium is improper, it is a verry desirable object to confine the gout to the feet, and I think this may be done by keeping the feet covered with flannel. Dr Browns idea of gout were verry incorrect, when he drove it from the extremities, it appeared in some of his vital organs, gout it is true often varies, but in its commencement is always of the inflamitory kind, in the gout of the stomach the symptoms are sickness, nausea, and vomiting, the patient sometimes complains of extreme cold in the stomach, here opium must be given verry frequently and liberally.

Colica Arthritica. When giving it in gout of the stomach, brandy, ether, and ginger may be combined with it, the two first should be used cautiously ginger however is verry effectual, it may

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Materia Medica

Stimulants

be taken boiled in milk and 2 or 3 Ʒ [drams] of the ginger to be taken in twenty four hours. I prefer it diffused in warm water and in this manner with small doses of opium I have given ℥i [1 ounce] in the twenty four hours.

Hermicrania. Opium is often a verry excellent remidy especially when combined with the bark, this often a disease of the gouty kind.

Sick Headache. Is I think a form of gout this frequently goes of in (the form of gout) with diarrhea, vomiting, flushing of the soles of the feet, and coldness. It is often removed by Laudanum in a cup of strong coffee, it is common with delicate females.

Measles. Opium cannot be given with propriety, and I think much mischief has been done by too liberal use of it in this disease. Dr Sydenham gave it more freely than we can in common cases, and I suppose the cases that came under his notice were less inflamitory than those that came under our notice in this country. Opiates are however necessary with us and I think the brown mixture answers verry well, the following is the composition

Rx Elixir Paregoric ℥i [1 ounce] Extract Liquorice ℥ij [2 ounces] Gum Arabic ℥ij [2 ounces] from 50 to 150 gtt. [drops] Vin. Antim.

to be given in the quantity of a spoonfull every four hours.

Small Pox. Of the use of opium in

593

* Rubigo Ferri. Or the Carbonate of Iron, there are a vast variety in use, but none of the preparations are so usefull as this, the dose of it alone is from 10 to 15 grs. [grains] three times a day, but I prefer the following formula.

Rx Carbonas Ferri, } Peruv. Bark. } aa ℥i [1 ounce each] Pulv Zingiber, } Simple Syrup Q.S. [sufficient quantity]

M. and make into an electuary of which a lump the size of a nutmeg is to be given 2 or 3 times a day, this I have found the best form to exhibit the medicine when I wish to exhibit the medicine in substance, but the following is the best and most pleasant to the patient. Viz a Chalabeate Wine.

Rx Carbonas Ferri ℥ij [2 ounces] Rad. Gentian & Orange Peel, aa ℥fs [½ ounce each] Port Wine lbij [2 pounds]

Bruise and put into a bottle, then expose to the heat of the sun or a warm fire for 2 or 3 days. The dose is ⅔ of a wine glass full, 3 times a day. In this shape there is no tonic preferable to the rust of Iron. It has also been advantageously combined with castor, assafoetida, gallanum and such combinations are particularly usefull in the irregular actions which frequently occur indicating spasm.

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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.