Colonial North America: Countway Library of Medicine

364

Materia Medica

Stimulants

the patient in it for some time. Dr Hamlton of Edinburgh cured a cancer of the scrotum by the use of the bath in one month, when the cancer is seated on parts to which the bath cannot be applied as in the rectum, vagina &c, he made use of a syringe, for some kind of ulcers it is said to be better than any other (preparation) application. Mr Home thinks particularly to those of the ancle Joint, or where the ancle is enlarged he thinks a fomentation or poultice by boiling the fresh leaves is the best form, our article has been improperly called cicuta. A scrophulous ulcer on the face has been benefitted by it, grs iij [3 grains] exhibitted internally 2 or 3 times a day in the hands of Dr Khan he has used it in extract internally and in large doses in genuine Lepra in the Pennsylvania Hospital and its good effects were so evident that I should not hesitate to use it, the patient took it by the hands full, this is not a solitary instance for other authors mention its utility in leprous affections. Mr Ralston of Amsterdam has found it an effectual remidy in Elephantiasis which is a variety of lepra. Dr John Fothergill mentions a case of a verry painfull affection of the face which was verry sudden and hemlock was truly usefull. In syphilis it has been used with great advantage in sores succeeding buboes, the recent expressed juice is the best form, that of cataplasms is also used. Withering says it is good in ulcers of the lungs, the inspissated

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Materia Medica

Stimulants

fond of it as an antispasmodic. It has been used in Epilepsy and some other nervous affections as Chorea and Mania, with advantage in the spasmodic asthma of children, it has often been extremely usefull, it would be well for you to read, Dr Millers observations on this subject and those of Dr Rush on cynanche trachealis. Dr Miller gave it by the mouth and injection and found no medicine more usefull, he did not however confide entirely to this medicine. Dr Kuhn of Lancaster used it in injection and was not verry nice to the quantity and threw up about Ʒi [1 dram] in six ℥ [ounces] of water. I have also employ’d this medicine but not alone, there is another disease the Cynanche Maligna Trachealis in which it has been employ’d, here the excretions must be kept up and the squill combined with ammoniac is usefull, but the combination of Assafoetida with the oxymel of Squill is better. Dr Johnson of Worcester used it here he gave the bark, and between the doses gave a large spoonfull of the infusion of assafoetida, this is different from the croup of this country, the patient has at first the symptoms of scarlatina anguinosa and is often fatal. Assafoetida has been employ’d in common spasmodic asthma, all the foetid gums enter the circulation and act as expectorants, but none are better than this, it is said they prevent and remove the effects of opium. Dr Monroe gave it for this purpose along with

622

Materia Medica

Anthelmintics

being too small as I think much larger may be given, it should be given in a little syrup or molasses as the taste is verry unpleasant.

Calomel & Aloes. We come now to speak of those medicines adapted to the cure of Ascarides. Calomel and Aloes given as Cathartics also Enemeta of various substances, as Ʒi [1 dram] of alloes in 1 lb of warm water, lime water, Olive Oil which acts by suffocating them, Common Salt, an infusion of Tobacco, a Solution of Assafoetida, or Hepar Sulphuris. Dr Kuhn is much in the habit of using enemeta and says he has seldom fail'd with one or either of these substances. I prefer the solution of Common Salt, after using the injection some time an active purge of Calomel should be given to remove them.

Polypodium Felix. Or Male Fern, has been used a long time in the cure of Tenea. The symptoms indicating their presence are a constant gnawing pain about the stomach, the dose of the powder is from Ʒi to Ʒiij [1 to 3 drams] taken in a little syrup, and a strong purge given after it has been repeated three or four times. A case is related of one worm 45 feet long being discharged by it, it formed the base of Madame Noufers vermifuge powder wich Louis XVI gave so much for

Dilochos Pruriens. Or Cowhage has been given