Colonial North America: Countway Library of Medicine

238

Materia Medica

Tonics

copper acted too much alike, when they were used as escharotics, they seem to act alike on the system, Copper sometimes induces salivation.

Scrophula. In a case of this kind in the Pennsylvania Hospital, I gave the bark and applied the verdigris in rag to the ulcers the patient was discharged in a few weeks without the aid of mercury.

Chancre. It has been used in venerial ulcers and may be applied in three ways either in the form of powder, solution, or ointment. In affections of the eyes some of the preparations of copper have been used with complete success. Dr Cullen thinks it too irritating, to prevent nausea as I said before it must not be given on an empty stomach cinnamon also will obviate its nauseating tendency.

Nitrate of Silver or Lunar Caustic. One part of silver to four parts diluted nitric acid it has long been used as an escharotic, and will long be continued in indolent ulcers, a solution of nitrate of silver proves highly usefull and it possesses the advantage that its strength may be decreased to any degree it is remarkable in removing leprous eruptions, venerial buboes, and ringworms, when used to remove a chancre it should be applied in the form of solution with a camonels [camels] hair pencil, taking

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

494

Materia Medica

Emetics

given only in nauseating doses. The Ipecacuanha is the best of the emetics, and next to Sal. Plumbi I have found no medicine so powerfull or usefull, the moment that a nausea is induced the hemorrhage ceases.* [footnote 3 pages back] Spontaneous Vomiting has often cured uterine hemorrhages, the nausea so common is a wise rule, in pregnancy to prevent hemorrhage which might be fatal to the foetus.** [footnote 1 page back] I am not able to explain the action of Ipecacuanha in preventing a flow of blood, it cannot be by its astringency because astringents will not produce the same effect, but if this power of stopping hemorrhage belongs more particularly to Epecacuanha than any other medicine it must depend upon a specific quality inherent in that article.

Hernia Humoralis. Or Swelled Testacle, Vomiting is verry usefull or said to be so. Mr Hunter supposed this to be owing to the sympathy between the stomach and testacle, perhaps it arises from the debility which is induced by emetics, the practice however is not worth pursuing. If the tumor arises from a venerial taint I should not expect much from emetics. Our medicine has not been much employ’d for discussing but I think they might be used verry advantageously for that purpose. People going to sea have often had buboes discussed by the nausea, the vomiting acts be stimulating the absorbents to

496

Materia Medica

Emetics

take up the matter contained in the bubo. Emetics have also been employ’d in the bite of venimous reptiles and are verry usefull here.

Incarcerated Hernia. I have had no experience of their effects, they probably act by exciting nausea, and thus relieve the spasm. They are not commonly used as anthelmintics but worms are often discharged by small doses. In Syngultus or Hiccough emetics have been found usefull.

Particular Emetics. All the emetics are taken from the vegitable or mineral kingdom. Dr Duncans division of emetics is as follows, 1st Incitantia, as Turbith Mineral, Tartar Emetic &c. 2nd Evacuantia. As Ipecacuanha, Squills &c. 3rd Califacientia. As Horse Radish, Mustard seed &c. 4th Narcotica. As Tobacco, Foxglove &c, But these do not act as emetics by their Narcotic powers. I am not satisfied with Dr Duncans arangement he has a class of Incitantia but they are all incitants, he has one also of Evacuantia, but all emetics are evacuants. Professor Dobson has made the following arrangement. 1st Relaxantia, 2nd Resolventia, 3rd Colida, Warm Emetics, 4th Drastica, Drastic Emetics. In my own view of the subject I shall not follow any of their arangements, But divide them into vegitable and mineral. First of the vegitable emetics.

Nicotiana. Dr Cullen does not approve of

632

Materia Medica

Blisters

blister on the small of her back, and in 24 hours it stopped the discharge. I have since employ'd the same remidy with the same good effect in many obstinate cases.

Gleet. In gleet blisters are not much employ'd, but they have been found usefull, and I think they are well adapted to it, an accident discover'd their utility here.

Gonorrhea. They are not often in this common and troublesome disease, tho what has been said of their employment in Lucorrhea we might suppose they would be usefull in this also. I have never used them but Mr John Hunter said that a blister cured a gonorrhea that had resisted every other remidy.

Buboe's. Blisters are verry effectual in removing Venerial Buboes, and should be resorted to early.

Diabetes. I have little to say of their use in Diabetes of long continuance. I think it probable no relief would be obtained but in recent cases proceeding from gout, or from the fat, or from bile in fevers, they might be verry usefull and should be apply'd on the region of the kidneys.

Angina Pectoris. When apply'd to the sternum &