Colonial North America: Countway Library of Medicine

20

Materia Alimentaria

Chyle, Sugar

able to detect an acid except when digestion was imperfect. Dr More Supposes an excess of acid to arise from a morbid secretion of the stomach, as in cases of Dyspepsia, there are few if any nutrients obtained from the Mineral Kingdom, they are merely condiments. Chyle. Is never found in the stomach, hence food is not properly digested in this organ, in proof of the Pylorus has been tyed and the absorbents of the stomach have been found distended with a limpid fluid. I believe Chyle is formed in the whole tract of the primae via. Dr Haller found Lacteals even in the Rectum. Sugar. This is one of the most nutritious articles used in the food of man, and vegitables are so in proportion to the quantity of saccharinic matter they contain. It is obtained in great quantities from the Date, Fig, Raisins, and Beets. I lived by the advice of Dr Cullen when in Edinburgh 6 months on Dates for the gout. Farina and Sugar, are naturally changed into each other in malting the farina is changed into sugar hence in vegitables sometime we obtain a large quantity of sugar, at another farina. Dr Willis observes that sugar freely used

116

Materia Medica

Tonics

no bitterness. The question may be verry naturally asked, on what the tonic power depends this I am unable to answer to yours and my own satisfaction, none are tonics but such as excite a stimulating power, but not that degree as to increase the heat of the body. In a fever they do not increase the pulse or the force of the circulation, this is incorrect, the bitters do not give out oil, Odour Aronia, nothing saline nor acid, we are acquainted with the bitter principles in some articles. In some we have the bitter and astringent principles united to consitute the tonic as in the Cinchona. Dr Cullen has placed a number of medicines among the tonics. I shall place under the class of tonics, astringents. I have ranked those only so particularly, vegitable tonics and those of less astringency and which gives strength of a permanent kind by their stimulus on their vital principle whatsoever that may be. Dr Cullen supposes tonics acts by curing Dyspepsia, by imparting tone to the stomach and its fibres, but I suppose this disease to be more of a morbid state of the gastric Juices, and not to a weak stomach. I am of the same opinion of Dr Monroe who verry Justly ascribes their effect to food increasing a heat

130

Materia Medica

Tonics

This plant was first discovered by myself, it is a valuable root and deserves attention, it is of a large size a pure simple bitter without astringency. In 1797 this plant was discovered in the state of New York. It has since been found in many other states it grows plentifully in Kentucky where it is called Colombo, which it verry much resembles, it is verry valuable if obtained about the time the leaves begin to dry and fall.

Cheronia angularis. It resembles the centaury verry much but may be easily known from it by the bitterness of the centaury residing in the leaves, that of Cheronia in the blossoms, it is verry common in the United States, and known in families by the name of Centaury. Quassia. We are acquainted with three species of quassia the Amara, Simarouba, and Polygama. Quassia Amara. This derives its name from its discoverer Quassy a Negro Doctor of Surriname who kept it a secret untill he was rewarded by a pupil of Linneus, its discoverer used it in intermittant fevers with success, the quassia has sometimes been used in gout. In inflamitory gout I am of opinion it is verry injurious, the Quassia Amara is a tree of a moderate size. In dispepsia and debility of the intestines

132

Materia Medica

Tonics

after dysentary it is of great use, this tree is a pure bitter, though the bark possesses it in a greater degree, in some respects it is superior to Cort Cinchona, and columbo as a bitter, but inferior as an antiseptic, quassia is used in intermittant, remittant, and continued fevers. Dr Monroe used it fevers and dropy. Dr Letsom preferred it to all other bitters in hysteria, Hypocondriasis, dyspepsia, and most nervous diseases; and assures us it seldom fails in his hands, but he was fond of long prescriptions, and used this medicine in combination with several, as the Sulphet of Zink. Sem. Card. It has been recommended in heriditary gout and disserves some credit. Combined with Columbo it is particularly adapted to dysentaries of long standing. Haller used it in calculous. Quassia Poligama. This is a tall and beautifull tree growing in the West Indies described by Mr Lindsay every part except the pulp is bitter, the bark is most so, this I am of opinion is incorrect, the wood is the most intence bitter. Dr Lindsay used it in remitting fever with success, he also employed it in dropsy and chlorosis, it has been used in a disease called by the Nosologists Pica with success. Pica or a depraved appetite in some women during

138

Materia Medica

Tonics

menstrua so that they reside in a resin. Dr Percival thought it corrected the pubescency of bile, he took a ℈i [1 scruple] which had no effect on his pulse, he recommends it in yellow fever but I hope no Physician will trust the cure to this medicine; but it is only in the second stage it can be usefull, he used it also in vomiting, Cholera Infantium &c. Dr Percival says it is most agreeable when combined with Cort. Aurant. bit. Dr Cullen says it is little used in Britain and possesses no peculiar power in correcting pubescency, he says he has used it in Cholera Morbus without any previous purging with the happiest effects. Dr G Brown says he does not think it entitled to the encomium it has received. In chlorosis it has been used by Dr Johnson in large doses with the happiest effects Dr Monroe and Haygarth found it usefull in billious fevers. In dispepsia it is one of the most powerfull and and agreeable bitters we know. I prefer the root in substance, the wartery infusion or decoction should never be used, except it be given in a days time, for the mucilage it contains will ferment and it will not be fit for use. I have used the powder with the rust of Iron this is a most powerfull tonic the dose should be regulated