Colonial North America: Countway Library of Medicine

149

Diaphoretics

Phlegmasia. In this class of disease strict attention must be paid to the surface of the body regarding its temperature, if that be above the sweating point it must be reduced by bloodletting or any other depleting remidy, as cold.

Rheumatism. Here cold would be improper to the joint and their use should be supply'd by Saline effervescing draughts at which time Diaphoretics are highly usefull, a combination of Ipecacuanha, calomel, and cicuta are verry deservedly praised, the extract of cicuta in dose of 10 or 12 grains is verry usefull; In the confirmed cronic State, Stimulants are necessary, there are Guaicum, Mezereon, Vol. Alkali, Sarsaparilla and Savin, which last I particularly recommend from my own experience in the alms hous [house], here the pulse was verry feeble,

195

Diaphoretics

a colour. Savin, Seniga &c belong also this class, and since my lecture on Savin I have used it in a case of Chronic Syphilitic Rheumatism, and after continuing it in the usual dose for five or six days the disease was completely removed. In rheumatism cold apply'd to the joint would be extremely improper and Diaphoretics are indicated after saline Cathartics have

Rx Pulv. Cinchona ℥ij [2 ounces] Aq. Purae lbiij [3 pounds] Tinct Assafoetida gtt 15 [15 drops] Laud Liq gtt. 10 [10 drops]

Boil the bark in the water to one half and strain. Then add the Laud Liq and Tr Assafoetida. To be given three times a day. (See fol 515.)

197

Diaphoretics

been exhibitted, with this view a combination of Opium, Calomel and cicuta are verry usefull, and in the confirmed chronic state 10 or 12 grains of the extract alone has been highly praised, in this state all the stimulating Diaphoretics are used as sarsaparilla, Mezereon, Guaicum, Savin, Vol. Alkali &c. Savin particularly in a low case which occur'd in the alms house, little fever, pulse full, low degree of heat &c, after half a drachm [dram] was given three times a day for several days absorbtion commenced and the patient

216

Materia Medica

Tonic

a gleet of however long standing = the carbonate of Iron in this disease is the most efficacious.

Amenorrhea. Or Suppression of the menses, this depends upon two causes, first upon a considerable tone of the vessels attended with increased fever and frequency of the pulse, pain in the head, back and loins, with wild starting eyes every time the menses ought to appear = and secondly upon debility of the system generally or a debility of the ovary vessels, the last is the most frequent, cases, of the menses in the first species, Iron would do much harm and increase the complaint particularly in some cases of Febris Alba. For here bleeding, and purging, ought to be employ'd = but in the second species or that depending on debility, the preparations of Iron are of manifest service, and should never be omitted; when combined with savin the Iron proves more usefull = the preparations of Iron in a metallic or oxid state are the most useful.

Hemorrhage. These as I have already observed are of two kinds active and passive, in the former the preparations of this mineral is always injurious, but in the latter they are always serviceable, the use of Iron in Hemorrhagies is of Antient [ancient] date, Pliny the naturalist

396

Materia Medica

Stimulants

of worms, and was cured, there are two tinctures from the vallerian one is made by digesting eight or ten days the pulv. root with a gentle heat ℥ij [2 ounces] Spt. Vin. Rect. lbij [2 pounds] Tinct. Vol. Vallerian (the other) Is made by digesting wild vallerian in coarse powder ℥ij [2 ounces] Spt. Vin. Rect. lbij [2 pounds] the first is a stomachic and this formula is proposed by Dr Cullen but the best way is to give it in powder.

Conifera. This is a natural order of vegitables comprehinding the different species of Pine, these afford various species of turpentine but the purest is that which is the product of the Savin and which is improperly called Venice turpentine, it is an acrid substance and when apply'd to the skin inflames it. Cullen thought it might be rendered a usefull rubefacient, it was employ’d in the Emplastrum Volatile of the Edinburgh dispensatory and the only objection to it was it produced an inconvenient pain, some writers recommend it in recent wounds, but it is evident it must be injurious, when however from the fluid state of the wound it is unable to supperate will be usefull.

Spirits of Turpentine. This has been employ’d in burns and scalds. Authors differ concerning the propriety of this practice, by some it is said to produce immediate relief, if applied in half an hour and that the pain never continued longer than two hours