Colonial North America: Countway Library of Medicine

584

Materia Medica

Antilithics

from the Sulphate of Iron, the decoction of the leaves is a better preparation than the infusion, as their powers are easier extracted in the former way, though not sufficiently, I often give the leaves to the patient to chew, and sometimes in powder. Uva Ursi exerts verry little power upon the pulse, so little indeed that if we were to estimate its utility by its action on the heart and arteries we should esteem it of verry little importance. Physicians differ in their opinion of this medicine. Dr Ferrier of Manchester has given it in Nephritic Cases in moderate doses with manifest advantage when the pain is acute he begins his treatment with purging and bleeding, he then gives grs V [5 grains] of Uva Ursi with ½ grs [grain] of Opium three or four times a day, when given to the extent of Ʒi [1 dram] he found it to occasion nausea, he says that of 16 cases that came under his care he discharged 12 cured, and I have not found it to produce nausea tho I have employ’d it in larger doses than Ferrier. I have not combined it with opium. I can say without hesitation that it may be given largely without injury. Savage gave Ʒij [2 drams] of it 3 times a day, the Uva Ursi has been found usefull in different affections of the Urinary System where there is no calculous DE Haen advised it in Ulcers