Colonial North America: Countway Library of Medicine

6

Introduction

Botanical Affinity

doctrine of Signatures which supposes medicines to act by their resemblance to the part to which they are applied. In origin is to be traced to the oldest ages, the Indians suppose that if the seed of the melon, pumpkin and other creeping plants were put for a time in a decoction of Mitchella ripens sooner which is a remarkable running plant, it imparts a greater disposition in them to spread and run over the earth, the Indians supposed people are more swift, and active, while they live upon venison because the Deer is so in a remarkable degree. An Italian Physician Porta recommends Tentaria in tooth aches, from its resemblance to the tooth, the genus Orchides are recommended, as aphrodiacs, from their resemblance to the pudenda. Sanguinaria in Jaundice from its yellow colour. Botanical Affinity. Different Authors have arranged the articles of the Materia Medica according to their botanical affinity. Boerhave arranged his according to his botanical System, but as this is deserted, his arrangement of course falls, the fifteen classes of Linneus have all resemblance to each other, with

22

Materia Alimentaria

Sugar

caused emaciation, and Dr Booerhave entertained a similar opinion, but we have sufficient proof to discredit this hypothesis. Dr Haller relates in the Phylosophical Transactions, the case of his grandfather who for the last twenty years of his life subsisted on sugar, he eat it on his bread instead of butter, with meat and every article of diet and died at the age of 98 of a Plethora. Mr Hunter was so well persuaded of its nutritious qualities, that he prescribed it constantly in emaciation, & convalescence particularly after salivation. I have myself experienced the good effects of sugar, in giving plumpness and vigour to the system whenever I have had recourse to a vegitable diet for gout. Sugar is likewise nutritious to other animals than man, we are informed by Dr Rush that the planters of the West Indies often fed their horses on sugar, when there is a scarcity of grain and that a pound of sugar will support them much longer then the same quantity of any other article. Sugar is so highly antiseptic, the antients [ancients] were not ignorant of this henc the custom of of embalming their men with sugar and

98

Materia Medica

Astringents

Saccharum Sat. I believe now the latter the only preparation used internally the extract of lead is produced by boiling vinegar and litharge, it is recommended by Mr Golard as preferable to any other preparation of lead, but it differs verry much from Sach. Sat. this metal is easier calcined than any other none of the preparations made by the fire are taken internally, but are used externally. Booerhave says it brings on consumption of the lungs and other troublesome symptoms. Mr A supposes the preparations of lead never enters the system but I am led to believe they are sometimes absorbed one of the most dreadfull effects from lead is to produce Colica Pictonum which sometimes terminates in palsy. I have even doubted whether this was brought on by lead. I think the Mallic Acid or Cyder will bring on the same disease it has made its appearance in many parts of Pennsylvania from the use of Apple Butter, lead sometimes produces rheumatism of the wrist and palsy of the arms this I have seen in painters and glaziers, a quack advised some man who worked in lead to take every morning some bread and butter or oil, by blending its action on the stomach, from this hint I advised a potter to follow this practice he informed me he always prevented it in his

152

Materia Medica

Tonics

recommended in gout, and has been used since the time of Galen, it is an ingredient in the Portland Powder, which has certainly been injurious to those that used it. Dr Booerhave knew a patient who used the aqueous infusion of Birthwort and had the villous coat of his stomach removed.

Aristolochia Serpentaria. Or Virginia Snake root, this is found only in North America, there are several other plants called snake root besides the one now mentioned entirely different from each other, it probably possesses most of the properties ascribed to the Aristolochia Longa, it is bitter and has an acid acrimony, it is more agreeable than the Longa, 1st It affords true camphor out of the body, it is an antiseptic according to Pringle, it is a considerable tonic and is one of our stimulating bitters. The Rad. Serp. Virg. which is the proper name of this plant we are now speaking of it is more stimulating than other bark we have, and upon the whole I believe Serpentaria in many cases may be an improper medicine and should not be given only in the sinking of the fever. I further believe that there is no case when the pulse can be raised by medicine that the snake root will fail in doing it. Dr Cullen says no

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Materia Medica

Tonics

parts of the body, we cannot in any other way accout for its sudden operation in the cure of intermittants it has been advanced and with some degree of probability, that it cures fever by exciting a new action in the stomach system. I proceed to speak now particularly of its use in fevers, hence a question has generally arisen, at what time or period of the disease will it be proper to administer the bark. Dr Booerhave's maxim was not to administer it untill the disease had lasted some time, Cum morbis jam aliqua tempora duravit, but this rule is not always correct for it is sometimes disagreeable to employ it at the commencement of fevers. I have known some cases prove fatal the second paroxysm which might perhaps been prevented by the use of the bark, this absurd delay originated among the Egyptians who supposed a certain fermentation must take place before any remidy could be given, and it was a law among them never to give medicine untill the third day after the attack. Dr Sydenhams opinion that a morbid matter must be evacuated has never been prooved and is by no means probable. In tertians it should be given after the first paroxysm. Dr Lind found it of great use when administered in a fever. In the year 1765