Colonial North America: Countway Library of Medicine

12

Introduction

Experience

mucus though contrary to common beliefs. It often pukes and purges and this more frequently than is supposed, it acts on the semenal vessels increasing the semenel secretion, it acts on the brain and nerves, causing a dilation of the pupil, bringing on delirium and dimness of sight this is a common effect, it increases thirst. Does it operate on the glandular and lymphatic system? I answer it does it most certainly increases absorption. I believe it is one of the general and diffusive stimulants, it acts on the nervous system producing tinnatus aurium, Perglysis [paralysis], Sneezing and excretion from the nose, on the skin it causes heat, Erysipelas, and even abscesses. On what particular system can it be said to operate? Certainly it has specific or exclusive action on no one. Digitalis from its lowering the pulse which I believe it does more than any other medicine is supposed to act exclusively on the sanguiferous system but its action is not so limited, acting with the salivary glands producing Pyalism and in the kidneys producing diuretic and on the brain producing intoxication like opium, its effects are analogous to those of opium. Stramonium Acts on most systems on the brain

68

Materia Medica

Astringents

I object as it would require a previous knowledge of Botany. I conceive it much better to arrange them according to their degree of astringency. This I shall attempt and proceed from the weaker to the stronger. I shall commence the history of vegitable astringents by with the Quercus or Oak Bark. The bark of many oaks have long been employed in tanning where they seem to exert an astringent principle, though not in the same manner as I before remarked on the living animal fibres. The oak bark was employed by Dr Cullen in intermittant fever, and slight tumefaction of the mucous membrane of the fauces in doses of ℥fs [½ ounce] every three hours or oftener. It has been used in Europe instead of the Chincosra and it is said by some authors with evident advantage, toasted acorns have been taken with advantage in diarrhea and dysentaries but they possess little strength, powdered acorns taken in small beer are used in Germany as a cure for Erysipelas, here they act principally on the perspirable vessels, this seems to be a disease depending on contagious matter similar to yellow fever, and plague, and is often a verry severe disease, in London it is treated as a putrid disease by stimulants. In Scotland as inflamitory. I have seen more cases of Erysipelas

100

Materia Medica

Astringents

hands by taking soup before he began to glaze, bakers are subject to this disease which in some measure serves to show it does not always proceed from the action of lead, type founders are also subject to this complaint. Colica Pictinum. The bowels should always be kept open, for which purpose the christals of tartar and castor oil should always be recommended sometimes the puse [pulse] is full, when bleeding will be necessary. Dr Cullen says it is never accompanied with fever but he is certainly mistaken. Mercurial purges are verry good, but in general Ol. Recini will answer every purpose, and I prefer it in this disease Opium after the bowels have been opened maybe used to relieve pain. Stone says that opium purges by rousing intermittants from their torpor. I have used the warm bath with happy effects and have also poured cold water on the patients feet with advantage, the bad effects of lead is seldom produced by too large doses accidentally taken as by small doses repeatedly taken, large doses sometimes vomit and purge it has been used externally in inflamation as Erysipelas, in injections, in application to sore eyes &c. I think it verry seldom does harm Cullen says it induces mortification, but Darwin says that lead water applied to Erysipelatous

102

Materia Medica

Astringents

and Anasarcous legs which have a tendency to mortification, is the most efficacious remidy. I prefer a blister to lead as in the case of external inflamation as Erysipelas. It It is employed in burns but should not be applied to a large surface at once, it is used in combination with mercury with advantage in Scrophulous Ulcers of young people but is improper in old people. I shall proceed to speak of its internal use first in epilepsy. Dr Rush and myself have both used it in this disease with advantage, it has been recommended in Chorea a disease nearly allied to Epilepsy with success it is recommended in several as mania, purtusses &c. I have no experience of it in those diseases of it is highly spoken of in intermittans Sach. Sat. is verry effectual in lowering the pulse it was given in a case where the puse [pulse] was 109 and in six or eight minutes it was reduced to 96 strokes a phasycian in this state has used it combined with a poisonous plant, the kalmia latifolia, for two years in inflamitory fever without success I am almost afraid to tell you it was successful, but an excess of timidity in a phasycian is worse than boldness, it has proved usefull in consumption when combined with opium in the course of the last five years I have employed the Sach.

135

Diaphoretics

in the brain effusions of lymph of a pus like nature, and taking all the symptoms into consideration it appears to be Typhus combined with Erysipelatous Inflamation. "Treatment". The Practitioners seem generally to have adopted two modes of practice, "first" the profuse use of direct stimulants, and the "Second" The sweating plan. I have tried both and have now no hessitation in deciding in favor of the latter, and in fact nearly all agree to it now. Among the most active means to procure diaphoresis none are so efficacious as the Dovers Powders, Wine Whey, fomentations, and hot Toddy. I have always affected a cure where I could induce perspiration, when any topical affection supervene blisters to the parts will remove it, in the last stage the free exhibition of Vol. Alkali is the "Anchor of Hope" 10 grains