Colonial North America: Countway Library of Medicine

88

Materia Medica

Astringents

usefull, and this plant is a verry common remidy amongt our Indians. Orobanche Virginiana. This is called broom rape or cancer root, this belongs to the calass and order Dydenanira Gymnospermia of Linneus, it is found growing under the Fagus Syleaticu, has a nauseous taste and is a powerfull astringent. I believe this root with arsenic formed what is called Martins cancer powder, for it is well known Martin collected large quantities near Pittsburg and Dr Rush detected arsenic in his powder, it was verry astringent to the taste, here I may remark that astringents are too much neglected in ulcers, they are frequently the most powerfull remidy both internally and externally. I would advise you to try this root in cancers and ulcers. Martins powder was certainly superior to any powder we are acquainted with in the cure of ulcers. I have seen it employed with more success than generally attends those physicians who use arsenic alone.

Tormentilla Erecta. The tormentil root is a very pure astringent, it considerably resembles the cinquefoil, it was considerably used before the chincona and was used in its stead in Germany. Dr Cullen employed it in intermittant fevers it has been recommended to prevent abortions, these are frequently connected with

126

Materia Medica

Tonics

to cinchona in intermittant fevers. Dr Cullen speaks in the highest terms of it and assures it never failed when he combined it with gall and tormentil. Elix. Stom. Which is so much used in Britain and America is made by mixing Cort. bit. Aurant. and Rad. gentian. Linneus found gentian usefull in calculous, this I am inclined to believe from what I have said of it in gout, Gisner cured intermittants with the juice, Lentill used it with Sal. Absynth, clove, and ash bark. It is particularly recommended in Schrophula, Plentz cured a girl by giving half a scruple a day, and from the effect of bark in this disease, I have no doubt but gentian may be used with advantage. It has been extolled in histeria and nervous diseases. I believe it has virtues as an anthelmintic, but what are common to all bitters, Professor Murray supposes it operates by giving tone to the system. Perhaps it acts by purging or a quality deleterious to worms. I have lately used it with advantage in cases of obstinate gleet. I believe when properly given it will seldom fail. I have lately had a case of long standing, which had been under the care of several physicians. I gave the patient grs v. [5 grains] Rubeg. fer. and grs. viij [8 grains] of Rad. gentian twice a day, and continued three