Colonial North America: Countway Library of Medicine

112

Materia Medica

Astringents

The Sach. Sat. may generally if not always exhibitted with perfect safety, yet it may be well in cases in which we have not already used the medicine to watch its effects with nice attention, there are I believe some persons that are liable to be injured by verry small doses of lead. I believe it is a fact whether taken internally or applied to the surface in form of vapores it does not in general produce its bad effects untill some days after it has been used. The largest dose that I ever gave as I have already said was grs viij [8 grains] combined with grs i [1 grain] of Opium, much larger doses have been given by others the late Dr Jones gave ℈i [1 scruple] to a lady with Uterine hemorrhage and thereby saved his patients life. I have heard of grs XXXVi [36 grains] being given in twenty four hours, if after using it three or four days it does not become usefull I desist for as many and then resume its use. I cannot think there is any such thing as specifics but I think the Sach. Sat. comes nearer a specific in hemorrhage than anything else.

222

Materia Medica

Tonics

Dr Sydenham used it in combination with alliaceous plants.

Dropsy. In the forming state of this disease I have found Iron to do harm. when exhibited it requires nicity and caution.

Cronic Obstructions of the Liver and Spleen. When accompanied with pain or fever the preparations of Iron are extremely efficacious, the vinum chalybeate from the following formula,

Rx Pulv. Calyb ℥i [1 ounce] Vinum lbi [1 pound]

old white or what is better old red wine is far preferable to any other, this is one of the most usefull preparation in promoting digestion and removing visceral obstructions of the abdomen, it may be given in doses of ℥fs to ℥i [½ to 1 ounce] two or three times a day if necessary = In those it is highly recommended by Brown in the form of an Oxyde during the aphorexia.

Modus Operandi of Iron. All the various forms of this medicine exert their power first and chiefly on the stomach and then on every part of the body. Dr Cullen says there is always a quantity of acid in the stomach which dissolves the Iron and causes the black stools, but Dr Cullen here as usual is under a mistake = Dr Lind supposed he could detect in the urine the

360

Materia Medica

Stimulants

The practice of employing this vegitable in decoction seems to have arisen in New England Dr May in an inaugural dissertation mentioned a case of tetanus which had been cured by decoction, from the analogy between tetanus and hydraphobia, I have prescribed it in the latter and the injections made some impressions on the disease. In strangulated hernia either the smoke or the injection sometimes allow the reduction by the laxis, it is necessary from the power that it exerts upon the system to be nice in the quantity, its use in hernia will be more amply discussed by the professor or Surgery to whom it more immediately belongs. It has been employ’d in cases of suspended animation from drowning, hanging &c. It is however pretty much neglected and in my opinion it is a verry doubtfull remidy. I have now closed the order of solano, the next is the umbelliffers, only one article of which I conceive necessary to lay before you.

Umbilliffero Hemlock. This is a plant found in various parts of Europe but is not I believe a native of this country, it is however verry common in some of the states. Some physicians have mistaken this for cow parsley, it is distinguished from the other umbelliferous plants by its large and spotted plants stalks or redish brick colour, the dark gray of its leaves and disagreeable odour, especially

422

Materia Medica

Stimulants

fond of it as an antispasmodic. It has been used in Epilepsy and some other nervous affections as Chorea and Mania, with advantage in the spasmodic asthma of children, it has often been extremely usefull, it would be well for you to read, Dr Millers observations on this subject and those of Dr Rush on cynanche trachealis. Dr Miller gave it by the mouth and injection and found no medicine more usefull, he did not however confide entirely to this medicine. Dr Kuhn of Lancaster used it in injection and was not verry nice to the quantity and threw up about Ʒi [1 dram] in six ℥ [ounces] of water. I have also employ’d this medicine but not alone, there is another disease the Cynanche Maligna Trachealis in which it has been employ’d, here the excretions must be kept up and the squill combined with ammoniac is usefull, but the combination of Assafoetida with the oxymel of Squill is better. Dr Johnson of Worcester used it here he gave the bark, and between the doses gave a large spoonfull of the infusion of assafoetida, this is different from the croup of this country, the patient has at first the symptoms of scarlatina anguinosa and is often fatal. Assafoetida has been employ’d in common spasmodic asthma, all the foetid gums enter the circulation and act as expectorants, but none are better than this, it is said they prevent and remove the effects of opium. Dr Monroe gave it for this purpose along with

454

Materia Medica

Sialagogues

is considered by some physicians as an important mode of practice. Dr Clark of England found it verry usefull. I wish to impress on your minds one rule, Viz. If the mercury does not produce good effects in three or four days lay it asside as useless, or pernicious, for it will probably undermine the strength of the patient and upon the whole I think it a verry nice and difficult practice, and I hope you will never follow it upon my recommendation without recollecting the nicety and caution I have endeavored to impress. Since using the Ipecac in dysentary I have not employ’d the mercury so much as I formerly did, the calomel does not always save the patient, and has many inconveniences, there is one form of dysentary in which it is always combined with scurvey in this mercury is always improper. I have given mercury to the extent of 2 or 3 grs [grains] every 3 or 4 Hours, and always in combination with opium. This is in immitation of Dr Clarks practice, but I have gradually laid it aside. Mercury seems well adapted to some cases of diarrhea particularly the chronic kind.

Hydrocephalus Internus. May be owing to a rupture of the Lymphatics of the brain, it frequently commences with head ache, fever, and lassitude, sometimes with squinting, costiveness, and vomiting, and