Colonial North America: Countway Library of Medicine

202

Materia Medica

Tonics

form of Clysters for intermittant fevers, it may be applied advantageously when the stomach is unable to bear it, the usual form of applying it is either in the form of poultice or quilted jacket on the abdomen. Rorintuer cured a fever in this manner. The celebrated Dr Rittenhouse wore constantly such a jacket as a preventative to a tertian fever to which he was a long time subject. I would recommend its external application in cases when it would be proper and could not be taken internally, the external use of the bark has been highly recommended for children labouring under intermittant fevers I think worthy attention, it should be reduced to a verry fine powder, and the quantity of ℥ij or ℥iij [2 or 3 ounces] quilted in a double jacket, and worn by the patient, its operation is certainly on the solids as I cannot believe a particle of the bark used in this way is absorbed and taken up into the circulation. Dr Darwin used to sprinkle it upon the bed clothes, but this I never did try or ever shall, decoctions and infusions are highly recommended, but the tincture though I believe it usefull in some cases yet I will not recommend it, believing the decoction to be better. Bark is said to be more efficacious when combined with certain

274

Materia Medica

Stimulants

externally, Mr [My] Friend and relation Mr Rittenhouse was subject to pains in his bowels which he always removed by the external application of opium in the form of a poultice with meal, it sometimes produces constipation, how does it produce these effects when externally applied, does it act by means of absorption, No, Our patients will be displeased if we do not use it in this way the internal use of opium effects the Vital, Natural, and Animal functions, in justice to Booerhave and most Physicians as well as myself have entertained concerning the operation of opium, I can assert he did not consider opium as acting on the fluids as has been supposed, but as acting principally on the nerves and stomach = first of the effects on the vital functions, it increases the frequency and fulness of the pulse, produces stertorius breathing and apoplexy is not infrequently the result of too large doses of opium, tickling or irritating the Uvula with a feather have in many cases roused the system into action, (where too large a quantity of opium has been taken in,) and by its being thrown up the patients life has been preserved, authors differ in opinion respecting to the effects of opium on the pulse, asserts that