Colonial North America: Countway Library of Medicine

254

Materia Medica

Tonics

it to children first in small doses and sometimes have increased it to ten grs. [10 grains] I generally dissolve about grs XX [20 grains] in ℥ij [2 ounces] of water and give to children four or five years of age three teaspoonfull three or four times a day = I have reason to believe it preferable to antimony as it does not produce so violent a nausea or pervertion [perversion] of appetite and they take it with less trouble than they do antimony, and I believe its good effects in whooping cough are independent of its emetic operation where it does vomit it is not so dangerous or violent as the other emetics.

Acetate of Zinc. This is a powerfull emetic and acts violently when taken into the stomach in the quantity of four or five grs. [grains] it has been used by many as an injection in gonorrhea and gleets and is thought preferable to any other preparation. Mr Henry recommends the following formula grs iv. vel v. [4 or 5 grains] in ℥ij [2 ounces] Aq. Font.

Sulphuric Acid. This is a good tonic when given in a diluted state, it is truly worthy the attention of young practitioners, it has been found usefull in Epilepsy its effects in some diseases make it truly worthy our notice as a tonic. In Epilepsy I have never used it, but have every reason to believe it may be used with efficacy the Elex Vitriol have been highly spoken of by Wasear in fluor. albus. I have used