Colonial North America: Countway Library of Medicine

132

Materia Medica

Tonics

after dysentary it is of great use, this tree is a pure bitter, though the bark possesses it in a greater degree, in some respects it is superior to Cort Cinchona, and columbo as a bitter, but inferior as an antiseptic, quassia is used in intermittant, remittant, and continued fevers. Dr Monroe used it fevers and dropy. Dr Letsom preferred it to all other bitters in hysteria, Hypocondriasis, dyspepsia, and most nervous diseases; and assures us it seldom fails in his hands, but he was fond of long prescriptions, and used this medicine in combination with several, as the Sulphet of Zink. Sem. Card. It has been recommended in heriditary gout and disserves some credit. Combined with Columbo it is particularly adapted to dysentaries of long standing. Haller used it in calculous. Quassia Poligama. This is a tall and beautifull tree growing in the West Indies described by Mr Lindsay every part except the pulp is bitter, the bark is most so, this I am of opinion is incorrect, the wood is the most intence bitter. Dr Lindsay used it in remitting fever with success, he also employed it in dropsy and chlorosis, it has been used in a disease called by the Nosologists Pica with success. Pica or a depraved appetite in some women during

300

Materia Medica

Stimulants

this practice from Doct of Burlington 40 gtt. [drops] of Laudanum in a strong cup of coffee is not more powerfull than 25 or 30, without coffee, the coffee increases the power of opium in keeping of an intermittant. In what manner it does this I cannot tell. Mr_ gave Dover's powders before the accession of the paroxysm, I have never tried it in dreadfull lethargy or soporous intermittants, but it has been advantageously employ’d in them. Opium is frequently combined with bark in the treatment of intermittants, and Cullen says it increases its power when it is given just before the paroxysm, I suppose the combination to be peculiarly usefull in the intermittants that have a tendency to typhus. It appears therefore that opium is usefull before the paroxysm either alone or in union with other substances, here the testimony of its utility during the hot stage is by no means satisfactory, Dr Lind being the only author that maintained it. I proceed to speak of its use in Continued Fevers. These have by Nosologists been formed into many genera. Cullen reduced them into Synocha, Synochus and Typhus. I do not agree with him that these are produced by different

468

Materia Medica

Sialagogues

dog supposed to be really mad he is salivated & no hydraphobia ensues, but here verry probable the dog was not really mad, another is bitten by a dog actually mad, he uses mercury and escapes the disorder and here mercury has the credit of preventing the disease. Hydraphobia does not always follow the bite of a mad animal, though doubtless it may have been prevented by mercury. I believe that if salivation could be induced at the time the disease would have commenced it would verry probably prevent its accession, the interval between the time of the bight and the occurrance of the disease, is generally about 30 or 40 days, the question is at what time the ptyalism should be induced, it has been a common practice to give the mercury immediately after the bite of the animal has been inflicted, the salivation commenced a few days after, and continued a short time, and was suffered to subside before a return of the symptoms. I think we should not attempt to bring on a salivation untill a few days before the shortest period at which the symptoms may be expected to appear. Mercury has been employ’d as a remidy in the bite of Poisonous animals, but with not much effect.

Yaws. Or Phrambesia of Nosological Writers. Mercury has been employ’d. Physicians differ respecting its use,