Colonial North America: Countway Library of Medicine

440

Materia Medica

Sialagogues

that effect in three hours, the preparations of mercury that are formed by trituration are milder than those made by combining it with acids, one of the most powerfull preparations of our metal is the blue pills, this is mercury divided by long trituration with Gum Arabic, the gall of the ox is an excellent substitute to divide mercury, the blue pills is an excellent preparation, it often succeeds when the other substances fail, and does not so easily pass of by stool as the other preparations, but it is supposed not to be so well adapted to the case of Old venerial sores as the saline preparations. I believe this to be the case and therefore we must not trust to the pills alone in such cases, in recent cases however it is an excellent remidy, the apothecaries do not triturate the mercury sufficiently.

Unjentum Mercuriatum. Is made by mixing hogs lard with mercury and a small portion of suit [suet], of this there are two kinds, first when one part only of the mercury is added to the unctious matter in the same proportion Secondly when two, three, or four parts of mercury are added to the same one proportion, this of course is of a weaker kind. In some cases mercurial ointment may be mixed with a little turpentine, but it sometimes induces disagreeable symptoms, the ointment made of hogs lard and mercury only in the winter will be sufficient.

442

Materia Medica

Sialagogues

but in summer this would melt and disengage a part of the mercury. Mr Delany proposed to rub the quicksilver and afterwards the hogs lard, generally Ʒi or Ʒifs [1 or 1½ dram] rubbed on the skin produces salivation in 24 Hours, but in some persons it operates sooner, it has been said that this medicine acts as well if it merely be spread on the surface of the skin, it is my opinion however that it must be carefully rubbed untill it disappears, the preparations of mercury which are formed by calcination were formerly esteemed by Dr Cullen. I have now to speak of the calcination saline preparations of mercury or its union with acid and first with the sulfuric acid.

Turbith Mineral. This must be given in small doses of from one, two, three, or four grains, when it is well prepared four grains is said to excite vomiting, formerly it was given to excite nausea it was also combined with guacum for the purpose of determining to the skin. I have already mentioned that I have employ’d this medicine in Epilepsy, and Gutta Serena and shall say more of it when treating of emetics. A child of five years of age will be puked immediately by two grains.

Corosive Sublimate. Is formed by Muriatic Acid and Quicksilver, this is one of the most important preparations, though Dr Cullen and some others do

639

Preventive to Wet feet

Take of Linseed Oil one pound Mutton Suet 8 oz. Bees Wax 6 oz. Rosin 4 oz.

Melt them together — and apply the mixture every morning to the upper leather — and also the soles of the shoes — It should always be applied in a fluid state and the leather pretty well saturated