Colonial North America: Countway Library of Medicine

436

Materia Medica

Siallaggues

those taken internally and produce the same effect on the salivary glands.

Pellitory of Spain. This is used in tooth ache and is the most powerfull of the sialogogues apply’d to the nose in the shape of snuff it induces sneezing, tobacco is a sialagogue as we observe in chewing, the master Wort acts in the same way, the root of Horse Radish is mentioned by Dr Cullen as belonging to this class, camphor produces a flow of saliva and by this means frequently cures the tooth ache.

Zanthoxylem or American Tooth Ache Tree. A native of Pennsylvania and is perhaps one of the most powerfull of this class, its power resides in the bark and leaves, this has been used in syphalis. I have been employ’d it beneficial in plague &c.

Senaca. Is an active article of this class, if the root be chewed for a few minutes it produces a hot and copious discharge of saliva, this I immagine would be the most effectual of the external sialogogues, the next article we are to treat of and the only one of the class is used both internally and externally.

Mercury. I shall pass over the natural history of this article or Metalic Body, this is the most powerfull article in the Materia Medica. I proceed to lay before you such observations as I conceive are most suited to the subject of the Materia Medica, pure running mercury is destitute

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

444

Materia Medica

Sialagogues

not think so highly of it. I have frequently employ’d it and am of opinion in one respect it is preferable to calomel, it is more manageable when children are affected with the venerial disease by their nurses or parents. I have employ’d it with more advantage than any other medicine. I rubbed it down with Gum Arabic and sugar and to prevent its purging I added laudanum. I begin with small doses exhibitted in milk increase gradually and continue sometime, it is more certain with such patients than calomel.

The Mercurias Cinerious of Dr Blacks has been much used, it is made by dissolving mercury in nitric acid and precipitating by means of ammoniac. I have never employ’d it but its reputation in Europe is great. Dr Saunders preparation is made by pouring on the precipitation above mentioned some spirits of Wine and setting it on fire, lately the Hydragyrum Phosphoratum Has been much praised and is said to be usefull in healing ulcers in a few days particularly when they are seated above the pudenda, it is very active and must be used with great caution for it excites vomiting in the dose of 1 grs [grain]. I have not not employ’d it, but it has been recommended to be exhibitted thus,

Rx Phosphate of Mercury grs iv [4 grains] Pulv Cinnab grs Xij [12 grains] M. fit. dose grs viij [8 grains],

borate of mercury is not used in this country. A mercurial soap has been employ’d

596

Materia Medica

Emmenagogues

restored the Uterine discharge, before or about the 12th day, and did not lie heavy upon the stomach. I have employ’d it both in private and Hospital Practice, and tho it sometimes failed yet upon the whole I cannot hissitate to recommend it. I will here take the oportunity of mentioning a circumstance worth your recollection, in the year 87, I assisted Dr L_ of Rhode Island in discovering the connection between the mother and foetus in Utero, we try'd whether madder would tinge the bones of the foetus by giving it to pregnant rabits &c but we found it always produced abortion and thus our experiments fail’d.* [footnote back 1 page]

Stimulating Emmenagogues.

Mercury. We have already observed that this article is a stimulant of a verry powerfull kind, it is also classed among the Emmenagogues Dr Cullen thinks it usefull in obstruction, but not in retention of the menses, he did not carry it so far as to excite salivation. I have employ’d it to advantage in retention and have excited a salivation with good effects.

Rosemary. This is an article doubtless familiar to all of you, it is given as an emmenagogue in the form of a decoction.** [footnote back 1 page]

Juniperus Sabina. This is well testafy’d as an Emmenagogue, it has been used to expel the placenta in difficult cases, and

630

Materia Medica

Blisters

advantage particularly in Gouty deafness.

Amaurosis. Or Gutta Serena. They are verry advantageously apply'd to the forehead. In scrophulous affections of the Lymphatic glands of the neck, they are verry usefull and should be renew’d upon drying up, they are apply'd to the part effected & I apprehend they act by exciting the action of the absorbents, they are proper in Scrophulous affections of the Eye brows. I shall say nothing of the use of blisters in fevers, but refer you to the professor of the practice of Physick on that subject.

Dysentary. They are apply'd to the Umbilicus [navel] and over the stomach and sometimes they produce a stool sooner than any cathartic Medicine we can employ.

Diarrhea. When gentle medicines have fail’d they are frequently advantageously employ'd, they are apply'd to the ancles and abdomen.

Hepatetis. Or inflamation of the liver, blisters are usefull, but of this I have spoken when treating of mercury.

Lucorrhea. In this disease I have seen them verry usefull. I attended a few years ago a female who was affected with this complaint, astringents were employ'd without effect. I then laid a large