Colonial North America: Countway Library of Medicine

506

Materia Medica

Emetics

advantage, it puked the first day but not afterwards. I have had myself a great deal of experience here, I have used it in both recent and old cases with much benefit. I had almost said it was a specific, but it is best adapted to some particular kinds Viz Those running on to typhus, my method of exhibitting it differs from most others instead of using the infusion I give the powder combined with Opium and cretta. The following is my general formula

Rx Ipecacuanha grs Xij [12 grains] Opium grs ij [2 grains] Cretta XXiv [24]

M fit and divide into eight doses, grs viij [8 grains] of this is the proper proportion when the Ipecac is good, Cretta is the most particularly usefull, thus it appears one dose contains grs iss [1½ grains] of Ipecac. grs ¼ [¼ grain] of opium and grs iij [3 grains] of cretta. I have employ’d cretta in a great number of cases of dysentary both in publick and private practice, and it seldom fails to produce good effects. Dr Chisholme combined it with calomel. I think Ipecacuanha best adapted to those approaching to the Nature of Hemorrhages or Dysenteria Cruenta, with hardendened feces. I do not however employ it untill after purging several times. I conclude with advising you to make use of the form which I have just given you, and if you are not successfull with it I will be content to loose half the confidence which you may repose in my opinion or advice.