Colonial North America: Countway Library of Medicine

512

Materia Medica

Emetic

of Spain, Portugal, Sicily, and Africa, it grows near the sea on that account is called Maratima. The bulb is Emetic, Diuretic, & Expectorant, as an emetic it is not much used, and is not a verry good diuretic, being so uncertain, But is an excellent expectorant. Dr Lewis has shown that it loses ⅘ of its weight by being kept, this loss is however only its water, and 4 grains of the dry squill is equal to twenty of the fresh.

Mustard & Horse Radish. An infusion of Mustard is used to stop vomiting, but both the powder and infusion when strong enough are emetic, it is verry usefull when too much Laudanum has been taken.

Mineral Emetics. Many of the emetics are preparations of copper but the most valuable is the Sulphate of Copper. Or Blue Vitriol. Dr Cullen says he has not employ’d this, but it is used as a nauseating medicine. It is verry highly recommended by Dr Simmons in Pulmonary Consumption, he gave it in the morning in the following manner, the patients take half a pint of water and then takes the blue Vitriol this is thrown up immediately he then swallows another half pint which will also be thrown up, he has varied the dose from 2 to 20 grs [grains]. Of late the Blue Vitriol has been employ’d in the Southern States in Cynanche Trachealis. And is almost