(seq. 125)

116

Materia Medica

Tonics

no bitterness. The question may be verry naturally asked, on
what the tonic power depends this I am unable to answer
to yours and my own satisfaction, none are tonics but such
as excite a stimulating power, but not that degree as to
increase the heat of the body. In a fever they do not increase
the pulse or the force of the circulation, this is incorrect, the bitters
do not give out oil, Odour Aronia, nothing saline nor acid,
we are acquainted with the bitter principles in some articles.
In some we have the bitter and astringent principles united
to consitute the tonic as in the Cinchona. Dr Cullen
has placed a number of medicines among the tonics. I shall
place under the class of tonics, astringents. I have ranked those
only so particularly, vegitable tonics and those of less
astringency and which gives strength of a permanent kind by their
stimulus on their vital principle whatsoever that may be.
Dr Cullen supposes tonics acts by curing Dyspepsia, by
imparting tone to the stomach and its fibres, but I suppose this
disease to be more of a morbid state of the gastric Juices, and not
to a weak stomach. I am of the same opinion of Dr Monroe
who verry Justly ascribes their effect to food increasing a heat