(seq. 397)

390

Materia Medica

Stimulants

Proof Spirit lbij [2 pounds] digest for ten days I never employ’d it in but two
instances and its effects in them were not verry remarkable.

Crocus or Saffron. Of this also I say nothing of my own experience
but it has been used by Old Women in Small pox &c. Dr Cullen
does not think verry highly of it he employ’d it in large doses but
he found it imperfect. Saffron resembles camphor in its operation
and the tea made from it frequently exhilarates the patient, but
one of our patients was ever able to take it. One effect of Saffron that
I have witnessed is its producing milliary eruption. This finishes
the class of Subnarcotica.

Vallerian. This is principally
a native of Europe and is a perennial vegitable there, but it is not found
in this Country, we have a plant brought to the table which is a species
of vallerian. I doubt not that it is a stimulant but I am not
certain it should be placed so near the camphor I know of no narcotic
quality it possesses and therefore I have not arranged it with the
Subnarcotica, from its general operation it is ally’d to Musk. Dr
Cullen calls it an antispasmodic a class which I have omitted in my
list, the root of the vallerian is the part employ’d in practice, it has
a strong smell which is generally not verry pleasant, but the Cat is
verry fond of it, its taste is that of a warm bitter, and is a little acrid