(seq. 431)

424

Materia Medica

Errhines

opium and it prevented the dull headache, which the latter alone is
apt to occasion, it also acts as a laxative upon verry delicate women, I have
known 2 or three grains act in this manner on such persons it has
sometimes excited salivation. Of late it has been used in caries Mr Block
has advised Assafoetida ℥i [1 ounce] Camp Ʒi [1 dram] to be mixed together and that
Ʒi [1 dram] of this mixture should be taken morning and evening, he says he cured
a caries of humors by this method, the medicine has also been recommended
by other Physicians in cases of carries of Syphilis, it has been used in our
Hospital without success, it is employ’d in various forms, in the solid
form as pills or in solution, it is best however in tincture as in the Spirit
Volatalis of the Edinburgh Dispensatory

Gum Ammoniac.
This is a peculiar gum resin has little of the foetid odour therefore
Cullen thinks its powers are considerable I have employ’d it but a little.
Dr Wistar thinks highly of it in asthma, for a more acurate
account of this valuable medicine (see) Daphne Mezereon.

Stimulating Evacuants or Errhines.
Are those substances that occasion a discharge from
the nose either of mucus or thinner fluid, this evacuation is generally
ended with sneezing but not always, their effect is only to increase the
natural secretion, they not only increase it but continue for some time