(seq. 433)

426

Materia Medica

Errhines

they are therefore often usefull in Rheumatic Affections of the
neighboring muscles and in congestion of the head near the nose. Dr
Cullen however thinks they may affect the whole head they are
generally thought to act topically. I believe they sometimes produce
sneezing, when taken into the stomach, Errhines have been employ’d in
Hydrocephalus Internus. Dr Patterson thinks before exhibitting
them some precautions should be taken. I have never employ’d it in
this disease when it affected children but I have in the case of adults.
I consider them safe and perhaps usefull. Errhines and particularly
Mercurial ones might be employ’d in Epilepsy attended with congestion
of the head without an affection of the mind. I used the
Turpeth Mineral in one case in our Hospital with considerable success it
produced a salivation, in some cases of deafness they might always
be employ’d, I am not capable of pointing out the different species
of deafness, it proceeds however from a variety of causes, one of which is
an affection of the Eustachian tube, and generally arises from what
is called catching cold which produces inflamation of the tube. this
species is characterised by a noise which seems to be heard in the
ears of the patient similar to the sound of boiling water, the
roaring of wind, or distant thunder. I have always found this to