(seq. 437)

430

Materia Medica

Errhines

writers as a stimulatory, and among others Dr Cullen says that
the juice snuffed up the nose on his trial excited no durable or large
evacuations, the powdered root of the Beet is likewise an errhine.

Tobacco. The powder of this plant is a considerable errhine but
custom renders it useless as a stimulatory it will still however continue
to occasion a considerable discharge. Dr Cullen says and I agree
with him that it is dangerous to leave of snuff suddenly after having
been accustomed to take it, especially to those who have short wicks and
are subject to compression of thought, it is proper that both physician
and patient should recollect this, since the sudden abstinence from
snuff might induce gout, dimness of sight &c. Snuff is not always
a simple powder of tobacco but I have heard that it is adulterated with
finely Pulv. Glass in order to render it more irritable to the nose of our
Ladies and Gentlemen who are in the habit of taking snuff. Sal
Ammoniac and potash are certainly added, the following observations of
Dr Cullen deserves attention among the effects of Snuffing, says he
I have all the symptoms of dyspepsia induced by it, these were relieved
by abstainance from the article. I think the use of snuffs bad practice,
and that it is especially prejudicial in persons disposed to melancholia
but I cannot agree with him that nervous affections are more common