(seq. 479)

472

Materia Medica

Sialagogues

view to salivate, we are not certain that mercury does good in Mania.
I think it produces beneficial effects, but never effected a cure by it, except
where the disorder was owing to syphilis.

Hypochondriasis.
From dyspepsia I have given the blue pill with verry good effects,
mercury has been given in cases of cancers but I have had little experience
from it myself, and it would be difficult to mention the names
of all those who recommended it. I am not certain I ever employ’d
the mercury in true open cancer, but I have used it for ulcers that
were universal, but nevertheless refuse to yield to other remidies with
great advantage. I think I have already mentioned that I cured a
cancerous affection of the scrotum with mercurial ointment, the Red
Praecipitate appears to be the best application to apply externally, this might
seem the proper place for entering upon an enquiry of the use of mercury
in the Venerial Disease but this subject is so generally understood
that I shall say but little upon it.

Gonorrhea. Calomel is
not often given, though mercurial purges produce a good effect without
inducing salivation. I think that calomel stimulates the absorbents
to a greater action and to take of [off] the virus from the urethra. I sometimes
employ mercurial injections in gonorrhea, but lately I have not
used them much thinking the astringent ones better. I somitimes