(seq. 505)

498

Materia Medica

Emetics

of this as an emetic, the infusion he says has only been employ’d by the
vulgar, it is a disagreeable one it it is true, but it possesses some perculiar
properties, it seems to combine with the properties of squill and opium,
externally apply’d it is often emetic, it is bruised and made into a poultice
and apply'd to the stomach in a bag, thus employ’d it is said to discuss
tumors in the Epigastric Region. Tobacco has been used as an emetic
after large doses of other narcotics. I think I am the first person who
employ’d it in those cases. I beat down three or four ounces of the
dry’d leaves with vinigar and apply them to the region of the stomach.
It generally operates in half an hour, this has sometimes saved the
lives of those who have taken an overdose of opium. I am informed
that some late experiments have been made to prove that tobacco
externally apply’d is inert, this is certainly incorrect for it evidently produces
vomiting. I recommend it highly when large doses of Laudanum have
been taken, but I would not trust entirely to it, especially when the dose
has been verry large.

Senecio. Or Groundsel, This is seldom
employ’d but a strong infusion of it is emetic, the highlanders in Scotland
use it in cataplasms, to bring on suppuration, it is given to horses for
the botts, it has been employ’d in curing externally.* * see fol 491

Ipecacuanha.
This is a verry important artacle [article] although it has not long been acertained