(seq. 515)

508

Materia Medica

Emetics

In warm climates particularly it is the best medicine that can be
employ’d. I do not suppose it to have any specific action. Dr Cullen
was of opinion that it acted as a purgative and others say it is
most powerfull when it acts so, particularly Sir George Baker, these
opinions are however incorrect, it is thought by Dr Morely to determine
to the skin and produce its effects in this manner. I do not believe
it acts by purging since the opium I combined with it would prevent
that effect, nor do I think it acts by determining to the skin, because
those patients who were sweated were not more benefitted than those
who were not.

Cynanche Trachealis. In this disease I have
successfully employ’d the combination of Ipecacuanha and calomel,
in the "colica Hepatica" it has often been found usefull by some of the
French Writers. I have already spoken of its effects in diminishing the
powers of opium, when I treated of Dover's powders. A girl that
swallow'd a large dose of opium was saved by taking continued doses of
Ipecacuanha without inducing much vomiting. It is therefore an
excellent remidy in such cases by its emetic quality and also by its power
of diminishing the powers of the opium, you will always find that
grs ij [2 grains]* [footnote back 1 page] with the same of Ipecacuanha will not produce as great an effect
as grs I [1 grain] of opium alone. Dover's powders seldom produce sound sleep,