(seq. 527)

520

Materia Medica

Emetics

violently. Dr James considers Ʒfs [½ dram] a dose. Dr Monroe thought from
5 to 12 grains sufficient, we should however begin with small doses,
perhaps to much is ascribed to this article. James gave it to clear out the
stomach after which he poured in the bark. James powder sometimes
salivates. I have not used it much but sometimes with more effect than
any other antimonial in use. Dr Cullen was the first distinguished
Physician who recommended the antimonials in fever and by means
of his numerous pupils the practice was verry widely spread, their
operation in the cure of fever I think is not completely understood. Dr
Cullen ascribes their good to vomiting and nausea. I cannot I think
they act by exciting vomiting alone, because if so the other emetics would
do equally well, as squills, Foxglove &c. I therefore agree with Dr Fordice
that there is something of a specific action which belongs to the
antimonials, but I cannot agree with him that vomiting causes much of
their effects to be lost, he supposes whenever a medicine vomits, that effect
prevents or diminishes its other operations this however is not the case
with all emetics. I have already told you that Arsenic cures
Intermittants, whether it produces sickness or not, it seems indeed
more powerfull to produce the effect when it excites vomiting, the vomiting
induced by ipecacuanha, Lead, Copper &c, does not appear to diminish