(seq. 533)

526

Materia Medica

Cathartics

delicate females that are purged by one or two grains of assafoetida
or 2 teaspoonsfull of molasses. I think that larger doses of cathartics
are necessary in warm climates than in cold ones. It is well known
that the cathartic medicines differ in their degrees of power, some
acting partially though at the same time they empty the intestines
completely, while others are more violent in their operation, they have
been divided therefore into Mitiora, and Acriora. Dr
Cullen thinks there are some acting as stimulants upon the
extremities of the exhalents in the intestines only, and others which
likewise increas the action of the vessels, but at the same time increase
the perastaltic motion, though they increase this action they
cannot stimulate the intestines so as to inflame them even when
taken in large doses. Dr Duncan has divided them (Cathartics)
into 1st Stimulantia, as Alloes, Jalap, Gamboge, &c. 2nd Refrigerantia,
as neutral salts, tamarinds, &c. 3rd Astringentia, as rheubarb &c,
4th Emolientia, as Castor Oil, manna &c,* [footnote back 1 page] this arangment has
been highly spoken of, but I do not think there is much proprety [propriety]
in it, many of the classes are improperly denominated, to the term
Astringentia" as apply’d to the cathartic medicines I object, though I
have nothing to say against that of "Emolientia" that two of "Narcotica"