(seq. 535)

528

Materia Medica

Cathartics

too is verry unexceptionable the time before us will not allow of a dicussion
of those diseases* [footnote back 1 page] in which our medicines are employ’d and I leave
this subject unmentioned with less regret since I can refer you to Dr
Hamilton's work on Cathartic's.** [footnote back 1 page] I would observe however that Hamilton
goes to far, sometimes with them. In my view of the Cathartic Medicines
I shall first speak of those which are derived from the vegitable, next of
the neutral Salts, 3d of the Mineral Cathartics lastly of those that are spontaneous.

Vegitable Cathartics. These form
an exclusive class, and I shall only treat of those most usefull, many
of the dry'd fruits containing sacharine matter are gentle cathartics.

Manna. This is a sacharine matter of a peculiar kind
not as Cullen says possessing as a purge no more power than as much
brown sugar. Molasses also purges and that in greater degree than
sugar in some persons its effects are verry different. Honey also is more
laxative than sugar.

Oleum Ricini. Or Castor Oil.
This obtained from the Palma Crista which grows Plentifully in
the Unted States, it is not a native but is derived from the West
Indies, the dose for an adult is ℥i [1 ounce] or a large tablespoonfull, some persons
require more and they are not generally easily affected by other
purges, the Castor Oil is usefull in all cases where purgatives are usefull