(seq. 539)

532

Materia Medica

Cathartics

and less heating, with calomel it forms a most excellent purge, to
an adult we may give ℈i [1 scruple] of Rhoi and 6 or 8 of calomel, to this purge
I am verry much attached, it corrects verry considerably the factor
of the feces, it is a bitter and therefore a tonic in some measure
and does not debilitate the stomach, some writers say that it is not
an astringent,* [footnote back 1 page] but it is evident so to the taste and best chemical
tests; Some writers say it operates upon the liver and recommend
it in Jaundice,** [footnote back 1 page] others speak of its anthelmintic powers, but it is
not more of an anthelmintic than the cantherides, it is
unquestionably absorbed into the circulation, and appears in the urine,
perspiration, and serum of the blood.

Butternut. This grows
verry plentifully in the United States and is a verry good cathartic,
it is an extract from the inner bark that is employ’d for the purpose,
when well prepared it is of a deep brownish color and sweetish taste
and is one of the best cathartics that can be employ’d the dose is about
12 grs [grains] and sometimes from a ℈i [1 scruple] to Ʒfs [½ dram] which on the other hand I
have known grs 5 [5 grains] to purge, it is not disposed to puke, this extract has
been accused of producing disagreeable effects. I have discovered
somewhat of an anodoyne quality in it, it is verry usefull in
Dysentary, a decoction of it is given in the Yellow Water of the horse which