(seq. 543)

536

Materia Medica

Cathartics

I shall speak more of it when treating of Diuretics.

Jalap.
This belongs to the same family with the Potatoe, and derives its name
from a Town "Jalappa". It is a native of the southern part of the continent
of America, and is said to be found in the United States, the resinous
parts contain the virtues of the plant, the gummy have less of them. Jalap
is certainly a verry valuable cathartic and is more employ’d in Britain
than in this country. Dr Hofman thought it unsafe for children.
Cullen triturated it with crystals of crem Tartar and liked it verry
well. I do not observe (says he) that it is heating except in large doses,
I do not however approve of it for children. It often gripes and pukes
and I do not think it improved by the addition of crem Tart. I always
combine with it calomel, the common dose for an adult in
Pennsylvania ℈i [1 scruple] but it is given in doses from 15 grs [grains] to Ʒfs. [½ dram] children at the breast may take 2, 3, or 4 grs [grains]. Jalap in substance is far preferable to
any of the preparations of it which are the extract and the tincture, of
this the dose is from Ʒfs [½ dram] to Ʒi [1 dram] alone or with syrup.

Podophyllum Peltatum. Or
May Apple. This grows in Pennsylvania, New York, and Delaware
where it is called Mandrake, it grows also in some of the other States,
in order to obtain the purgative effect of this common root, it should