(seq. 551)

544

Materia Medica

Cathartics

Glaubers Salts, and is a more expensive medicine.

Sea water.
This is a cathartic and a verry certain one but it is not known in
what ingredient this quality resides, it is found to contain the Muriates
of Soda and Magnesia together with the Sulphate of Lime, the first
in the greatest quantity, next, the second and of the third there is
the least, the Muriate of Magnesia is properly an active ingredient,
we may immitate Sea water by dissolving some of the purging salts,
and Muriate of Soda in Water. Sea Water is of use in Scrophulous
affections, though common salt is not.

Mineral Cathartics.
Of this article though unquestionable one of the most
powerfull, I shall say but little having already mentioned it.

Turbith Minerals.* [footnote back 1 page] These are often employ’d as
Cathartics, but they may be used as such though its primary
operation is that of Emetic, its secondary one is that of a cathartic.

The Antimonials. These may be so managed as to
produce a purgative effect, particularly the Tart. Emet. Some
Physicians use this mixed with Glauber Salts, in Dysentary I like to add
¼ of a grain of it to each purgative effect. James powder we have
already spoken of as an Emetic, and Dr James often gave it as
a purge, he observed himself that in its exhibition more Cathartic