(seq. 555)

548

Materia Medica

Cathartics

Magnesia. This is an earth and was used so long ago as
the time of Count Desaline of Rome, but to the illustrious Dr Black
we are indebted for its introduction into general use, in its fixed state
it is a carbonate of Magnesia, and from this fact it was given with
a view to produce a chimical decomposition and hence was exhibitted
in acidities of the stomach, when given it should always be calcined
to prevent the flatulence arising from its operation without calcination, in
this form it is infinitely the best purgative we possess for the bowel
complaints of children, combined with equal parts of sulphur it is a verry
valuable cathartic, also to neutralize the acidity of the stomach in
children at which time its secondary operation is to purge thereby remove
the griping generally attendant upon acidity. When exhibited for this
purpose the following is the best formula. Viz.

Rx
Pulv. Rad. Rhoi grs VI [6 grains]
Magnesia calcinat grs XX [20 grains]
Oleum Anis gtt iv [4 drops]
Laud Lig gtt ii [2 drops]
Loaf Sugar Ʒi [1 dram]
Aq. Font. ℥i [1 ounce]

M. Give one table spoonfull every
two or three hours, in this way it
operates verry mildly, and certainly.