(seq. 583)

576

Materia Medica

Diuretics

medicine acts by transferring the inflamation to more distant parts or
rather to the more external parts of the faces. Dr Tennant gave it
in Rheumatism, Gout, and in Dropsy. In the chronic rheumatism
I think it would be usefull, Mr tells us he did not make complete
cures of Dropsy. In one case of Dropsy I found it extremely usefull,
she had Hydrothorax combined with a pulmonary affection and
with anasarca, she afterwards died of Phthisis, it has done harm
in dropsies by being used in all forms. Dr Milnor however has
given testimony of its utility, and of 13 who were affected with acites
he cured 6 his statement demands attention, and in the form of
Dropsies Physicians should always use it. Dr Percival
recommends it and says he cured one case of Hydrathorax. A black man
in the Pennsylvania Hospital who was affected with universal
dropsy was cured by a liberal use of a strong decoction of senaka
accompanied with small doses of calomel, in chronic headache to
which women are subject, it is much used. Dr Monroe cured a
woman of it by giving ℈i [1 scruple] divided into 4 pills. 1 to be taken 4 times a day.

Lactuca Sylvestris. Or Wild Lettuce. This is
verry highly recommended as a cure for dropsy by Dr Collier of
Vienna, it is verry much like the common Opium Lettuce, this has