(seq. 589)

582

Materia Medica

Antilithics. The antient [ancient] term for this class of medicines was
Lythontryptics or Stone Breakers, but they do not appear to
produce any effect upon the stone after it is formed unless by a verry
continued use of them, they rather appear to produce their effects by
acting on the system, many of the bitters are antilithics, but
particularly Gentian, Quassia &c, of which I have spoken before, the infusion
of Quassia has been found extremely usefull and I believe all the
bitters employd in practice may be advantageously employ’d in calculous,
not only the bitters but the pure astringents have likewise been
employ’d, many kinds of gentian leaves have been found usefull, also
common tea, and this I assert from this glaring fact that in China
where this article is so much used calculous is hardly known. I think
those articles that combine the bitter and astringent principles are
verry powerfull antilithics.

Uva Ursi. This is a Native of Europe and America it is
found about 2 miles from Philadelphia. It is of no consequence to
argue whether this article was or was not employ’d by Galen it is
sufficient to know that it was employ’d along time ago, the leaves
when chew’d have a bitter and styptic taste and increase the flow
of Saliva, the infusion or decoction throws down a black colour