Stearns, Samuel, 1747-1809. Medical notebook of Samuel Stearns, circa 1773. H MS b1.1, Countway Library of Medicine.

Cholera Morbus or Vomiting and loosness

The Cure of this Disease Consists in giving diluting liquors and the Sooner the Better therefore give at first a Large Quantity of warm Water with fresh Butter or Oil or Whey. While this is doing boil a large Chicken in 3 Gallons of Water, and give a Large Quantity to Drink. Inject also emollient Glysters. or repeated Glysters of Chicken Broth. If Oat Bread can be had without leaven or Yeast, toast is as brown as Coffee and make a Coffee Coulored Decoct. of it this may be drank as soon as it can be gat ready and will come in after the water and Oil. If the Patient is exhausted he must take a large Draught of this Decoction as soon as possible. When the Nausia is a little Settled two thirds of a grain of Opium may be given. If the Patient is Convulsed and the Extremities Cold give 25 gut. Tinct. thebaic in oz. j. of Strong Cinnamon Water afterwards wine in an equal Quantity of the Decoction and afterwards repeat the Decoct. to Quench Thirst. To prevent a relapse repeat the Opiate for Some Days both Mornings and Evenings.

Chillblains & Kibes

Chillblains are small red shining Tumours coming on the Fingers and toes also on the Heels these Last one Termed Kibes Cure Wash With warm [?] Urine &c or Rather with aq. hung. Spt. Vin. Camph. applied Warm. Kibes may be cured by letting out the Stagnated Blood with a Lancit and So may Chillblains Kibes may be cured thus Rx. Ung. desicatio. rub vel Dia[?]. m. cum qm. Camph. Used with Dressing of Empl. de min. or Diach. Simp. let down with ol Ros. to Cover them.

Colic Billious

Bleed Freely in the Arm after 3 or 4 hours give a gentle Anodyne The next Day a Gentle Cathartic may be given and repeated every other Day Mix Anodynes and Cathartics together thus Extract. Cathart. dr. ss Extract. theibac gr. j. Ol. Carioph. gutt. ij. M. F. Pill. When these Pills opperate the Patient must drink Water Gruil with Manna if the Vomiting permit Repeate this till the Aurimony is Evacuated. If ye Patient is most Spent give Aq. Mirab.

Enema Rx. Fol. althea. Cham. Tinct. Sacc. oz. j. Sal. Marine dr. j. Ol. lini oz. ij. Sweet Whey Chicken Broth &c ought to be taken freely. For the Billious Fever give ye following Rx. Occul. Canc. dr. j. Nit. s. j. Ol. Amygd. d. C. C. ppt. dr. j. To turn the Vomiting Sal. Absinth. Sem. Lini Spt. Vit. Rx. Pulv. Cont. C. s. j. Camph. gr. ij. Nit. gr. 10. Rx. Colycinth. Scamony. Antimo. Crud. lavegated aa oz. ss m. cum Syr de Spin Cerv. pro pill. add Ol Carioph. if need be. [?] Dr. [Frink?]. you may add Aloes [?] or Hepatic let but a very Small quantity be added

Cold Cathing of See Chlorosis

Colic Convulsive or nervous

A Convulsive Colic disturbs the Nervous and Membranous Parts of the Whole Body by Consent in a Tirible Manner insomuch that the whole Spasm is Spread through the whole System and not only the Stomach and Intestines are Drawn upwards and downwards with Obstinate Costiveness but the Muscles of the Belly and Navel are Drawn inwards. If the Nerves of the Lungs are affected by ye Violence of the Spasm the breathing is difficult with a strong Motion of the Thorax Sometimes a Vertigo will Come on. Tart. Vit. dr. j. Sal. Tart. s. ss Ol Nucis Moschat. gut. j. Lenit. Elect. q. s. Pro Bolus See Dry Belly Ach Spt. Vin. & Piper Nig ye Regular Physicians Exhibit.

Flatulent

If the Pain is fixed in the Right or Left Hypochondrium or beneath ye Stomach 'tis a Sign the Wind is in the Excrements or Flexures of the Colon. When the Pain is in the Small Intestines the Abdomen will be Swelled. Cure Rx. Aq. Fenic. Aq. Aurant. aa oz. jv. Aq. Junip. Comp. oz. jv. Spt. Nit. d. dr. js. Syr. Cort. Aurant. oz.j. m. give Chl. j. every hour. Give other Carminatives When the Wind and excrements are pent up in the Flexures of the Colon then Use an Emollient. Glyster with Sapo dura and afterwards Give laxatives by the Month.

of the Damnonii

This Disease is Frequent in Devonshire and Cornwall 'tis an Epidemical Disease which Returns every Atumn Cure Bleeding is Prejudicial But Vomiting is advantagous Ipecac. Tart. Emet. Let the Patient Drink Cheeken Broth or a Decoct of Salvie und Flor. Chamom. whilst the Emet opperates.

Colic Poitou or Dry Belly ach

This is attended with a Costiveness and Resembles the Bilious Colic in Some Measure.

Cure After a Vomit the greatest Regard must be had to the Pain and Costiveness, and a Passage through through the Intestines must be gained if Possible but not by strong Cathartics. Extract. Cath. s. j. cum qm. Opii gr j may be given Then Inf. Sene. oz. jv. Tinct. Sene oz. j. m. give two Spoonfulls every hour or two 'till the desired effect is obtained not neglecting Glysters which should be Injected Frequently. If the Purge does not work Particullarly that against the Colic Emollient Fomentations should be applied to the Belly and Semicupium Baths should Should be used which are made of Cham. Flowers and Emollient Herbs. After the Blood has been diluted with Pyrmont Water a Sweat may be attempted with thebaic [?] Extract and Camph. Aq. Calcis will Destroy Acids in the Stomach and Blood und when the Cure ja advanced Rhei or Tinct. Sacc. will keep the Body open. See Colic Convulsive

Consumption of the Lungs or Pulmonic

Regimen a Milk Diet and Nourishing Broths are proper Balsamic Pills Riding in the Morning is proper In the Beginning of Consumptions if the Lungs are Stuffed with Phlegm and there is a Continual Cough in the Night bleed in the Arm and Repeat it pro re nata. If there is a Nausea give an Emetic Oxymel. Seelit. oz. jss in a large Draught of Posset Drink this may be repeated three or four times every fourth Day with a Composing Draught at Night or 6 grains of Storax Pills Then give laxatives with Manna to Carry the Humours Downwards and an Opiate at Night avoid oily Medicines and Lohocks if the Cough is Moist and give Sudorifics instead of them Apply Blisters between the Scapula and laxatives as was Just directed not forgitting frequent exhibitions of Anodynes. Likewise a Decoct. of peruv. Bark. with Liq. Guaiac may be proper oz. ss of each in Qt. j. of Boiling water. Bals. Traumat. or General Bals. with qm. Guaiac is proper But if the Glands of the Trachea and Bronchia are Obstructed, and will not Yield Mucus enough to Lubricate the Membranes, then Emollient tiped Drink Supped often, drawing in Vapours from the Same, will be of great Service. as also Oily and Relaxing Medicines taken now and then, By this Means an Incipient Consumption may be cured Whin the Disease is Confirmed [Setous?] or [?] are of great Service on the Side most affected. See the Virtues of the following Medicines Cons. Ros. Antihectic Decoct. Vulnerary Decoct. pectoral Decoct Infusion Pect. Bolus Bals. Electuary Julep Ammoniae Squill Julep. Bals. Lohoch. Cordials. Safron, Cons. of Kermes, Bolus of Castor, Ol. of Cinnamon, Aromat. Water aromat. Elect. Cordial Elect. Cordial Julep, Musk Julep Spt. C. C. Volat. Oleous Spt. Spt. Lav. C. Spt. Succin. Tinct. Cast. Tinct. Saffron