_Take purified nitre prepared and chalk, of each eight ounces, nutmeg
two ounces; reduce all to a fine powder, and let them be properly
mixed._
This is an excellent powder against the heart-burn, or other crudities
of the stomach and bowels; for whilst it absorbs the crudities and
accidities in the first passage, it is at the same time a gentle
digestive, and withal a carminative: Hence in heart-burn, belching, and
other disagreeable symptoms of depraved appetite it is highly useful.
N. _Calomel_:
_This is a dulcified mercury, made of sublimate mercury four ounces,
pure quicksilver three ounces; intimately mixed, and sublimed six times,
according to the art in chymistry._
This is the safest and gentlest of all mercurial preparations, and if
judiciously administered, may be deemed one of the greatest of all
medicines. I shall therefore be somewhat particular on this head. In the
first place, it should be faithfully prepared; and secondly, levigated
as fine as is possible; to do this therefore, I have in my Treatise on
the Venereal Disease, recommended it to be ground with a little water on
a flat marble, to the finest degree possible, and then dried up for use.
The fineness of this excellent medicine is of the greatest importance,
and ought to be strictly attended to, for not only much mischief has
been done by its rough particles in the bowels, but it must follow, that
the finer it is, the farther it goes. And with all mercurials, it should
be strictly observed, the less quantity we can make do, the more we may
hope for success.
There is not an acrimony in the human body but what may be corrected by
this universal antacrid medicine, if properly administered. In venereal
cases, it should be one of the first, and the principal remedy
throughout the cure; but care should be taken that the quantity be
small, and adapted to the strength of the patient, and to prevent it
from falling on the salivary glands, and thence to produce salivation.
The dose should never exceed one grain, a quantity sufficient for
twenty-four hours, except where there is evacuation, or other discharges
of the body required; in which case it may be occasionally increased,
especially in malignant fluxes, or when purges are given, or in other
evacuations.
It may be made up in many forms; the best, however, is in pills, with a
little flower and water, &c. or it may occasionally be mixed up with
other medicines, as I shall frequently have occasion to speak of.
O. _Precipitate_:
_This is made up of equal weight of Quicksilver and compound Aqua
Fortis, well mixed, evaporated to dryness, in a broad bottomed vessel,
by a sand heat, according to the art of chymistry; in which operation it
turns red._
This is an excellent medicine, applied to all kinds of ulcers, as it
will correct the malignity of the matter, take off fungous flesh, bring
on a kind suppuration.
It will also clear the skin from all kinds of breaking-out, and
perfectly destroy lice, nits, &c. It should, however, like the former,
be levigated very fine, for thereby it loses greatly its sharpness, and
becomes more efficacious. It should also be mixed with some cerate,
ointment, or other dressing, and never, or very seldom, be used by
itself, as I shall hereafter point out.
P. _Mercurial Ointment_:
_Take hogs lard eight ounces, purified quicksilver one ounce, Venice
turpentine two drachms; rub the mercury into the turpentine in a mortar,
till the quicksilver disappears, then mix the whole together._
This is popularly called Unction, and peculiarly useful in venereal
cases, as also to destroy a particular vermin called _Crab-Lice_, and
other foulnesses. But I must here give a caution against the too free
use of mercurial ointment, as it is not only apt to bring on salivation,
but if the mercury is adulterated with lead, (as sometimes is the case)
it is liable to occasion many incurable pains in the limbs; and by this
the remedy may prove worse than the disease.
Q. _Rhubarb._ This is a necessary article in all kind of fluxes, and
relaxations in the bowels; for, besides that it purges gently, it has
withal such an astringency as to brace up the weakened vessels, and to
restore their proper tone again.
The dose of rhubarb is one scruple; which should be mixed with some fine
chalk, or _Stomachic Powder_. (M.) about equal quantity, particularly in
the beginning of fluxes.
R. _Jalap._ This of all purging medicines is undoubtedly the best, when
purging is required. The dose is from a scruple to half a drachm, mixed
up into a draught, with a little syrup and water, or any other form. A
grain or two of calomel is ever a proper addition, let the case be what
it will, that requires purging.
S. _Ipecacuanha._ This is the best of vomiting medicines; to be given
about a scruple, either in form of a little draught, or in a bolus.
Vomits are often of more benefit than purges; not so much on account of
cleansing the stomach, as by the agitation it gives to the whole body;
whence it is brought into perspiration, and thereby promotes the
circulation of the fluids that was obstructed.
T. _Liquid Laudanum_:
_Take purified opium one ounce; cinamon and cloves, of each one drachm;
white wine one pint, steep them for a week without heat, and filter it
for use._
This is a medicine of much use in painful and restless diseases, but
should never be had recourse to, unless the greatest necessity require
it. For, whilst it lulls the nerves from their irritation, it is apt to
weaken their tone, and by that, greatly lessen the strength of the whole
body; but where really requisite, it is a happiness that ease can be
given, by which to relieve nature in pain that it may be restored again
to tranquillity. The dose of this tincture is from 10 drops upwards to
30.
U. _Essential Oil of Peppermint_: This is one of the most grateful
nervins in the whole materia medica; and at the same time the least
stimulant. In all cases where there is weakness and feebleness, I would
advise this in preference of spirit of hartshorn, or any other stimulant
whatever. It warms the stomach, comforts the bowels, and infuses a
liveliness over the whole nervous system. The dose is from 3 or 4 to 6
drops, on a little lump of sugar, and dissolved either in a glass of
wine, or water; which may be repeated occasionally, without the least
hurt to the constitution.
W. _Turlington’s Balsam_:
_Take St. Johns worth a small handful, rectified Spirit of wine two
quarts; digest them for a few days, then strain and filter the extracts;
then take Angelica root, Olebanum, Myrrh, and Socotorine Aloes, of each
one ounce; Styrax, Benzoin, and Peruvian balsam, of each an ounce and a
half; digest the whole in a slow heat for some days, and filter the
balsam off for use._
This is the genuine receipt of the celebrated _Turlington’s Balsam_, and
an excellent medicine it is, for many purposes. Externally, it is an
efficacious remedy for all green wounds, cuts, bruises, &c. if
immediately applied.
But particularly for internal uses, its virtues are great: It warms the
stomach, promotes good digestion, enriches the blood, warms the whole
system, and, above all, is a sovereign remedy in all rheumatic
complaints. The dose is about a tea spoon full, in a glass of wine, or
any other convenient vehicle; and on all occasions, where bitters are
made use of, this ought to have the preference, being one of the best
stomachics. But at the same time it should be observed, that where there
is a fever in the system, it ought to be avoided, as it is remarkably
heating in its nature, and therefore agrees best with cold
constitutions, and where the habit is weak.
Here then I shall end this lecture; and only observe, that though there
are various other medicines of the greatest importance, as well for
external as for internal uses, I have purposely avoided them, as their
application requires more care, than what we may expect from men who
have not made medicine their peculiar study. At the same time I must
also confess, that the forementioned will be sufficient, if managed as I
have already intimated. It is a maxim with me, ’tis not so much the
medicines themselves whereon the success depends, as the judgment
requisite to know how and when properly to make use of them.
I must likewise take notice, that I have purposely adhered as close to
the recipes of the Dispensatory as I could with propriety, because it
may the better suit the apothecarys’ shops in all parts of the world;
and that when a medicine is wanted it may the easier be supplied. It
would have been an easy matter for me to alter every medicine in its
composition; but I conceive this would have tended but to raise
difficulties in procuring them, and taken away from the general utility
of the book.
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