Part 2 — APPENDIX: (continued 2)

Camphorated Spirit of Wine.

Dissolve an ounce of camphor in a pint of rectified spirits.

This solution is chiefly employed as an embrocation in bruises, palsies, the chronic rheumatism, and for preventing gangrenes.

The above quantity of camphor, dissolved in half a pound of the volatile aromatic spirit, makes Ward’s Essence.

Spirit of Mindererus.

Take of volatile sal ammoniac, any quantity. Pour on it gradually distilled vinegar, till the effervescence ceases.

This medicine is useful in promoting a discharge both by the skin and urinary passages. It is also a good external application in strains and bruises.

When intended to raise a sweat, half an ounce of it in a cup of warm gruel may be given to the patient in bed every hour till it has the desired effect.

VINEGARS.

Vinegar is an acid produced from vinous liquors by a second fermentation. It is an useful medicine both in inflammatory and putrid disorders. Its effects are, to 700cool the blood, quench thirst, counteract a tendency to putrefaction, and allay inordinate motions of the system. It likewise promotes the natural secretions, and in some cases excites a copious sweat, where the warm medicines, called alexipharmic, tend rather to prevent that salutary evacuation.

Weakness, faintings, vomitings, and other hysteric affections, are often relieved by vinegar applied to the mouth and nose, or received into the stomach. It is of excellent use also in correcting many poisonous substances, when taken into the stomach; and in promoting their expulsion, by the different emunctories, when received into the blood.

Vinegar is not only an useful medicine, but serves likewise to extract, in tolerable perfection, the virtues of several other medicinal substances. Most of the odoriferous flowers impart to it their fragrance, together with a beautiful purplish or red colour. It also assists or coincides with the intention of squills, garlic, gum ammoniac, and several other valuable medicines.

These effects, however, are not to be expected from every thing that is sold under the name of vinegar, but from such as is sound and well prepared.

The best vinegars are those prepared from French wines.

It is necessary for some purposes that the vinegar be distilled; but as this operation requires a particular chemical apparatus, we shall not insert it.

Vinegar of Litharge.

Take of litharge, half a pound; strong vinegar, two pints. Infuse them together in a moderate heat for three days, frequently shaking the vessel; then filter the liquor for use.

This medicine is little used, from a general notion of its being dangerous. There is reason, however, to believe, that the preparations of lead with vinegar are possessed of some valuable properties, and that they may be used in many cases with safety and success.

A preparation of a similar nature with the above has of late been extolled by Goulard, a French surgeon, as a safe and extensively useful medicine, which he calls the Extract of Saturn, and orders to be made in the following manner:

Take of litharge, one pound; vinegar made of French wine, two pints. Put them together into a glazed earthen 701pipkin, and let them boil, or rather simmer, for an hour, or an hour and a quarter, taking care to stir them all the while with a wooden spatula. After the whole has stood to settle, pour off the liquor which is upon the top into bottles for use.

With this extract Goulard makes his vegeto-mineral water^[211], which he recommends in a great variety of external disorders, as inflammations, burns, bruises, sprains, ulcers, &c.

He likewise prepares with it a number of other forms of medicine, as poultices, plasters, ointments, powders, &c.

Vinegar of Roses.

Take of red roses, half a pound; strong vinegar, half a gallon. Infuse in a close vessel for several weeks, in a gentle heat; and then strain off the liquor.

This is principally used as an embrocation for head-achs, &c.

Vinegar of Squills.

Take of dried squills, two ounces; distilled vinegar, two pints. Infuse for ten days or a fortnight in a gentle degree of heat, afterwards strain off the liquor, and add to it about a twelfth part its quantity of proof spirits.

This medicine has good effects in disorders of the breast, occasioned by a load of viscid phlegm. It is also of use in hydropic cases for promoting a discharge of urine.

The dose is from two drachms to two ounces, according to the intention for which it is given. When intended to act as a vomit, the dose ought to be large. In other cases, it must not only be exhibited in small doses, but also mixed with cinnamon water, or some other agreeable aromatic liquor, to prevent the nausea it might otherwise occasion.

WATERS BY INFUSION, &c.

Lime-Water.

Pour two gallons of water gradually upon a pound of fresh burnt quicklime; and when the ebullition ceases, stir them well together; then suffer the whole to stand at rest, that the lime may settle, and afterwards filter the liquor through paper, which is to be kept in vessels closely stopt.

702The lime-water from calcined oyster-shells, is prepared in the same manner.

Lime-water is principally used for the gravel; in which case, from a pint to two or more of it may be drunk daily. Externally it is used for washing foul ulcers, and removing the itch, and other diseases of the skin.

Compound Lime-Water.

Take shavings of guaiacum wood, half a pound; liquorice root, one ounce; sassafras bark, half an ounce; coriander seeds, three drachms; simple lime-water, six pints.

Infuse without heat for two days, and then strain off the liquor.

In the same manner may lime-water be impregnated with the virtues of other vegetable substances. Such impregnation not only renders the water more agreeable to the palate, but also a more efficacious medicine, especially in cutaneous disorders, and foulness of the blood and juices.

It may be taken in the same quantity as the simple water.

Sublimate Water.

Dissolve eight grains of the corrosive sublimate in a pint of cinnamon water.

If a stronger solution is wanted, a double or triple quantity of sublimate may be used.

The principal intention of this is to cleanse foul ulcers, and consume proud flesh.

Styptic Water.

Take of blue vitriol and alum, each an ounce and a half; water, one pint. Boil them until the salts are dissolved, then filter the liquor, and add to it a drachm of the oil of vitriol.

This water is used for stopping a bleeding at the nose, and other hæmorrhages; for which purpose cloths or dossils dipt in it must be applied to the part.

Tar Water.

Pour a gallon of water on two pounds of Norway tar, and stir them strongly together with a wooden rod: after they have stood to settle for two days, pour off the water for use.

703Though tar-water falls greatly short of the character which has been given of it, yet it possesses some medicinal virtues. It sensibly raises the pulse, increases the secretions, and sometimes opens the body, or occasions vomiting.

A pint of it may be drank daily, or more, if the stomach can bear it. It is generally ordered to be taken on an empty stomach, viz. four ounces morning and evening, and the same quantity about two hours after breakfast and dinner.

SIMPLE DISTILLED WATERS.

A great number of distilled waters were formerly kept in the shops, and are still retained in some Dispensatories. But we consider them chiefly in the light of grateful diluents, suitable vehicles for medicines of greater efficacy, or for rendering disgustful ones more agreeable to the palate and stomach. We shall therefore insert only a few of those which are best adapted to these intentions.

The management of a still being now generally understood, it is needless to spend time in giving directions for that purpose.

Cinnamon Water.

Steep one pound of cinnamon bark, bruised, in a gallon and a half of water, and one pint of brandy, for two days; and then distil off one gallon.

This is an agreeable aromatic water, possessing in a high degree the fragrance and cordial virtues of the spice.

Pennyroyal Water.

Take of penny-royal leaves, dried, a pound and a half; water, from a gallon and a half to two gallons. Draw off by distillation one gallon.

This water possesses, in a considerable degree, the smell, taste, and virtues of the plant. It is given in mixtures and juleps to hysteric patients.

An infusion of the herb, in boiling water answers nearly the same purposes.

Peppermint Water.

This is made in the same manner as the preceding.

Spearmint Water.

This may also be prepared in the same way as the penny-royal water.

704Both these are useful stomachic waters, and will sometimes relieve vomiting, especially when it proceeds from indigestion, or cold viscid phlegm. They are likewise useful in some colicky complaints, the gout in the stomach, &c. particularly the peppermint water.

An infusion of the fresh plant is frequently found to have the same effects as the distilled water.

Rose Water.

Take of roses fresh gathered, six pounds; water, two gallons. Distil off one gallon.

This water is principally valued on account of its fine flavour.

Jamaica Pepper Water.

Take of Jamaica pepper, half a pound; water, a gallon and a half. Distil off one gallon.

This is a very elegant distilled water, and may in most cases supply the place of the more costly spice waters.

SPIRITUOUS DISTILLED WATERS.

Spirituous Cinnamon Water.

Take of cinnamon bark, one pound; proof spirit, and common water, of each one gallon. Steep the cinnamon in the liquor for two days; then distil off one gallon.

Spirituous Jamaica Pepper Water.

Take of Jamaica pepper, half a pound; proof spirit, three gallons; water, two gallons. Distil off three gallons.

This is a sufficiently agreeable cordial, and may supply the place of the Aromatic Water.

WHEYS.

Alum Whey.

Boil two drachms of powdered alum in a pint of milk till it is curdled; then strain out the whey.

This whey is beneficial in an immoderate flow of the menses, and in a diabetes, or excessive discharge of urine.

The dose is two, three, or four ounces, according as the stomach will bear it, three times a-day. If it should occasion vomiting, it may be diluted.

705 Mustard-Whey.

Take milk and water, of each a pint; bruised mustard-seed, an ounce and a half. Boil them together till the curd is perfectly separated; afterwards strain the whey through a cloth.

This is the most elegant, and by no means the least efficacious method of exhibiting mustard. It warms and invigorates the habit, and promotes the different secretions. Hence, in the low state of nervous fevers, it will often supply the place of wine. It is also of use in the chronic rheumatism, palsy, dropsy, &c. The addition of a little sugar will render it more agreeable.

The dose is an ordinary tea-cupful four or five times a-day.

Scorbutic Whey.

This whey is made by boiling half a pint of the scorbutic juices in a quart of cow’s milk. More benefit, however, is to be expected from eating the plants, than from their expressed juices.

The scorbutic plants are, bitter oranges, brooklime, garden scurvy-grass, and water-cresses.

A number of other wheys may be prepared nearly in the same manner, as orange whey, cream of tartar whey, &c. These are cooling pleasant drinks in fevers, and may be rendered cordial, when necessary, by the addition of wine.

WINES.

The effects of wine are, to raise the pulse, promote perspiration, warm the habit, and exhilarate the spirits. The red wines, besides these effects, have an astringent quality, by which they strengthen the tone of the stomach and intestines, and by this means prove serviceable in restraining immoderate secretions.

The thin sharp wines have a different tendency. They pass off freely by the different emunctories, and gently open the body. The effects of the full bodied wines are, however, much more durable than those of the thinner.

All sweet wines contain a glutinous substance, and do not pass off freely. Hence they will heat the body more than an equal quantity of any other wine, though it should contain fully as much spirit.

706From the obvious qualities of wine, it must appear to be an excellent cordial medicine. Indeed, to say the truth, it is worth all the rest put together.

But to answer this character, it must be sound and good. No benefit is to be expected from the common trash that is often sold by the name of wine, without possessing one drop of the juice of the grape. Perhaps no medicine is more rarely obtained genuine than wine.

Wine is not only used as a medicine, but is also employed as a menstruum for extracting the virtues of other medicinal substances; for which it is not ill adapted, being a compound of water, inflammable spirit, and acid; by which means it is enabled to act upon vegetable and animal substances, and also to dissolve some bodies of the metallic kind, so as to impregnate itself with their virtues, as steel, antimony, &c.

Anthelmintic Wine.

Take of rhubarb, half an ounce; worm-seed, an ounce. Bruise them, and infuse without heat in two pints of red port wine for a few days, then strain off the wine.

As the stomachs of persons afflicted with worms are always debilitated, red wine alone will often prove serviceable: it must, however, have still better effects when joined with bitter and purgative ingredients, as in the above form.

A glass of this wine may be taken twice or thrice a-day.

Antimonial Wine.

Take glass of antimony, reduced to a fine powder, half an ounce; Lisbon wine, eight ounces. Digest, without heat, for three or four days, now and then shaking the bottle; afterwards filter the wine through paper.

The dose of this wine varies according to the intention. As an alterative and diaphoretic, it may be taken from ten to fifty or sixty drops. In a larger dose it generally proves cathartic, or excites vomiting.

Bitter Wine.

Take of gentian root, yellow rind of lemon-peel, fresh, each one ounce; long pepper, two drachms; mountain wine, two pints. Infuse without heat for a week, and strain out the wine for use.

In complaints arising from weakness of the stomach, or indigestion, a glass of this wine may be taken an hour before dinner and supper.

707 Ipecacuanha Wine.

Take of ipecacuanha, in powder, one ounce; mountain wine, a pint. Infuse for three or four days; then filter the tincture.

This is a safe vomit, and answers extremely well for such persons as cannot swallow the powder, or whose stomachs are too irritable to bear it.

The dose is from one ounce to an ounce and a half.

Chalybeate or Steel Wine.

Take filings of iron, two ounces; cinnamon and mace, of each two drachms; Rhenish wine, two pints. Infuse for three or four weeks, frequently shaking the bottle; then pass the wine through a filter.

In obstructions of the menses, this preparation of iron may be taken, in the dose of half a wine-glass twice or thrice a-day.

The medicine would probably be as good if made with Lisbon wine, sharpened with half an ounce of the cream of tartar, or a small quantity of the vitriolic acid.

Stomach Wine.

Take of Peruvian bark, grossly powdered, an ounce; cardamom seeds, and orange peel, bruised, of each two drachms. Infuse in a bottle of white port or Lisbon wine for five or six days; then drain off the wine.

This wine is not only of service in debility of the stomach and intestines, but may also be taken as a preventive, by persons liable to the intermittent fever, or who reside in places where this disease prevails. It will be of use likewise to those who recover slowly after fevers of any kind, as it assists digestion, and helps to restore the tone and vigour of the system.

A glass of it may be taken two or three times a-day.

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A GLOSSARY.

Although terms of art have been sedulously avoided in the composition of this treatise, it is impossible entirely to banish technical phrases when writing on medicine, a science that has been less generally attended to by mankind, and continues therefore to be more infected with the jargon of the schools, than perhaps any other. Several persons having expressed their opinion that a Glossary would make this work more generally intelligible, the following concise explanation of the few terms of art that occur, has been added in compliance with their sentiments, and to fulfil the original intention of this treatise, by rendering it intelligible and useful to all ranks and classes of mankind.

A.

Abdomen. The belly.

Absorbents. Vessels that convey the nourishment from the intestines, and the secreted fluids from the various cavities into the mass of blood.

Acrimony. Corrosive sharpness.

Acute. A disease, the symptoms of which are violent, and tend to a speedy termination, is called acute.

Adult. Of mature age.

Adust. Dry, warm.

Antispasmodic. Whatever tends to prevent or remove spasm.

Aphthæ. Small whitish ulcers appearing in the mouth.

Astriction. A tightening or lessening.

Atrabilarian. An epithet commonly applied to people of a certain temperament, marked by a dark complexion, black hair, spare habit, &c. which the ancients supposed to arise from the atra bilis, or the black bile.

709B.

Bile, or Gall. A fluid which is secreted by the liver into the gall-bladder, and from thence passes into the intestines, in order to promote digestion.

C.

Cacochymie. An unhealthy state of the body.

Caries. A rottenness of a bone.

Chyle. A milky fluid separated from the aliment in the intestines, and conveyed by the absorbents into the blood to supply the waste of the animal body.

Chronic. A disease whose progress is slow, in opposition to acute.

Circulation. The motion of the blood, which is driven by the heart through the arteries, and returns by the veins.

Comatose. Sleepy.

Conglobate Gland. A simple gland.

Conglomerate. A compound gland.

Contagion. Infectious matter.

Cutis. The skin.

Cutaneous. Of or belonging to the skin.

Crisis. A certain period in the progress of a disease, from whence a decided alteration either for the better or the worse takes place.

Critical. Decisive or important.

Critical Days. The fourth, fifth, seventh, ninth, eleventh, thirteenth, fourteenth, seventeenth, and twenty-first, are by some authors denominated critical days, because febrile complaints have been observed to take a decisive change at these periods.

D.

Debility. Weakness.

Delirium. A temporary disorder of the mental faculties.

Diaphragm. A membrane separating the cavity of the chest from that of the belly.

Diuretic. A medicine that promotes the secretion of urine.

Drastic. Is applied to such purgative medicines as are violent or harsh in their operation.

E.

Empyema. A collection of purulent matter in the cavity of the breast.

710Endemic. A disease peculiar to a certain district of country.

Epidemic. A disease generally infectious.

Exacerbation. The increase of any disease.

F.

Fœces. Excrements.

Fœtid. Emitting an offensive smell.

Fœtus. The child before birth, or when born before the proper period, is thus termed.

Flatulent. Producing wind.

Fungus. Proud flesh.

G.

Gangrene. Mortification.

Gummata. Venereal excrescences.

Ganglia.

Gymnastic. Exercise taken with a view to preserve or restore health.—The ancient physicians reckoned this an important branch of medicine.

H.

Hectic fever. A slow consuming fever, generally attending a bad habit of body, or some incurable and deep rooted disease.

Hæmorrhoids. The piles.

Hæmorrhage. Discharge of blood.

Hypochondriacism. Low spirits.

Hypochondriac viscera. The liver, spleen, &c. so termed from their situation in the hypochondriac or upper and lateral parts of the belly.

I.

Ichor. Thin bad matter.

Imposthume. A collection of purulent matter.

Inflammation. A surcharge of blood, and an increased action of the vessels, in any particular part of the body.

L.

Ligature. Bandage.

Lixivium. Ley.

M.

Miliary Eruption. Eruption of small pustules resembling the seeds of millet.

711Morbific. Causing disease, or diseased.

Mucus. The matter discharged from the nose, lungs, &c.

Mysentery. A double membrane which connects the intestines to the back bone.

N.

Nervous. Irritable.

Nausea. An inclination to vomit.

Nodes. Enlargements of the bones produced by the venereal disease.

P.

Pectoral. Medicines adapted to cure diseases of the breast.

Pelvis. The bones situated at the lower part of the trunk; thus named from their resembling in some measure a bason.

Peritonæum. A membrane lining the cavity of the belly and covering the intestines.

Pericardium. Membrane containing the heart.

Perspiration. The matter discharged from the pores of the skin in form of vapour or sweat.

Phlogiston. Is here used to signify somewhat rendering the air unfit for the purposes of respiration.

Phlegmatic. Watery, relaxed.

Plethoric. Replete with blood.

Polypus. A diseased excrescence, or a substance formed of coagulable lymph, frequently found in the large blood vessels.

Pus. Matter contained in a boil.

R.

Regimen. Regulation of diet.

Rectum. The straight gut, in which the fœces are contained.

Respiration. The act of breathing.

S.

Saliva. The fluid secreted by the glands of the mouth.

Sanies. A thin bad matter, discharged from an ill conditioned sore.

Scirrhous. A state of diseased hardness.

Slough. A part separated and thrown off by suppuration.

Spasm. A diseased contraction.

Spine. The back bone.

712Styptic. A medicine for stopping the discharge of blood.

Syncope. A fainting fit attended with a complete abolition of sensation and thought.

T.

Tabes. A species of consumption.

Temperament. A peculiar habit of body, of which there are generally reckoned four, viz. the sanguine, the bilious, the melancholic, and the phlegmatic.

U.

Vertigo. Giddiness.

Ulcer. An ill conditioned sore.

Ureters. Two long and small canals which convey the urine from the kidneys to the bladder.

Urethra. The canal which conveys the urine from the bladder.

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