Note 450 — PHARMACOLOGIA. (continued 2)

In cases of obstinate constipation of the bowels, charcoal is one of the most efficient remedies in the whole Materia Medica. Many cases have yielded to it which had resisted every other cathartic medicine previously used. Dr. Daniell, of Savannah, to whom we are indebted for an interesting paper on this subject, states as the result of his experience, “that the most speedy, as well as the most certain relief, is to be obtained from the free use of Charcoal. If it does not wholly relieve, it always very much mitigates the pain in six or eight hours from the period of its first administration; and within my observation,” he adds, “the patient has always been entirely composed before the operation of the medicine upon the bowels.” “In relation to the dose of this medicine,” he states that “the rule which I have pursued is to give it as freely and as frequently as the stomach will allow. The quantity required is considerable. It has a happy influence in lulling the irritability of the stomach, when nothing else which I have used, would control the nausea and vomiting of the patient; thus fulfilling the double intention of first alleviating a very distressing symptom, and then removing the disease itself. I usually give from one to three table-spoonsful of Charcoal every half hour or hour: whenever the stomach becomes overcharged with the medicine, the excess is thrown off, and the stomach is again quiet. I give it in lime water, milk, or water alone—the vehicle having appeared to me unimportant.” Philadel. Journal of Med. and Phys. Science, Vol. 5. p. 120. Ed.