Copy 1, Volume 1

The study of medicine. Improved from the author's manuscripts, and by reference to the latest advances in physiology, pathology, and practice / [John Mason Good].

  • John Mason Good
Date:
1834
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The study of medicine. Improved from the author's manuscripts, and by reference to the latest advances in physiology, pathology, and practice / [John Mason Good]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    181/784 page 127
    ae. Ol. 1] DIGESTIVE FUNCTION. [ORD. I. 127 The umbellate order affords also a rich variety of carminatives, Gen. V. whose virtue, with a few exceptions, resides almost entirely in their _Srxc. V. seeds. The aroma of several of these is very pleasant, as the Limosis coriander, anise, and dill; while, in a few, as in the fennel, it ap- ae proaches the nauseous smell and taste of the fetid gums. This, Umbellate however, is an advantage in flatulencies occurring in hysteric or Ny other nervous habits. ; To these may be added many of the aromata imported from hot Spicy climates in very different forms ; as barks, roots, berries, pods, and exotics. seeds, particularly ginger, cloves, cardamoms, cinnamon, pimento, pepper, and capsicum. Like those already noticed, they all owe their virtue to an essential oil, in whatever part of the plant such virtue may reside: but several of them have likewise some other property, which may render them more or less eligible in different cases. Generally speaking, the stimulants we are now contem- plating are more strictly entitled to the name of cordials than the umbellate or verticillate plants ; for, by exciting the nervous energy in a greater degree, they increase the action of the heart, and quicken the pulse. And hence, when the circulation is weak and languid, they have an advantage over the preceding; but when the pulse is already too frequent, they should be abstained from. To this general remark, however, there may be one or two exceptions. Newmann and Gaubius, reasoning from the general use of pepper among the Hindus and Javanese without any particular marks of excitement, have contended that it produces less effect on the sanguiferous system than many other carminatives; but this -may be resolved into habit. Dr. Lewis, from some less obvious train of argument, came to a like conclusion in respect to ginger ; which to many is as heating as any of the spices whatever. But Sedative it seems generally conceded, that nutmeg is entitled to the charac- a Oy ter of a sedative and even of an hypnotic; and hence, where o¢ mart flatulency is accompanied with great irritability, it becomes s peculiarly valuable. Bontius speaks of this influence as a matter of frequent occurrence in the East Indies, and one which had often fallen under his own observation ; and in the German Ephemerides * we have an account of some extraordinary effects on the nervous system, occasioned by swallowing a large quantity of this spice. To which I may add the following confirmatory evidence of Dr. Cullen, derived from his own practice. “ A person by mistake,” says he, “ took two drachms or a little more, of powdered nutmeg. He felt it warm in his stomach, without any uneasiness; but in about an hour after he had taken it, he was seized with a drowsiness, which gradually increased to a complete stupor and insensibility ; and not long after he was found fallen from his chair, lying on the floor of his chamber, in the state mentioned. Being laid a-bed, he fell asleep; but waking a little from time to time, he was quite delirious ; and he thus continued alternately sleeping and delirious for several hours. By degrees, however, both these symptoms diminished ; so that, in about six hours from the time of taking the nutmeg, he was pretty well recovered from both: although he still complained of head-ache and some drowsiness, he slept naturally * Dec. u. Ann. uu. Obs. 120,
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