First lines of the practice of physic (Volume 1-2).

  • Cullen, William, 1710-1790.
Date:
1801
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: First lines of the practice of physic (Volume 1-2). Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the National Library of Medicine (U.S.), through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the National Library of Medicine (U.S.)

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    featingdofes of emetics; and it only remains to mention, what are the medicines moft fit to be employed m that man- ner, what are the moft proper times for exhibiting, and what is the beft manner of adminiftering them. i8i.j The emetics at prefent chiefly in ufe, are, Ipeca- cuanha and Antimony. The former may be employed for every purpofe of e- metics, particularly thofe mentioned (172.) It may like- wife be employed, either in larger or fmaller dofes for de- termining to the furface of the body ; but, even in very fmall dofes, it fo readily excites vomiting, as to be v/ith dif- ficulty employed for the purpofe of naufeating only ; and however employed there is reafon to believe, that efiecls are lefs permanent, andlefs powerfully communicated from the ftomach to the reft of the fyftem than thofe of Anti- mony. 182.] This therefore, is generally preferred; and its preparations, feemingly various, may all be referred to two heads ; the one comprehending thofe in which the reguline part is in a condition to be afted upon by acids; and there- fore, on meeting with acids in the ftomach becomes a6tive ; and the other comprehending thofe preparations in which the reguline part is already joined with an acid, rendering it afl,ive. 183.] Of each kind there are great numbers, but not differing eflentially from one another. It will be enough for us to compare the Calx Antimonii Nirrata of the Edin- burgh Difpenfatory with the Emetic Tartar of the fame. The former, as I judge, is nearly the fame with what is called James's Powder.* Which of thefe is beft fuited to the cure of fevers, as above explained, feems doubtful; but it appears to me, that, although the former may have fome advantages from its flower operation, and may there- by feem to be more certainly fudorific and purgative, yet the uncertainty pf its dofe renders it inconvenient, has of- ten given occafion to the timid to be difappointed, and to the bold to do mifchief. On the other hand, the dofe of the Emetic Tartar can be cxatlly afccrtained; and I think * The pulvis antjraonialis of the London Pharmacopoeia is intended as a. substitute for, or imitation of, James's powder. The dose of it is 7 or 8 grains. It IS by no means so sure in its operations as the emetic tartar; yet it hai been aiuch extolled b/ sevwftl emineiU modern practitioners.