Directions for the medicine chest / prepared by Lewis Heermann.

  • Heermann, Lewis, 1779-1833.
Date:
1811
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Directions for the medicine chest / prepared by Lewis Heermann. 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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    CASTOR OJL.i~ls generally prefered in colics from the geu% tlenes-) oi i>, ;perution on the bowels; but although very useful o ihia account, it is too slow in its operation to procure speedy relief. From one table spoon to half a wine glass full, is a dose ; and the best method of taking it, is to rinse the glass, cup or spoon previously with a little spirit of some sort or other. In fluxes, attended with much griping it is occasionally preferable to other purgatives ; but since it has no other effect, than to unload the bowels, and since in this disease as well as in the abo^e, there is generaly an abundance of vitiated bile, one half dose or a full dose of No. 24 should be mixed with one table spoon full of it, and then it should be taken instantly, lest the white powder should sink to the bottom and hang about the patients teeth instead of getting into tiie stomach, 2. MAGNESIA.—Corrects acidity of the stomach, and thereby removes occasionally symptoms of indigestion ; such as sour belching*, heartburn, &c. One or two tea spoons full scraped fine or bruised with a knife, and taken in either sweet milk or in water, is a dose, and which according to circumstances may be repeated three or four times a day. 3. BARK.—Is given with a view to strengthen the constitution ; and its use in these directions must be confined to the cure of agues or in- termittent fevers, in which it is to be given during the absence of ague or fever in doses of one or two tea spoons full every one, two or three hours, as the stomach will bear it. An emetic or one or two good purgatives to cleanse the stomach and bowels, ought to have beeri given before the use of the bark is attempted. If loathed at stomach, or producing sickness, the doses will have to be lessened ; or a few drops of No, 15, must be added to each dose. If it proves purgative, a few drops of No 20, may be mixed with each dose ; and if costiveness is the effect produced by it, it may be removed by one fourth of a dose at a time of No. 25, or by the addition of half a tea spoonful of No. 6, with each dose of bark. Whenever patients complain of a higher degree of headach during its employment or continue unwell, without being able to express their feelings that indispose them ; or when their tongue, which previously moist knd white, becomes dry and their skin ftver- iih and p;-relied, this generally useful medicine must be set aside ; Until another purge has prepared the system to bear better of being strengthed by itj