THE NEW-ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE AND SURGERY, AND Collateral Branches of Science, CONDUCTED BY A NUMBER OF PHYSICIANS. Vol. VIII. Homo naturæ minister et interpres tantum facit et intelligit, quantum de naturæ NEW SERIES, VOL. III. BOSTON: PUBLISHED BY WELLS AND LILLY. 1819. FRANCIS BACON. JOTWITHSTANDING the able, and very valuable dissertation upon Blood-root, in Dr. Bigelow's Medical Botany, and other meritorious essays from the pens of Dyckman, Thatcher, the Bartons, &c. still the powers of this valuable indigenous article do not appear to me to have been justly appreciated. So much use is, at present, made of it, and in such a variety of diseases, and with so great success too, that with us, the questions are frequently asked, What did you formerly employ, before you became acquainted with it? What one article of equal efficacy, could be substituted for it? &c. Having had considerable experience in its use, and free communication with gentlemen who have administered it as extensively as myself, I have drawn up the following concise sketch, as a summary of our experience: and although it should contain nothing new, yet I cannot but flatter myself, that it may perhaps afford rather more numerous, and possibly better methodized hints for future observation, than any thing that has hitherto appeared. If it comes within the plan of your Journal, I should be gratified to see it published. Yours, Gentlemen very respectfully, Middletown, (Conn.) 15th Dec. 1818. WILLIAM TULLY. SANGUINARIA CANADENSIS. LIN. Blood-root. Blood-wort. Red-root. Puccoon. Indian-paint. Turmeric. Ord. nat. Rhoada. Lin. Papaveracea. Juss. Canada. Uniled-States. Florida. TH HE root only of this article is employed in medicine. It is bitter and acrid to the taste, and according to the best analysis, consists of a resinous, a bitter, an acrid, and a colouring principle, together with a portion of fecula, and fibrous or woody matter. Taken internally, in moderate doses, it increases the excitement of the sanguiferous system, augments the action of the lymphatics of the viscera, excites appetite and promotes digestion. In larger doses, it nauseates, diminishes sanguiferous action, and still further increased, it vomits. In improper quantities, it vomits with much violence, produces heart-burn, faintness, dizziness, diminished vision, and great prostration of strength. Snuffed into the nose, it excites sneezing, and applied externally, in diseases of the skin, or to the surface of ulcers, it irritates, promotes absorption, and changes action. It may therefore be considered as tonic, deobstruent, emetic, narcotic, sternutatory, antipsoraic, and escharotic. By suitable management, and qualification, it may be made to produce the most useful effects of squill and senega, without their tendency to vomit and purge; of fox-glove, without danger of prostrating the powers of life; of ammoniacum, and guaiacum, without their occasional irritation; and of the mineral tonics, without their slowness. As an emetic, the powder or pill may be administered in doses of ten or twenty grains, or better, an infusion or decoction, made in the proportions of one drachm of the root, to four ounces of water, which may be given in doses of two or four drachms to be repeated at short intervals, till it vomits. For this purpose, it may frequently be used with advantage, to remove that state of predisposition to disease, which is marked by languor, lassitude, anorexia, &c. also in the early stages of pneumonicula, pneumonia-typhoides, catarrh, and phthisispulmonalis; and likewise in Pertussis, and Icterus. If given early in cynanche trachealis, it may be considered as almost a specific. As a deobstruent, tonic, and narcotic, the powder or pill may be given, at regular and short intervals, in doses of three or five grains, or the tincture or wine, made in the proportion of NOLA two ounces of the root to one pound of spirit or wine, commencing with about fifteen drops, at periods of three, four, or six hours, and gradually increasing the quantity, as the stomach will bear, to sixty or eighty. When administered with these intentions, it should almost always be combined with opium, which not only increases its general efficacy, but lessens its nauseating tendency. For all the variety of cases to which it is adapted, with these views, but two forms are necessary; and these seem preferable to every other. The first, which is more especially intended for children, may consist of equal parts of camphorated tincture of opium, and tincture, or wine of Sanguinaria; the second, which will commonly be more proper for adults, is formed of one part simple tincture of opium, and three parts tincture, or wine of sanguinaria. It is remarkable, that Blood-root, although not known to purge, or strictly speaking, to prove laxative when taken by itself, is nevertheless capable of completely obviating any constipating effect from opium combined with it, even when in considerably larger proportion than is here recommended, and that too in habits naturally costive; and although it seems never to be diaphoretic, yet it is usually an efficacious expectorant. The diseases in which it may be advantageously used, in the last mentioned forms, and with the last mentioned intentions are 1st. Pneumonicula, or that sub-acute inflammation of the lungs, which, in consumptive habits, so often precedes a rapid phthisis. After a slow cathartic of calomel, suitable epispastics, and perhaps calomel and opium in small doses, sufficient to produce a very slight effect upon the mouth, the remainder of the cure, may in general be trusted to sanguinaria and opium. 2d. In pneumonia typhoides, after proper evacuations, and blistering, it proves an important adjuvant to the course customarily necessary. Indeed in quite moderate cases, the preparations in question are alone amply sufficient for the secondary stages. A 3d. In catarrh, after evacuations, nothing more than sanguinaria, in the first form of combination, is commonly necessary. 4th. In confirmed phthisis pulmonalis, this article, for the purpose of combating and palliating symptoms, and thus prolonging the life of the patient, is perhaps of more value than any thing else. 5th. In pertussis, if vigorously administered, and faithfully persevered in, it is one of the best remedies. 6th. In Icterus, it excites healthy action in the liver, and gives tone. 7th. In hydrothorax, not depending upon organic affection, aimple Blood-root, given three or four times a day, in a nauseat |