;"5 



-t^ 



^radical utility, and real importance in the cure of many obflinafe 



'"'ds, as ftated by Bergius, are incidens diuretica^ 



difeafes. 



Its 



emetica, fubpurgans, hydragoga, expedorans, emmenagoga. 



In hy 



V 



dropical cafes it has long been eftecmed the moil certain and efTedual 

 diuretic with which we are acquainted ; and in aflhmatic aiTedions,'' 



dyfpnoea, 



occafioned by the lodgment of tenacious phlegm, it 



or 

 has 



been the expedcrant ufually employed.' The Squill, efpecially in large 

 dofes, is apt to ftimulate the ftomach, and to prove emetic ; and it 

 fometimes ads upon the inteftines, and becomes purgative ; but whea 

 thefe operations take place, the medicine is prevented from reaching 

 the blood vefiels and kidneys, and the patient is deprived of its diuretic 



efTeds; which are to be obtained by giving the Squill in fmaller dpfes,. 



/ 



repeated at more diftant intervals," or by the joining of an opiate to this 

 medicine, which w^as found by Dr. Cullen to anfwer the fame purpofe. 

 The Dr. further obferves, that from a continued repetition of the 

 quill, the dofe may be gradually increafed, and the intervals of its 

 exhibition fhortened ; and when in this way the dofes come to be 

 tolerably large, the opiate may be moft conveniently employed to 



S 



\ 



dire^ the operation of the Squill more certainly to the kidneys. " In 

 cafes of dropfy ; that is, when there is an effufion of water into the 

 cavities, and therefore that lefs water goes to the kidneys, we are of 

 opinion, that neutra! fait, accompanying the Squill, may be of ufe in 

 determining this more certainly to the kidneys : and whenever it can 

 be perceived that it takes this courfe, we are perfuaded that it will 

 alfo be always ufeful, and generally fafe during the exhibition of the 

 Squills to increafe the ufual quantity of drink."" 



The diuretic efTeds of Squills have been fuppofed to be promoted 

 by the addition of fome mercurial ; and the lefs purgative preparations 

 of mercury, in the opinion of Dr. Cullen, are beft adapted to this 

 purpofe ; he therefore recommends a folution of corrofive fublimate, 

 as being more proper than any other, becaufe moft diuretic. 



i L. C. 



k 



All the authors who have written on thefe difeafes, might here be cited. 



> We do not notice its ufe as an emstic, as we think it entirely fuperfeded by the 

 ipecacuanha. 



' « This is mentioned on the authority of Dr. Cullen, M, M, v. ii. p, 558. 



n 



Cullen, /. c. 



Where 



I 



i 



It 



-** 



(A 



t tT 





■i 



4 

 \ 



