GUATACUM OFFICINALE. ORD. XXXTI. Cruinales: 564 
was first introduced in the Materia-Medica soon after the discovery: 
of America," and previous to the proper use of mercury in the: 
lues venerea, it was the principal remedy employed for the cure 
of that disease, and its great success brought it into such repute, 
that it is said to have been sold for seven gold crowns a pouud;* 
but notwithstanding the very numerous testimonies in its favour ¢, 
it often failed in curing the patient, and was at length entirely 
superseded by mercury ; and though it be still occasionally em-, 
ployed in syphilis, yet it is rather with a view. to correct other 
Vitia in the habit, than for its effects as an antivenereal.* 
The general virtues of Guaiacum are stated by Bergius to be 
mundificans, sudorifera, diuretica, subcalefaciens, stomachica, and 
its use to be in syphilis, arthritis,+ morbi cutis, odontalgia;* and 
* Initium celebritatis dedit felix curatio, quam in insula St. Dominici Hispanus 
quidam superioris ordinis, qui morbum ab India muliere contraxerat, jam doloribus 
diris detentus, suadente famulo suo Indo, ex hoc ligno in semet experiebatur. 
jus exemplo prxeunte, plures alii Hispani eodem modo contaminati ad idem 
auxilium fausto-successu confugerunt. Quod quum post reditum Hispali ab hisce 
evulgaretur, hinc per totam Hispaniam, & inde per totum reliquum orbem, quem 
lues occupaverat, fama remedii increbuit. Monardes Simp!. Med. p. 341. Vide 
Murray’s Ap. Med. vol. 3. 409. And according to Delgado, Guaiacum was used 
in Spain so early as 1508. (del modo de adeperare el Legno santo. Venet. 1529.) 
i Vide Friend’s Hist. vol. 2. p. 365. And Massa de Morb. gal. 71. says, in Be 
libra una scutatis aurets undecim veniret. — ? 
t Vide Bohm Diss. variz siphilidis therapiz. 
* Perhaps the opinions and facts adduced by Boerhaave, Astrue, Plenk, De 
Haen, Hutten, and lately by Mr. Hunter, may be considered in some measure as 
exceptions.—The last of these authors remarks, that the Guaiacum was first used 
in Europe as a remedy. for the Syphilis in 15173; but from the authority we have 
cited above, it appears to have been employed nine years sooner. 
+ Though ‘upon the authority of Mead, Pringle, and ethers, Guaiacum has 
been much employed in rheumatisms, yet it was of little estimation in the gout 
till Mr. Emerigon of Martinico, published his letters about thirteen years ago, 
(Specifique contre la goutte, &c.) 
et k Mat. Med. 346, 
No. A6.—voL, A, i c 
oF 
