¢ 
812 \ 7 IPECACUANHA, 
much of its’ reputation by time. The use of Ipecacuan in these 
fluxes, is thought to depend upon its restoring. perspiration ; for 
in these cases, especially in dysentery and diarrheea, the skin is 
dry and tense; and while the common diaphoretics usually pass off 
by stool, small doses of this root have been administered with the 
best effects, proving both laxative and diaphoretic.° In the 
spasmodic asthma, Dr. Akenside‘ remarks, that where nothing 
contraindicates repeated vomiting, he knows no medicine so 
effectual as Ipecacuan. In violent. paroxysms a scrtple procures 
immediate relief... Where the complaint is habitual, from three 
to five grains every morning, or from five to ten every other 
_ morning, may be given for a month or six weeks. 
This medicine has also been successfully used in hemorrhages.* 
Several cases of menorrhagia are mentioned by Dahlberg,” in 
which one third or half a grain was given every four hours till it 
effected a cure. These small doses are likewise found of great use 
in catarrhal and even consumptive éases, as well as in various states 
of fever. Dr. Cullen informs us,’ that he knew a practitioner who 
cured intermittents by giving five graims of Ipecacuanha, or 
enough to excite nausea, an hour before the accession of the fit 
was expected; and that “ Dr. Thompson, formerly of Montrose, 
proposed to cure agues by the employment of emetics given at 
the time-of accession, or at the end of the cold stage: and this 
practice has also been successful, and may indeed be executed by 
tartar emetic; but in trying such practices, I have found the 
Ipecacuanha more manageable than the other, and generally to be 
more easy to the patient.” 
¢ Dr. Cullen attributes its = effects entircly to its purgatire silo: M. M. 
Fol. 2. p. 477. 
. Med. Trans. vol, 1, p, 96. 
s Sce Gianella de admirabili Ipec. virtute in curandis — Patay. 1754, 
Also Bergius (M. M. p. 103.) and others. . 
* Fet. Acad. Handtl. vol. 31. p. 316. a 1770, 
 } ¢. 
