212 DR. CHASE'S RECIPES. 



bility rests upon parents, and governments. Certainly no scliool-boy should be 

 allowed to use tobacco in any form; but it is law, and vigilant watchfulness of 

 olBcers appointed for this purpose, with the same care and watchfulness of par- 

 ents also that will ever prevent it, and that not wholly; for it has a fascination 

 which cannot be accounted for upon any other principle only that of exhilara- 

 tion, which is, in fact, the reason why it should never be used. It over stimu- 

 lates the nerves, and thereby destroys, or very much injures them, shortening 

 life, if no more serious catastrophe, as blindness, loss of memory, paralysis, 

 etc, does not set in before. 



EPILEPSY— Kemedies Which Have Been Successful. — I. 

 Chas. VanWye, M. D., of Browning, Mo., reports through the Brief the case 

 of a man of 37, who had been troubled from childhood with epilepsy, cured by 

 the use of bromide of potassium, 30 grs., 3 times a day, dissolved in water, 

 half a tumbler or so, until it produced its physiological effects, which are simi- 

 lar to that of iodide of potassium, i. e. , it may affect the head like a cold, and 

 if the stomach or alimentary canal are irresistible, it may produce diarrhea, 

 and increase the urine too much, but it may produce acne (a pustular affection 

 of the skin), and a person taking large doses very long may have a manifesta- 

 tion of weakening of the mind ; then, if any of these occur, stop its use a few 

 days, or a week; or if taking it 3 tim'es daily about meal-time, stop the nooa 

 dose, and if this does not relieve that, or either of these conditions, drop to 15 

 or 20 gr. doses, twice daily, then if not relieved in a few days stop as above 

 indicated. In the case given it was used at intervals, i. e., stopping every fourth 

 week for 15 months, and only one convulsion after beginning its use. But the 

 doctor would not begin unless the man would agree to take it several months at 

 least. He considered it a perfect cure. 



Remarks. — Dr. King, in his Dispensatory, says: " It has been used sue 

 cessfully in enlarged spleen and liver, swelling of lymphatic glands (glands of 

 the neck, armpits, front of elbow, back of knee, groins, etc., externally, and 

 along the lymphatic vessels internally), scrofula, epilepsy, nervous depression 

 from masturbation, also nocturnal (night) emissions, irritability of the nervous 

 centers, and in hypertrophy (enlargement) of the ventricles (of the heart). It 

 has proved successful in pertussis (whooping-cough), and also in asthma, in 

 doses of 20 to 30 grs., repeated 2 or 3 times a day," etc. So you see it has been 

 used in as large doses as Dr. Wye prescribes it above; but it has not been used 

 as long, generally, and that is the probable reason that it has not proved more 

 beneficial heretofore. Even in doses of 10 to 15 grs. it has held fits in check, 

 and in such doses may be continued for years safely; watch in all cases, how- 

 ever, for any of the above named bad symptoms and stop or lessen the dose as 

 directed. 



• II. Pill for Epileptic Fits in the Early Stages. — Sulphate of zinc and cay- 

 enne pepper, each 60 grs. ; rhubarb and ipecac, each 30 grs. ; all pulverized and 

 made into 60 pills, with solid ext. of hyoscyamus, enough only to form into 

 pill mass. Dose — Take 1 pill night and morning one week, then stop a week. 

 and so on every other week. 



