186 OAK. 



that the bark is not less efficacious than the cinchona, especially 

 in the form of extract ; indeed, Cullen says, " I have employed 

 the Oak bark in powder, giving it to the quantity of half a 

 drachm every two or three hours during the intermissions of a 

 fever ; and, both by itself, and joined with chamomile flowers, 

 have prevented the return of the paroxysms of intermittents." * 

 In cases of general debility, we have found a compound de- 

 coction a very agreeable tonic and efficacious medicine, not 

 only resting better on the stomach than the decoction of Pe- 

 ruvian bark, but free from inducing relaxation or constipation 

 of the bowels. Lastly, it is earnestly recommended in the ma- 

 lignant coryza or snuffles of infants, when, notwithstanding a 

 regular state of the bowels, and the exhibition of cordials, the 

 child becomes weak and pallid "j\ 



Externally, lint saturated with the water which exudes 

 on making a hole into the trunk, has been beneficially applied 

 warm to gouty limbs J. The decoction of the bark, in parti- 

 cular, is highly useful as a topical application, either as a clyster 

 or fomentation, against prolapsus of the fundament § or of the 

 womb; in injections for fluor albus and long standing gleet; 

 as a gargle, with or without alum, in slight tumefactions of the 

 mucous membrane of the fauces, in prolapsus of the uvula, and 

 in sore throat || ; as a lotion, in some cutaneous diseases ; alone 

 or in union with sal ammoniac as a lotion to mortified parts % 

 for fistulous caries of the femur ; and, mixed with a small quan- 

 tity of vinegar, to spurious aneurisms**. 



The fruit of the Oak, commonly called the acorn, held a 

 conspicuous place in ancient therapeutics. Dioscorides attri- 

 buted to it numberless virtues, and employed it both inter- 

 nally and externally, for promoting the secretion of urine, 

 suspending head-ache, dissipating flatus, and for cleansing un- 

 healthy ulcers ; but acorns have long lost their medical re- 

 putation, notwithstanding the encomia of Dioscorides and 



* Cullen, Mat. Med. vol. ii. p. 45. 



f Underwood, Diseases of Children, 4th edit. vol. i. p. 45. 



X Hagedorn, Epli. N. Cur. Dec. 2. A. 5. Obs. 91. p. 197- 



§ Fordyce, Fragmenta Chirurg. et Med. p. 9. 



|| Cullen, Mat. Med. I. c. 



% Thilenius, Medic, u. Chirurg. Bemerkungen, p. 291. 



* * Hennings, Beobacht. uber den Werth, einiger Arzneymittel. 



