142 
GUAIACUM OFFICINALE 
success attending its administration brought it into such repute that 
it sold for a very high price ; but it did not continue to maintain its 
reputation, being generally found to fail where the disease was in- 
veterate, and it was at length superseded by mercury. The general 
virtues of guaiacum are those of a warm stimulating medicine, 
strengthening the stomach, and other viscera j exciting a sense of 
warmth, and a dryness of the mouth, with thirst ; it increases the heat 
of the body, and quickens the circulation ; if the patient be kept warm 
it acts as a diaphoretic ; if exposed freely to the air as a diuretic. 
Dr. Cullen supposes it to be, like the balsams and turpentine, very 
diffusing in the system, stimulating the extreme vessels, and to this 
property attributes its power in chronic rheumatism, and cutaneous 
disorders : this opinion accords with Murray's. We have frequently 
conjoined it with bark and steel, and found it eminently useful as 
an alterative. 
The wood is always exhibited in decoction : the resin is exhibited 
either in substance, made into pills, or suspended in water, in the 
form of emulsion, with mucilage or yoke of egg ; in this way from 
ten grains to thirty of the resin may be taken, or it is given in solu- 
tion in alcohol : about half an ounce of the tincture, with two or 
three ounces of water, is a sudorific dose for an adult. The resin is 
also conveniently made into pills, with mucilage of gum arable ; the 
ammoniated tincture is given in doses of from one to two drachms. 
Off. The Wood and Resin. 
Off. Pp. Decoctum Guaiaci Compositum, E. 
Mistura Guaiaci, L 
Tinctura Guaiaci, L. E. D. 
■ Guaiaci Ammouiata, L. E. D. 
