40 ^ Treatise ^ 
nor purges, nor cures Dyfenteries. Hence there- 
fore we may conclude, that the principal Virtues 
of Ipecacuanha in curing this Difeafe, are owing to 
its Gum : For the Membranes of the Inteftines, 
being deprived of their MuCus, are befmeared 
with the mucilaginous Parts of the Medicine, and 
their Ulcerations .are dried and healed. * It is true, 
the Refin alfo, by its emetick Quality, may be 
conducive in fome Meafure to the Removal of 
the Difeafe, by dividing and evacuating the mor- 
bifick Matter which lurks in the Glands of the 
Stomach and Inteftines. However, it muft be al- 
lowed that thefe Subftances, as they are naturally 
combined in the Root, cure Dyfenteries with much 
greater Certainty, than in a feparate State. 
Pifo propoles s;j. of the Root in Powder for a 
Dofe, and gij in Decodlion or Infufion. He fays 
the Inhabitants of Brafile chufe to make ufe of it 
diluted with Liquors, rather than in Subftance; 
becaufe by letting it Hand a Night in Maceration in 
the open Air, or by boiling it in Water, they are 
able to obtain a confiderable Share of its Virtues \ 
and afterwards the Refiduum being again treated in 
the fame Manner, the {trained Liquor is admini- 
fired as the firft, being now lefs cathartick and eme- 
tick, but more aftringent. For we muft obferve 
that this Root not only makes a Revulfion of the 
vifcid morbifick Matter from the Part affedled, 
and difcharges it by Vomit, but by its Aftringency 
alfo reftores the Tone of the Bowels. 
With us it is more commonly ufed in Sub- 
ftance, than in DecoClion or Infufion \ being gene- 
rally taken on an empty Stomach in the Morning 
from 3fs. to ^fs in Wine, Broth, or W T afers. The 
firft Dofe often cures a Dy fentery : if not, we muft 
have a Recourfe to a fecond *, and fo to a third. 
Some, for fear of a Relapfe, prefcri.be a ftomachick 
and 
