364 ^ Treatise on 
the Body foever they ftagnate *, and expels fuch as 
are in the Stomach by Vomit, and the others plenti- 
fully by Stool. 
The Dofes of this Drug propofed by Authors are 
different. The Americans , according to Morardus , 
put an entire Piece of it, of the Bignefs of a Wal- 
nut, or about 3ij. into 3ij. of fome watery Liquor, and 
letting them ftand together all Night in Mac: . tion, 
ftrain off the Liquor in the Morning, and Grime it. 
The Piece, it is true, is not entirely difiolved,yet this 
Dofe would be too ftrong for us. The Conftitutions 
of Men differ from one another, as Climates differ 
from Climates. The Americans , from the Robuilnefs 
of their Conftitutions, are more difficultly wrought 
upon by Catharticks. In thele Climates Gamboge 
is preferibed from gr ij. or vij. to gr. xv. at moft, 
though Cltifnis extends the Dofe to gr. xx. I have 
often given it from gr. ij. to iv. without occafioning 
any Vomiting. In fume of my Patients gr. iv. have 
disordered the Stomach, though in few *, and thefe 
repeating the fame Dofe for many Days, never vo- 
mited after the firft or fecond Time of taking it. 
From gr. v. to viij. or x. it purges both upwards 
and downwards, copiouQy and gently, without any 
Violence j and when given in this Dole it wants no 
Corredtor, efpecially if diluted and extended with a 
large Proportion of Liquor. If taken in the Form 
of a Bolus or Pills it is more apt to prove emetick, 
though feldom if joined with Mercurius dulcis. 
However, as this Drug is liable to fome Incon- 
veniencies in its Effedts in common with other ftrong 
Catharticks, to wit, to a Subverfion of the Sto- 
mach, to Vomiting, and to a Superpurgation, the 
fame Cautions ought to be obferved in giving it, as 
in the Adminiftration of other Catharticks and Erne- 
ticks. 
Hechftetterus , 
