OCR Text |
Show SARSAPARILLA. SARSAPARILLA. a mild, bitterish, and glutinous taste, not at all disagreeable. saparilla, ought to be boiled down to a quart, and then strained through a cloth for use. From apint to a quart of this decoction ought to be drunkdaily. A little liquorice root, or cinna- 842 This root consists of one head, from which a great number of 843 long strings, or small roots, go off: it is these small roots, about the thickness of a goose quill, that are only esteemedinthis country ; though Dr, Hovius, a physician of great practice at Amsterdam, affirms, that he has found the bulbous, or thick mon, orsassafras, may be added to the decoction immediately before it is taken from thefire; or little cinnamon water may part, more eflectuel than the small fibrous. it more agreeable. MEDICAL USE. This root was first introduced into practice between the year 1560 and 1570, at which time its decoction was looked upon as an effectual medicine for the cure of the lues venerea; it kept its reputation for a considerable time, till at last, somehow or other, it fell into disrepute in this country, and was scarce ever used for manyyears, till a few years ago that it began to regain its reputation uponits being discovered to be a principal ingredient in the decoctions used at Lisbon for the cure of the vene- real disease. At present, strong decoctions of it, made with three ounces of the root to a quart of water, are muchused in the cure of these disorders: however, we seldom ornever trust to these decoctions alone, but only use them along with mercurials; or after patients have. gone through a course of mer- cury, to carry off any remains of the distemper, or of the mercury, that may be in the blood. It is common to add a small quantity of the antimonial wine (to the quantity of from thirty to sixty drops to the quart) to these decoctions, which increases their operation as diaphoretics, and is believed to increase their eflicacy. ‘These decoctions are not only used in venerealcases, but are found to be of great use in purifying the blood, and resolving obstructions in scorbutic and scrophulous cases, and in cutaneous eruptions and many other diseases. I have known two obstinate swellings that had resisted the effect of other remedies for above twelve months, cured by drinking a quart of decoction of this kind daily for some weeks. Deccctions of sarsaparilla ought to be made fresh every day, for they very soon become quite fetid, and unfit for use, sometimes in less than twenty-four hours in warm weather. Three ounces ofthe root should be used for making a quart of the decoction; the root, after being well bruised, ought to be put in a proper vessel, and three pints of boiling water poured overit, andlet stand for a night, and in the morning the liquor, with the sare be added toit after it has been strained through a cloth, to make OFFICINAL PREPARATIONS. Decocrion oF SarsaparitLa. (Decoctum Sarsaparille.) Take of sarsaparilla root, cut, six ounces ; of distilled water, eight pints: After macerating for two hours, with a heat about 195°, then take out the root, and bruise it; addit again to the liquor, and macerate it for two hours longer; then boil down the liquorto four pints, and strain it. a pint, or more, daily. The dose is from four ounces to half Comrounp Decocrion or SARSAPARILLA. rill Compositum. ) (Decoctum Sarsapa« P Take of sarsaparilla root, cut and bruised, six ounces; of the bark of sassafras root, of the shavings of guaiac wood, of liquorice root, an ounceof each; of the bark of mezereon root, three drachms ; ——— of distilled water, ten pints: Digest with a gentle heat for six hours, then boil downthe liquor to a half (or five pints), adding the bark of the mezereon root towards the end of the boiling. Strain off the liquor. The dose is the sameas the last, and for the same purposes. |