Diseases > Domestic medicine

270 BUCHAN’S
Cooling medicines, as nitre and cream of tartar, are
likewise hurtful. Strengthening cordials alone can
he used with safety; and these ought never to be
neglected. If at the beginning there is a great
nausea, or inclination to vomit, the patient must
drink an infusion of green tea, camomile flowers, or
carduus benedictus, in order to cleanse the stomach.
If these are not sufficient, he may take a few grains
of the powder of ipecacuanha, or any other gentle
If the disease is mild, the throat may be gargled
with an infusion of sage and rose leaves, to a gill of
which may be added a spoonful or two of honey, and
as much vinegar as will make it agreeably acid; but
when the symptoms are urgent, the sloughs large and
thick, and the breath very offensive, the following
gargle may be used :
To six or seven ounces of the pectoral decoction,
when boiling, add half an ounce of contrayerva-root;
let it boil for some time, and afterwards strain the
liquor ; to which add two ounces of white-wine
vinegar, an ounce of fine honey, and an ounce of the
tincture of myrrh. This ought not only to be used
as a gargle, but a little of it should frequently be
injected with a syringe to clean the throat, before the
patient takes any meat or drink. This method is
peculiarly necessary for children, who cannot use a
gargle.
It will be of great benefit if the patient frequently
receives into his mouth, through an inverted funnel,
the steams of warm vinegar, myrrh, and honey.
But when the putrid symptoms run high, and the
disease is attended with danger, the only medicine
that can be depended upon is the Peruvian bark. It
may be taken in substance if the patient’s stomach
will bear it. If not, an ounce of bark, grossly