e quantity of the dose of an emetic is not of so great consequence as
of other medicines, as the greatest part of it is rejected with the first
effort. All emetics are said to act with greater certainty when given in a
morning, if an opiate had been given the night before. For the sensorial
power of irritation of the stomach had thus been in some measure previously
exhausted by the stimulus of the opium, which thus facilitates the action
of the emetic; and which, when the dose of opium has been large, is
frequently followed on the next day by spontaneous sickness and vomitings,
as after violent intoxication.

Ipecacuanha is the most certain in its effect from five grains to thirty;
white vitriol is the most expeditious in its effect, from twenty grains to
thirty dissolved in warm water; but emetic tartar, antimonium tartarizatum,
from one grain to four to sane people, and from thence to twenty to insane
patients, will answer most of the useful purposes of emetics; but nothing
equals the digitalis purpurea for the purpose of absorbing water from the
cellular membrane in the anasarca pulmonum, or hydrops pectoris. See Art.
IV. 2. 3. 7.

II. Violent cathartics. 1. Where violent cathartics are required, as in
dropsies, the squill in dried powder made into small pills of a grain, or a
grain and a half, one to be given every hour till they operate briskly, is
very efficacious; or half a grain of emetic tartar dissolved in an ounce of
peppermint-water, and given every hour, till it operates. Scammony, and
other strong purges, are liable to produce hypercatharsis, if they are not
nicely prepared, and accurately weighed, and are thence dangerous in common
practice. Gamboge is uncertain in its effects, it has otherwise the good
property of being tasteless; and on that account some preparation of it
might be useful for children, by which its dose could be ascertained, and
its effects rendered more uniform.

2. In inflammations of the bowels with constipation calomel, given in the
dose from ten to twenty grains after due venesection, is most efficacious;
and if made into very small pills is not liable to be rejected by vomiting,
which generally attends those cases. When this fails, a grain of aloes
every hour will find its way, if the bowel is not destroyed; and sometimes,
I believe, if it be, when the mortification is not extensive. If the
vomiting continues after the pain ceases, and especially if the bowels
become tumid with ai