Introduction - Uppsala Monitoring Centre

Antimonial emetics are the most violent and virulent, especially
when given in substances; such as Glass of Antimony, Mercurius
Vitae, and Crocus metallorum. These Antimonials given in powder
purge upwards and downwards, and often, by their super-purgations,
hurry the patient out of the world…
Violent purges have likewise been the cause of grievous diseases,
and sometimes death. Among these may be reckoned black and
white Hellebore….
Of the Bad Effect of Mercurials
Mercurial medicaments are strong remedies made of quicksilver
with the addition of salts, which greatly affect the glands, and by a
violent stricture promote the motion of the lympha (lymph), and being
corrosive produce spasms in the nervous parts.
It is the peculiar property of mercury to affect the fauces with the
larynx, tongue, and teeth; for if the joints or other parts are annointed
with a mercurial ointment, the tongue and amygdalae (tonsils) will
swell, the fauces wil be full of apthae 142 , and saliva will dribble away
with a stench, the gums will be flaccid and the teeth loose…
Quicksilver is innocent and has no drastic effect alone, but acquires
its force and virulence from the addition of salts…
Of the Bad Effects of Soporiferous Medicines
Soporiferous medicines are otherwise called hypnotics, or
anodynes. The strongest are termed narcotics, or stupfactives.
These diminish or destroy the sense and motion of the solid
parts.The most usual and common of these is Opium; the
stupfactives are mandragora, Henbane, nightshade, strammony, and
datura.
Too large a dose, or too long an use of opiates or narcotics will
render the pulse languid, depressed, and small, and bring on a strait
and difficult breathing; a sopor and torpor of the head; a stupor of the
senses, and an alienation of the mind. As also a decreased appetite,
costiveness, a weak digestion, and a failure of strength. However, it
is universally allowed they are of great service in grievous pains and
fluxions.’
He also deals with: cantharides, Nux vomica, gold, copper and
lead (Brookes, 1754).
1755 Boerhaave Herman in ‘Materia medica, or the Druggists guide, and
the physician and apothecary’s table-book. Being an account of all
142 Aptha = blister on a mucous membrane usually in the mouth